Winner of IFST Science Communication Competition announced - 2020

Congratulations to Imogen Allen from University of Reading, who has won our Science Communication Competition (in its second year) with her article titled “Hakuna Matata: are insects the future of food?”.

She says “When this competition popped up in my email inbox, I was very excited. I have spent lockdown practising my writing and have produced a number of vegan nutrition blog pieces, but I was really wanting to write something a little bit different. There are many advocates for insects as a source of nutrition. However, given COVID-19, stemming from a wet market in Wuhan, and the fact that 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses, I am concerned that insect farming would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

To me, effective science communication is about taking a complex idea and breaking it down into accurate, engaging and digestible content that anyone can understand. As I convert from food science to food law this will be even more important. I will need to break down legal concepts to clients and translate technical expert evidence to the courts.

This win means a lot to me; I love writing and have never received a communications award before. After a few disappointing weeks in lockdown this has really picked my spirits up! I would encourage everyone to try their hand at an IFST competition in the future; even if you don't win, it expands your knowledge in important topical areas"

Imogen’s article will be published in September’s issue of Food Science & Technology magazine. Find out more about the Science Communication Competition here.

See last year’s winning entry here: https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsat.3303_4.x

14/10/2020
Imogen Allen Article - Insects future of food.pdf