Faglige nøgleord: Food, nutrition, sustainability, public health, epidemiology
Oplæg tilgængeligt på: Engelsk
The world is currently facing a climate emergency. Food production and consumption are major contributors to the human environmental impact. To combat and mediate the devastating effects of climate change, many people have begun considering and transitioning to more plant-forward and sustainable diets. However, there may be unexpected risks with such dietary shifts including deficiencies or increased exposure to chemical and biological contaminants, as well as unexpected environmental impacts, and socioeconomic influences.
Investigating and quantifying these factors in the Danish population is the main focus of my PhD project. Put simply, I want to see how more plant-based eating could affect the Danish population. My research is a bit special in the sense that the work I (and my research group) does is often used directly by food authorities, both nationally and internationally, as evidence to support decision-making. The results I eventually produce could one day be used to define or refine dietary guideline recommendations to be sustainable for the planet and healthy for the consumer.
I have made quite a journey from high school until now, and I love sharing my experience with aspiring students. I am originally from Canada and completed both my high school and bachelor's degree in bio-medical science there. I then moved to Germany to complete my master's degree in epidemiology. Knowing I love research and also wanted to work in a field with direct public impact, I moved countries once again to pursue my PhD here in Denmark.
A classroom visit from me could look like this (but can be adjusted based on needs and size of audience):
- A self-introduction and discussion of my academic journey so far (including triumphs, challenges, and what I have learned along the way)
- An introduction to epidemiology and public health, including both COVID and food examples (with a short but active food outbreak exercise)
- A presentation of my research (possibly including props/group discussions)