This Friedman Seminar features Daniel Maxwell, professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and acting director, Feinstein International Center, presenting “The 2011 Famine in Somalia: Beyond a Food Security Crisis." Abstract This presentation will be based on Professor Maxwell’s retrospective research on the 2011 famine in South Central Somalia, that resulted in the recent book, Famine in Somalia: Competing Imperatives, Collective Failures (Oxford University Press, 2016). The...

This Friedman Seminar features Jeffrey Zurofsky, Founder & CEO, No Small Plans, LLC, Co-founder and former President & CEO, ’wichcraft, Riverpark, Riverpark Farm, presenting “Food technology, industrialization and commercialization- Can we bring back the humanity of eating?” Bio: Most recently, Jeffrey can be found writing about his experiences on his blog, jeffreyzurofsky.com, creating the nourishment program for Summit Series, and as co-host on Bravo’s new restaurant competition...

This Friedman Seminar features Tim Griffin, associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, presenting “Genetically-Engineered Crops: Where we have been and where we might be going” Bio Tim Griffin is an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University. At Friedman, he has directed the interdisciplinary graduate program, Agriculture, Food and the Environment since 2009, and teaches classes on U.S. agriculture, and...

This Friedman Seminar features Sean B. Cash, Ph.D, associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, presenting “Like a kid in a candy shop: What do we know about how kids spend their own money?” This seminar was originally held on 9/21/2016. Bio: Sean B. Cash is an economist and associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University with expertise in food labeling, ethical consumption, and consumer behavior. He also is an adjunct...

This Friedman Seminar features Sam Myers, Senior Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, presenting “Planetary health and nutrition: Tracking the human nutritional consequences of accelerating global environmental change.” Bio: Samuel Myers, MD, MPH works at the intersection of human health and global environmental change. He is a Senior Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health...

The 2016 Friedman School Dean’s Medal Ceremony honored Peter R. Dolan, A78, A08P, Chairman, Tufts University Board of Trustees, for his many accomplishments and extraordinary service to Tufts University. The Dean’s Medal is the highest honor awarded by each school at Tufts, reserved for those select individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university and the greater community. This event was held Wednesday, September 14, 2016. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science...

Abstract: The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) will be held in Istanbul May 22 – 24, 2016. Hailed as a “once in a generation” opportunity, the WHS must come to grips with the massive challenges facing humanitarian action globally, and chart a new course of action in the face of unprecedented demands on a system that is increasingly outdated, under-funded and overwhelmed by events. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that there is not a single humanitarian “system,” but...

Abstract: Food waste has generated significant debate among industry stakeholders, policy makers, and consumer groups. Date labels (Best by, Fresh by, Sell by, and Use by) may lead to confusion about food quality and safety among consumers and may prompt waste. With an experimental auction, we test the effect of date labels on premeditated waste. Our results suggest that date labels influence the value of premeditated food waste, or willingness to waste (WTW). Ambiguity avoidance may prompt...

This Friedman Seminar features Karen Jacobsen, presenting a talk titled "Understanding Urban Settings – Developing an Information Toolkit for Humanitarian Agencies through Academic-Practitioner Partnerships." This seminar was originally held on 3/16/2016. ABSTRACT: Humanitarian crises and forced displacement are increasingly played out in urban settings, as evident in the Syrian crisis. The humanitarian response has been slow to adapt to urban settings. New types of programming are being...

The campaign centered in the US CDC birth defects branch to spread Folic acid fortification of Flour globally after the experience in the USA to prevent half of the neural tube defect births (spina bifida and Anencephaly) lacks the controls against risks of excessive folic acid exposure built into the US mandate. That campaign tries to suppress the growing evidence that high intakes of synthetic folic acid (not A natural form of the vitamin folate) especially in infants and elderly with low...

This Friedman Seminar features Nabeeha M. Kazi, President and CEO of Humanitas Global, presenting “Driving Action, Accountability and Impact for a Zero Hunger World.” This seminar was originally held on 3/9/2016. Abstract: Goal #2 of the Sustainable Development Goals has been named the Zero Hunger Goal. Creating a world free from hunger where every man, woman and child is able to enjoy sufficient and nutritious food, is central to this charge. The SDGs are meant to leave no one behind, but...

This Friedman Seminar features Dean Spears, presenting a talk titled "Why are children in India so short? What toilets, moms, and families have to do with child nutrition". This seminar was originally held on 3/2/2016. ABSTRACT: Why are children in India so short? This question represents a major puzzle in global nutrition both because average child height is a critical indicator of human development and nutritional outcomes and because children in India, which has been experiencing rapid...

This Friedman Seminar features Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development in the World Health Organization, presenting "Nutrition for Sustainable Development." This seminar was held on February 17, 2016. Abstract: On 25 September 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, with 17 Goals and 169 targets. Good nutrition is a core element of the...

This Friedman Seminar features four Boston-area community leaders, telling their stories about how food justice has played a role in their lives and work: "Digging Deep: Creative Expressions on Food Justice." This seminar was held on February 24, 2016. In the words of researcher and storyteller Dr. Brené Brown, "Stories are just data with a soul." Stories are a way to elucidate different points of view, highlight unique perspectives, and provide depth to our understanding of the world. This...

William Masters presents "Got baby food? Understanding the market for packaged complementary foods in developing countries." This seminar was originally held on February 3rd, 2016. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to nutrition and...

Dariush Mozaffarian and Alice Lichtenstein present "The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans - What Does Everyone Need to Know?" This seminar was originally held on 1/27/16. Abstract: The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are to (1) follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan; (2) focus on variety, nutrient density and amount; (3) limit calories from added sugars and...

This Friedman Seminar features six of our current postdoctoral scholars, presenting synopses of their varied research projects: Eleanor Shonkoff: "Eating Well Matters @ Restaurants: A messaging campaign to guide healthy choices for children" Kassandra Harding: "Causes and consequences of hidden hunger in South Asia" Laura Pimpin: "Estimating the diet-related burden of disease in maternal and child health" Zach Conrad: "Modeling the effect of population interventions to improve diet and...

This Friedman Seminar features Dr. Christian Peters, presenting "Potential for increased food self-reliance in the Northeast U.S." This seminar was held on November 18th, 2015. Dr. Christian Peters is an assistant professor at the Friedman School. His research focus is understanding the potential to increase the ecological sustainability of human societies through changes to the food system. Areas of particular interest include local and regional food systems, impact of dietary preferences...

This Friedman Seminar features Sara C. Folta, PhD, presenting "Preliminary Investigation of Civic Engagement as a Novel Approach to Behavior Change and Body Weight Improvement in African American Females: The Change Club Study." This seminar was held on November 4th, 2015. Sara C. Folta, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She is an interventionist who conducts research in community settings to improve nutrition and...

Critiques of the social marketing literature have suggested the place strategy is a key component within the 4Ps of the marketing mix (i.e., product, price, place, and promotion) that simultaneously has been misunderstood and underutilized. Dr. Edgar’s lecture will focus on a recently completed historical study of the last three decades of the peer-reviewed literature to better understand how place has been conceptualized and operationalized. The project included an examination of initiatives...

This Friedman Seminar features Miriam Nelson, associate dean, Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service and Friedman School professor, and Tim Griffin, director of Friedman's Agriculture Food and Environment Program, speaking on the topic of dietary guidelines and sustainability. This seminar was held on October 14th, 2015. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report that was submitted last February has received unprecedented public attention. The majority of the attention --...

This Friedman Seminar features Ricardo Salvador, PhD, senior scientist and director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, speaking on the topic of "Science, Politics, and Policy of Agroecology" This seminar was held on April 22nd, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States....

This Friedman Seminar features Dr. Monika Hartmann speaking on the topic of "Evaluation of the EU School Fruit Scheme in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany." This seminar was held on April 15th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's eight degree programs – which focus on questions relating to...

This Friedman Seminar features John Pickett, PhD, Professor, Michael Elliott Distinguished Research Fellow and Scientific Leader of Chemical Ecology at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, speaking on the topic of "Sustainable Intensification of Food Production: A New Agricultural Revolution Using Agroecology and Genetic Modification." This seminar was held on April 8th, 2015. About the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition...