Dr Christian Reynolds is a Senior Lecturer in Food Policy at City, University of London. He has worked for universities and NGOs researching food loss and waste, and sustainable diets. He also provides reviews and evidence assessment of food and sustainability policy areas for UK government departments.

Discovering Nutrition and Food Policy
I come from a family of cooks, people who love food, and would discuss recipes at the dinner table. However, it was only when I got to university that I realised that you could study Food and Nutrition as an academic subject! I love the way that food can be a way to engage with many issues in our society, and if we get our food system right, it can help solve other global challenges.

Academia
I studied a double degree in Economics and International Studies at the University of Adelaide, Australia. In my final undergraduate year I took a course called ‘The anthropology of Food’, it made me realise I could apply all the knowledge and skills from my degrees to a subject that I loved: food. This eventually led to me completing a PhD where I studied the environmental impacts of food waste in Australia, and how different parts of the food system can help each other to reduce food waste.
Over the last decade, I have worked for universities and NGOs researching food loss and waste, and sustainable diets. This has led to many collaborations in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, the UK, US, and throughout Europe. I love working as a university lecturer as I get the chance to engage with students and help solve global challenges such as climate change.

Research specialisms
My main research areas are measuring healthy sustainable diets, as well as food loss and waste. To research these areas I use a variety of interdisciplinary methods. My main research projects look at modelling the economic, environmental, health, and social impacts of 1) technological innovations, and 2) behaviour change campaigns (related to shopping, cooking, and food waste). I also provide reviews and evidence assessment of food and sustainability policy areas for UK government departments such as the Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lecturing at City
I am currently leading and teaching the module FPM002 the Political Economy of Food, on the Masters of Food Policy. I love teaching this course as it answers the big questions on the politics and power behind the food system.

Dr Honglin Dong is a lecturer in Nutrition at City, University of London. She leads a variety of nutrition related modules. She has more than 10 years of experience in teaching and research in Nutrition and Health.

Discovering Nutrition and Food Policy
I have a medicine degree in China (Southeast University, first class), but my passion for human nutrition brought me to the UK to study an MSc degree in Human Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Aberdeen in 2007 and received my PhD in Human Nutrition at the University of Reading in 2011.
My interest in nutrition was developed when there was an increased awareness of the important roles nutrition plays in our health. Through my study and work experience in nutrition, I felt that I was lucky to have chosen nutrition as my career because my knowledge of nutrition is beneficial not only just to myself and my family/friends but also to the community and the public.

Academia
Before I became a lecturer in nutrition, I worked as a Postdoc Research Associate at the University of Reading for 4 years after I finished my PhD. This experience gave me the confidence in doing independent research in Nutrition, which is greatly informed in my teaching. My research interests include investigation of how different nutrients or food (e.g. dietary fibre, probiotics, vitamin D etc.) can influence our health outcome (e.g. immune function, appetite, weight management and cardiometabolic risks).

Lecturing at City
I enjoy myself as a university lecturer because I could pass my knowledge and experience to students and keep consistent interaction with them through their study even after they graduate. The most rewarding part of my job is to see the joy and passion of my students, witness their progress through their study with us and get jobs they like.

The student experience
Students will have an amazing time with us at City, taught by a dedicated and enthusiastic team who are registered nutritionists, experts in phycological behaviour, food safety and sustainability, food policy, and social care. At City we pride ourselves on providing students opportunities to grow and expand their horizons via internship, placement and other events relating to the course.