Natural Resources Institute

🌟 New model to improve COVID-19 predictions 🌟   Accurate predictions are key to managing epidemics effectively, and the Natural Resources Institute's Prof ROBERT CHEKE and colleagues in China have developed a new mathematical model that enhances the prediction of infectious disease spread.   Their innovative model integrates population diversity – a critical factor often overlooked in traditional epidemiological models – making it more realistic and enhancing prediction accuracy.    Key insights: 🎯 18.6% improvement in prediction accuracy over traditional models 🦠 Improved prediction accuracy facilitates more reliable disease risk assessments 📈 This work is a significant step toward more accurate and effective epidemic modeling, allowing public health authorities to respond better to global threats like COVID-19   Learn more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/euP8yFZT  

Curious about the latest research on inclusive innovation in agriculture and food systems? 🌾🌻🌽   The Natural Resources Institute’s Mofa Islam is a special guest editor of the ISDC - International Security and Development Center's Agricultural Systems Special Issue, set to be launched on 4 December.   Register to reserve your spot ⤵️ https://bit.ly/45bfcR4  #FoodSystems #WithScienceWeCan 

🌍 Bridging Agriculture & Biodiversity: New Research Breakthrough! 🔬 The Natural Resources Institute is part of the "Transformative Change in Telecoupled Agrofood Systems for Biodiversity and Equity" (TCforBE Project) project We are proud to share a recent publication by the project on transforming agriculture from a driver of biodiversity loss into a force for conservation. Their new 'agricultural boundaries for biodiversity' framework outlines how we can minimise negative impacts while maximising food production. The research presents practical solutions for agricultural systems that support both food security and biodiversity conservation - a crucial step toward sustainable farming futures. You can access the full article here⤵ 📗 https://bit.ly/3ZjLhVq #Sustainability #Biodiversity #Agriculture #FoodSystems #TC4BE #NRI #UniversityOfGreenwich

🚀 Food Innovation Opportunity Alert! 🍽️ 🌱 Calling all innovative food & drink entrepreneurs! The Growing Kent & Medway Food Accelerator Programme is back for 2025, and it's better than ever! Are you ready to scale your healthy, sustainable food or drink business? This 3-month programme could be your launchpad to success! 🎯 What's in it for you? 🤔 💡 Expert business guidance & support 🔬 Access to Food Scientists & the Medway Food Innovation Centre 🤝 Your own dedicated mentor 📚 Monthly in-person workshops across Kent & Medway 💻 Weekly online masterclasses covering:   • Branding & Marketing   • Food Safety   • Sustainability   And MUCH more! The programme kicks off in February 2025! Are you ready to transform your food business? Click below to learn more and register your interest! ⤵️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/efXtQwVT #FoodInnovation #Sustainability #KentBusiness #FoodStartup #BusinessGrowth #FoodTech #EntrepreneurLife #FoodBusiness

The Natural Resources Institute’s Professor of Rats, Steven Belmain, has been in the Kilombero valley and Udzungwa mountains of Tanzania to carry out stakeholder review meetings as part of the UK Research and Innovation Medical Research Council project “Developing effective rodent control strategies to reduce disease risk in ecologically and culturally diverse rural landscapes”. The project aims to investigate the impact of intensive rat trapping on rodent borne disease prevalence in rural communities in Tanzania and Madagascar. With colleagues from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Pasteur Institute Madagascar, Association Vahatra, University of St Andrews and University of Aberdeen, a series of meetings were held with more than 40 policy makers from Tanzania’s public health, agriculture, education, animal health and environment sectors. The diversity of interests and perspectives represented by participants generated very interesting discussions about how to best control rodents in context of disease transmission, crop damage, food contamination and environmental degradation. The team also met with farming communities who have been involved in intensive rodent management activities over the past two years. Farmers were able to talk about how things have changed for the better in their communities and families since being involved in the research. This included significant reductions in stored cereal loss and food contamination by rodents, fewer people bitten by rodents at night when they are sleeping and better quality sleep with no rodents running over them whilst in bed and making noise through the night. Farmers were able to communicate how their knowledge about rodents improved and the importance of acting together at the community level to sustainably manage rodents.  A recent publication from the project has been published to understand different rodent species interactions and their movements between inside houses and outdoor habitats. 📚 Herieth Mkomwa, Rhodes Makundi, Steven Belmain, Alfan Rija, Apia Massawe, Aurore Ponchon, Mwajabu Selemani, Marcela P.A. Espinaze, and Sandra Telfer (2024) Dynamic movement patterns of commensal rodents Mastomys natalensis and Rattus rattus: determining differential habitat use using Rhodamine B. Pest Management Science. pp. 1-11 ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/emFekvHK 📽️ A 15 minute documentary video about the project’s activities to undercover disease threats can be found here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eJePTUQS

🌟 PDRA Position: Food Rheology & Texture Analysis 🧪 The Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich is recruiting a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Food Rheology and Texture on a 2-year contract (extension possible). 🔬 NRI is part of the £24m Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein - Imperial (BCSP), funded by Bezos Earth Fund. This is an exciting opportunity to join this project and work at the Medway Food Innovation Centre! 👩🔬 Your Role: 🧪 Lead food texturisation research 📊 Conduct advanced texture analysis 🤝 Partner with global BCSP teams 🌱 Support plant-based food innovators What You'll Need: 🎓 PhD with food rheology expertise 💪 Experience with DHR20 rheometers 📈 Strong analytical skills 🤝 Collaborative research background We Provide: 🏗️ State-of-the-art facilities 🌍 International research network 💼 Industry connections 📝 Grant writing opportunities 🚀 Career growth potential 🌱 Join us in revolutionising sustainable protein! Together, we will tackle the texture and mouthfeel challenges in plant-based alternatives. 🔗 Link to Apply: https://lnkd.in/ee-UznpD 📅 Closing Date: 6th December 204 #FoodScience #Sustainability #Research #Innovation #AlternativeProtein #PostDoc #AcademicJobs #FoodTechnology 🧬🌱🔬 Parag Acharya Vahid B. Medway Food Innovation Centre Nazanin Zand

🎓 Inspiring Alumni Spotlight: From Sri Lanka to UK Environmental Research!🌟 🎓 Delighted to share the remarkable journey of Natural Resources Institute alumna Kalhari Gunarathna, who turned her childhood fascination with nature in Padukka, Sri Lanka, into a flourishing career in environmental research. 🌍 After completing her MSc in Global Environmental Change with distinction at NRI, Kalhari is now making waves as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, working on innovative environmental monitoring projects. 🏆 Her outstanding dissertation on carbon sequestration in English vineyards earned her recognition at the London Student Sustainability Conference and the International Union of Soil Science Conference 2024. 💫 "NRI has been a cornerstone in establishing my career as an early-career environmental researcher in the UK. The experience was transformative, significantly boosting my confidence while equipping me with vital expertise, hands-on skills, and valuable professional connections." Proud to see our alumni making such meaningful contributions to environmental science! Read Kalhari's story ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eNdikCAT #EnvironmentalScience #WomenInSTEM #AlumniSuccess #Sustainability #GlobalEducation #NRI #UniversityOfGreenwich #ResearchImpact 🔬

🌟 The Natural Resources Institute's Uche Okpara's UK Research and Innovation-funded Borno Citizen Lab is pioneering a transformative approach to building peace and prosperity in conflict-affected areas. Through co-created pathways, the team are working with local communities to transition from instability to collective wellbeing. 💫 Key innovations include: 👉 Leadership values and citizen agency development 👉 Focus on rule of law 👉 Political economy integration 👉 Sustainable livelihood creation 📽️ The documentary highlights 3 critical pathways that have been developed so far: 👉 Human rights 👉 Human and regional security 👉 Integrated natural resources, livelihood and food security 🎯 Seven more pathways are in development, demonstrating our commitment to creating locally-owned, sustainable solutions by 2025. 🔍 Watch the full documentary below to see how we're turning research into real-world impact! #PeaceBuilding #SustainableDevelopment #Research #Innovation #LakeChad #ConflictResolution #NRI

🔬 Exciting News from Medway Food Innovation Centre! The team have just expanded our analytical capabilities with the cutting-edge Insent TS-6000A taste sensing system (aka the "e-tongue"). This innovative addition completes our comprehensive sensory analysis platform, bringing together taste profiles, texture characteristics, rheological properties, mouthfeel analysis, and aroma compounds all under one roof. 🌱 This integrated setup is particularly crucial for advancing our work in alternative proteins, helping us create plant-based foods that truly deliver on taste and texture. 🚀 But that's not all! We're also adding a LumiSizer 651 to our toolkit soon. This sophisticated instrument will help us understand the complex behaviour of dairy alternatives through advanced measurements of dispersion stability, flocculation patterns, particle size and shape distributions, and velocity analysis. Together, these technologies position MFIC at the forefront of food innovation, enabling more precise and efficient development of next-generation food products. #FoodInnovation #FoodTech #AlternativeProtein #FoodScience #Innovation #Research #Sustainability #FoodEngineering #PlantBased #DairyAlternatives Medway Food Innovation Centre

🌟 Proud to announce that Associate Professor Lora ForsytheForsythe at the Natural Resources Institute [University of Greenwich] has secured Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding for research on gender-based violence! Her project is one of 11 innovative initiatives announced today by AHRC, using creative and participatory approaches to tackle GBV. This announcement couldn't be more timely, coming on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 💪 Research like this demonstrates NRI's commitment to addressing critical social issues through innovative methodologies. Keep watching this space - we will be sharing updates as this important work progresses! ✨ Congratulations Lora! Your work continues to inspire and create meaningful change 🎯 #GBV #NoExcuse #WomenInResearch #GenderEquality #ResearchImpact #AHRC #NRI #UniversityOfGreenwich