Associated research centres
Sydney Food and Nutrition Network
Transforming food and nutrition research
Our experts are changing the way we teach, think and learn about food and diets: reshaping local and international food systems, solving food and nutrition problems, and developing a culture of excellence in this area of research.
The Sydney Food and Nutrition Network brings together researchers and educators, across many disciplines of research, to share their knowledge of food and nutritional science and work towards our shared goals to:
- contribute substantially towards the evolution of a food system that provides equity, as well as ecological and social sustainability, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- develop a culture of excellence in interdisciplinary food and nutrition research, teaching and translation, and establish the University as a world leader in this field.
Our approach
The Network includes researchers from the areas of agriculture, architecture, ecology, engineering, geography, health and medicine, law, physics, the social sciences, and veterinary science. Working together on transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects we bring a unique perspective to food and nutrition research.
The impact of our research
Our research aims to positively effect communities at all levels; local, regional and global.
The three big challenges we are tackling are:
- Making the University a global leader in the innovative use of global research to bring about change in global food systems
- Bringing together new combinations of expertise to identify solutions to regional food and nutrition problems
- Positioning the University as a local change agent in shaping Sydney’s food system
These challenges are the basis for three richly interconnected research programmes that share aims, concepts and methods. Our researchers will engage with other institutions and a range of industries to work towards these answers.
Our team
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David Raubenheimer joined the University in April 2013 as the Leonard P Ullmann Chair in Nutritional Ecology. David is a leading expert in nutritional ecology: the discipline that studies how nutrition-related aspects of an animal’s environment interact with its biology to determine health and fitness outcomes. His approach is comparative, using ecological and evolutionary diversity to understand these interactions. His studies of insects, fish, birds and a variety of mammals have helped develop a new, systems-based approach to human nutrition, which draws extensively on evolutionary and ecological theory. |
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Sinead Boylan has a passion for inter-disciplinary research at the intersection of food systems, health and the environment and this is reflected in her current roles at The University of Sydney: Executive Director of the Sydney Food and Nutrition Network; Executive Officer for the Climate Change, Human Health and Social Impacts Node at The University of Sydney. Her research aims to identify strategies to promote a healthy and sustainable diet. She strives for equitable, healthy food access for all. Sinead also lectures in food systems and sustainability. |
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Susan Martinez has worked in the higher education sector for over 10 years. She has previously worked with the School of Public Health with a particular focus on research and higher research degrees providing executive support and advice. Susan has a keen interest in the area of food, food system, and the overall big question of ‘how do we feed the world?’ |
Podcast appearances
A collection of appearances by Sydney Food and Nutrition Network members across a range of popular podcasts.
Become a member
Would you like to help us transform the way we teach, think and learn about food and diets?
Sign up to be a member of the Sydney Food and Nutrition Network. As a member, you’ll be the first to receive invitations to our events and information tailored to suit your research area. You can become a member if you have a current or potential research interest in food and nutrition systems.
We have two categories of membership; the University Staff and Students category of membership is open to current staff and students of the University of Sydney. Affiliates and individuals from other organisations are invited to sign up to the Friends of SFNN membership.
Download a list of all our current members (pdf, 147KB)
External collaboration
If you work in an institution outside of the University of Sydney and you are interested in collaborating with members of the Sydney Food and Nutrition Network, please contact us at sfnn.enquiries@sydney.edu.au