In First in a Series, SLU Research Office Holds Summit on Food and Environment

09/29/2017

How will we feed a growing population, in a changing climate, and an equitable and sustainable way? Reconciling the need to produce food with the need to sustain healthy ecosystems is a complex challenge that requires an interdisciplinary approach.

The Summit on Food and the Environment will highlight ongoing research at SLU aimed at addressing the global challenge of balancing food security and ecosystem security, all while building strong and healthy communities. The summit will be held on October 5, 2017 from 10:30-6pm in the Pere Marquette Gallery on the second floor of DuBourg Hall.

Saint Louis University’s garden was established in 2002 with a mission to improve access to healthy, local foods by providing nutrition and garden education to the St. Louis community. Faculty members from SLU's Department of Nutrition and Dietetics are among those who will speak at the summit, and the department will provide refreshments for the event.

Faculty members representing diverse disciplines from across campus will share their current work as well as thoughts for future research directions. This interactive summit will begin at 10:30 a.m. with opening remarks from Frances Pestello, Ph.D., adjunct professor of sociology at SLU, followed by a keynote presentation by Gary Nabhan, Ph.D., W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Arizona and a leading thinker in sustainable food systems.

SLU research talks will be presented by Ellen Barnidge, Ph.D., Douglas Williams, J.D., M.D., Damon Hall, Ph.D., Flannery Burke, Ph.D., Ivis Forrester, Ph.D., RDN, Lauren Landfried, M.S., Michael, Milster, M.S., C.E.C., Wasit Wulamu, Ph.D., and Allison Miller, Ph.D. Visit the summit web page to learn more about the talks the faculty members will deliver. Nutritious, local and farm fresh lunch and refreshments will be provided by students from the SLU Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"Focusing on issues of vital importance to the city, region and world, this symposium will highlight the work of SLU researchers who are involved in solving one of the world’s most pressing problems, as well as bring in outside experts to share their perspectives," said Kenneth Olliff, D.Min, MBA, Vice President for Research.

The summit will be the first in a series of events in 2017-2018 that will highlight areas of research excellence and growth at SLU.

“Saint Louis University's Five Year Research Growth Plan is an ambitious campaign to position SLU as one of the world’s premier Jesuit research universities,” said Olliff.

Read about some of SLU’s plans in a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch story.