4 April 1996 Putting academic contact on the menu

Contributions to food science course development in Sweden by Lincoln University's Dr Geoffrey Savage may lead to an expansion of academic contact between the two countries of similar ideals.

A nutritional biochemist with Lincoln's Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Dr Savage spent six months last year in Sweden with part of the time as a guest of the Biological Education Centre of the 519-year-old University of Uppsala.

While at Uppsala Dr Savage was invited to suggest some suitable courses to introduce food science into the wide range of subjects already being taught in the Centre.

"Over the past few years students majoring in chemistry and biochemistry have asked the Centre to consider providing courses in Food Biochemistry," says Dr Savage, "and I was able to suggest a suitable outline which would complement the subjects already being offered.

"The proposed outline was accepted and it is likely that this new subject will be taught in the latter half of this year.

"Uppsala University has a notable and productive history in research in chemistry and biochemistry and over the years significant research in biology and human nutrition has also taken place.

"With two Nobel laureates among past staff, Uppsala has a proud history of teaching science and the father of botanical taxonomy, Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), was a professor there in his time.

"Uppsala was interested in hosting a New Zealand academic for two reasons. Firstly it is keen on establishing exchange programmes with other universities around the world and Lincoln was known as a place where Swedish students had studied in the past.

"Secondly, because we use English in New Zealand and because of our reputation for a clean, open environment, New Zealand is a popular place for Swedish students to carry out projects and the university wanted to know more about the programmes we had to offer."

The Community Diary. Produced by The Community Relations Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand