Every year the BNF Awards highlight and celebrate those who have made a positive impact within the nutrition science community.
For 2020 the BNF Prize went to professor Gary Frost, head of nutritional research and director of the Imperial College Centre for translational nutrition and food research.
Frost was selected for exploring the role dietary carbohydrates play in metabolism and understanding how changes in the food chain affects nutrient intake. As part of his prize Frost has been invited to deliver the BNF annual lecture next year.
He said: “The driving force throughout my career has been to establish evidence-based diet and lifestyle changes that can make a real difference to people’s long-term health.
“Most of my work is very multidisciplinary and cuts across academia, industry, and health. This award should really be shared with a massive number of scientists, industrialists and health care workers who have contributed so freely to my work.
“Organisations like BNF have a key role in translating evidence-based nutrition science and I’m delighted to have been recognised in this year’s BNF Prize.”
The BNF Drummond Education Awards were given to five teachers throughout the UK who have consistently championed food and nutrition education. The winners include:
- Lynsey McDermott, subject leader for food technology at Bangor Grammar School, Northern Ireland
- Joe Mann, head of food preparation and nutrition at Torquay Girls’ Grammar School, England
- Sian Hedges, curriculum leader of home economics, catering, child development, health and social care and healthy schools co-ordinator at St John Baptist Church High School, Wales
- Siobhan Whelan, recently retired head of home economics, Sullivan Upper School, Northern Ireland
- Valerie Howe, home economics teacher at Garnock Community Campus, Scotland
Roy Ballam, managing director and head of education at BNF commented: “Due to the disruption the education sector has faced as a result of the pandemic, we felt it was ever-more important for us to highlight the incredible efforts of teaching staff who continually inspire and educate young minds on the importance of healthy eating and nutrition. “
Also presented during the BNF Awards 2020 ceremony was the BNF Drummond Pump Priming Award, which recognises the achievements of nutrition scientists in the early stages of their careers, This year’s winner was Dr Luciana Torquati, from the department of sport and health sciences, University of Exeter, for her research looking at the gut microbiome within endurance exercise.
The BNF Drummond Early Career Scientist Award, which recognises nutrition scientists who show strong prospects of becoming future leaders in their field, was awarded to Dr Imre Kouw.