Meet the Team
Please meet the team that designed this course.
They include staff from both Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Turin, Italy.
Lead Educator
Katrina Campbell
Katrina is a Lecturer in Bioanalytical Systems and heads the Biosensors Strand within the Centre for ASsured, SafE and Traceable food (ASSET). Katrina is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, Irish Toxicology Society and International Society for the study of harmful algae. Her research focuses on the identification and recognition of known and emerging threats within the entire food supply chain from “environment to farm to fork” and to determine their consequential effects. She designs biosensor based screening methods, for the rapid remote detection of toxins, chemical contaminants and harmful organisms, as a tool to enhance food safety and sustainability. Katrina also co-ordinates Modules with the MSc distance and campus based learning at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Educators
Giovanna Ponti
Giovanna is an assistant professor in Veterinary Physiology at the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy, where she is a teacher in Animal Physiology for Veterinary Medicine Master students and for Bachelor students of the degree “Production and Management of domestic and wild animals”. Moreover, she is a researcher in the Neuroendocrinology Lab of the Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, a University Interdepartmental Centre which hosts labs from the Departments of Neuroscience, Veterinary Sciences, Biotechnology and Systems Biology of the University of Turin to perform high-level research in neuroscience.
Giovanna’ s research interest is focused on mechanisms that govern normal neural maturation. In particular, her research is focused on the in vivo study of the effects of the exposure to estrogen-mimicking compounds on the nervous system (hypothalamic circuits regulating anxiety, energy metabolism and reproductive system), and at the peripheral level. In particular, she is interested in how phytoestrogens (or pollutants) in the feed in the first stage of life may decrease fertility, the quality of meat, and animal welfare.
Flavia is an assistant professor in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy. She gives lectures to students in the courses of Veterinary Toxicology and Food Safety (master degree in Veterinary Medicine), Chemical Contaminants and Feed Additives (master degree in Animal Sciences), Feed Legislation (master degree in Animal Sciences), and norms on animal testing and management of animal facilities (Research Doctorate in Veterinary Sciences for Animal Health and Food Safety).
Her main research fields are the identification of biomarkers of illicit treatments and of exposure to environmental contaminants (e.g. dioxin-like compounds) in food-producing species, and the development of in vitro models to study the metabolism and toxicity of drugs, additives, environmental contaminants and growth-promoting agents in veterinary species.
Paola is an associate professor in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy. She teaches students of the master degree in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science and in the degree of Animal Production and Management.
Her scientific interests are mainly related to food safety, focusing on drugs, environmental contaminants, and growth promoting agents in food-producing species. Her research is intended for the identification of biomarkers for both illicit treatments and environmental contaminant exposure, as well as the development of in vitro models in order to study the toxicity of drugs and contaminants from the pharmacokinetics (e.g. drug metabolism) and pharmacodynamics point of view.
Francesco is an assistant professor in the Inspection of Food of Animal Origin at the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy and gives lectures to students in the courses of Hygiene of Food of Animal Origin (master degree in Veterinary Medicine) and Microbiological Feed Safety (master degree in Animal Sciences).
Her main research fields are food microbiology and molecular methods for the identification and characterization of foodborne pathogens. Relevant research topics include epidemiological and molecular studies of foodborne parasites and the application of isothermal amplification techniques for the identification of pathogenic and spoilage food bacteria.
Michaela Fox
Michaela is a Lecturer (Education) in the Institute of Global Food Security in Queen’s University, Belfast. Her work is primarily focused on supporting the development of education programmes within the EITFOOD partnership. Michaela’s research background is related to food quality, safety and nutrition and she has a history of working in the food production industry in Northern Ireland.
Mentors
Please also meet the mentors/ facilitators for the course who are also based in the University of Turin and Queens University, Belfast.
Floriana has a Ph.D in Chemical Science. From 2004 to 2016 she was involved in research activities in the field of Physical Chemistry, focused on the characterisation, by spectroscopic methods, of nanostructured solid materials for catalytic application.
She is currently a technician of the E-Learning Staff (ICT Division of University of Torino) where she provides technical and pedagogical support in the design and production of e-learning courses for staff and students at the University.
Natalia is a veterinary nutritionist resident of the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN) at the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin, Italy.
Her scientific interest is focused on pets and horses nutrition and research that encompasses both the industrial and the clinical aspects of investigation. At this moment she is studying the influence of nutraceuticals on the immune system.
Tina has extensive knowledge of instructional technologies and advanced skills with course authoring, customized e-Learning solutions that support learning strategies and objectives.
Key examples of her work includes Consultant at the Center ICT (CISI) of the University of Turin, in the framework of the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (the HELP Programme) and management of an e-learning project “Laboratorio di lingua online” for students of University of Turin.
The Educators won’t be able to join the discussions themselves or respond to individual comments, but the course encourages a strong learning community. The learning is focused around debate and discussion – supporting other learners, sharing your own experience and knowledge, and listening to new perspectives. We hope that you will enjoy interacting with and learning from each other in this way. Don’t forget to comment, reply to other learners and ‘like’ comments.
Farm to Fork: Sustainable Food Production in a Changing Environment
Farm to Fork: Sustainable Food Production in a Changing Environment
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