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Dr. Linda Little and Nicola Gardiner in the PaCT Lab have recently received an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant (value £250K) to investigate teenagers’ understanding and attitudes towards energy saving. In collaboration with partners from the Universities of Central Lancashire, Birmingham, Cardiff and the Institute of Education, the 3-year project will evaluate changes in teenage perceptions and behaviour in relation to energy use. The project is unique in that it involves teenagers acting as both participants and researchers, thus educating, informing and empowering teenagers through their active involvement.

Northumbria University recently co-hosted an event aimed at boosting awareness of ‘the most important meal of the day.’ The Inaugural Knowledge Exchange Conference on school and community breakfast clubs was held in early November, organised by CoCo’s Dr. Greta DeFeyter and Pamela Graham in collaboration with Kellogg’s, and leading educational charity ContinYou. Co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the conference entitled “School and Community Breakfast Club: Breakfast on a plate...Delivery to Impact”, had the aim to develop ways to improve communication and co-ordination between breakfast club organisers, supporting organisations, nutritionists, academics and user groups. The event featured a keynote address from Rt. Hon Anne Milton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, with exhibitions from Kellogg’s, ContinYou, School Food Trust, Food for Life Partnerships and many more. As Greta explained, “This knowledge exchange event enabled academics, head teachers, policymakers, and charities to share knowledge and discuss challenges facing breakfast clubs.”