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Visit of Janet Allen, Research Director of BBSRC

On Thursday 23 September Professor Janet Allen, Director of Research for BBSRC, visited Africa College.

On Thursday 23 September Professor Janet Allen, Director of Research for BBSRC, visited Africa College.

A programme of talks on 'Research and Impact on Food Security in Africa' was organised for her visit

PROF. JANET ALLEN, FRSE
Professor Janet Allen is Director of Research at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) since October 2008 and is leading for BBSRC in the area of food security. Professor Allen trained initially in biochemistry and medicine. In addition to her highly successful career in senior appointments in medicine and academic research, she has held research directorships in the global pharmaceutical sector (with Parke Davis/Pfizer) and with an innovative biotech SME, (Inpharmatica). She has also established a spin-out company: Ligand Xpress Ltd. Professor Allen was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2000. Her research interests are primarily in cell and molecular biology; and in 2002 she was appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow and at Imperial College, London School of Medicine.


Programme

Seminar on Research and Impact on Food Security in Africa

09:30 - 10:00 Climate change, sustainability and food security and human health
Combined presentation on the inter-disciplinary research on climate change at Leeds and its partners and how this is addressing food security in SSA. This will cover climate and crop modelling, adaptation and livelihoods, food and transport, and links to the ESRC Centre on Climate Change Economic and Policy, and involvement of Leeds academics in 5th IPCC assessment.
Presenters: Andy Challinor and Claire Quinn
Contributors: Andy Challinor, Andy Dougill, Claire Quinn, Yun Yun Gon, Darren Dahly, Jeff Turner and Frances Hodgson

10:00 - 10:30 Ecosystem services, biodiversity and food security
Combined presentation on ecosystem services and biodiversity and how research is addressing challenge of poverty reduction and food security in SSA. To cover pollination services, carbon and climate change, and adaptation.
Presenters: Tim Benton
Contributors: Tim Benton, Koos Beijmer, Lindsay Stringer, Andy Dougill, Susie Sallu, Steve Sait and Keith Hamer

10:30 -11:00 Biosciences and food security
Combined presentation focusing how Leeds and African partners are undertaking basic research with the aim of translating this to tackle food security in and building research capacity in SSA. To cover: gene tilling for African orphan crops; abiotic stress, nematode control Phosphate uptake from infertile soils; DNA repair and seed viability.
Presenters: Alison Baker and Chris West
Contributors: Howard Atkinson, Brendan Davies, Alison Baker, Steve Baldwin, Christine Foyer and Chris West

11:00 -1115 Tea and Coffee

11:15 - 12:00 Partnerships, Transformation and Impact
Combined presentation on role of partnerships and transformation in achieving impact, and on the early lessons from Africa College. To cover: partnership principles, inter-disciplinary working, capacity building, post doc and early career scientists and their development, and making an impact.
Presenters: David Howlett and Hugh Roderick
Contributors: David Howlett, Tim Benton, Christine Foyer, Hugh Roderick and Nicky Atkinson

12:00 -13:00 RCUK Food Security Programme and BBSRC future research directions
Janet Allen (open to all Leeds staff)

23rd September 2010