PhD student and team wins pan-European competition

Chemistry PhD student Kerry O’Donnelly and her team are one of three winning teams of the Thought for Food Challenge

Thought for Food is a new initiative that challenges students from ten top European Universities to tackle the world's escalating food issues. From March until May 2011 cross-disciplinary teams brainstormed ideas, developed practical solutions and brought them to life in their local communities using a variety of social media to connect to each other, share ideas and inspire.  Each team captured their ideas and experiences in short video compilations, which they submitted via YouTube and other social media channels for public vote.  A judging panel of experts in agriculture, communications and young global communities also cast their votes, and the winning entries were selected for the creativity of their solutions, the awareness generated and the impact on people's behaviour.

The Imperial College team  including Chemistry PhD student Kerry O’Donnelly designed a smart phone app and website Morph My Food to reduce food waste by offering recipes and ideas for what to do with leftover food. It was selected by the judges as it was perceived as simple, creative and relevant to the needs of young people today.

The three winning teams from Imperial, Reading University and Wageningnen University will now prepare to take the global stage in Zurich in September 2011 at One Young World, the world’s leading forum for young leaders, where they will kick-off a global dialogue on food security for the future.

The 2011 Thought for Food Challenge was sponsored by Syngenta in partnership with One Young World, the Sandbox Network  and Euro RSCG