Membership Matters

Professor Eileen Gibney, Honorary Membership Officer

It is with great pleasure that I take on the role as Honorary Membership Officer and, in doing so, would like to record my thanks to my predecessor Dr Dean Sewell. During his time as Honorary Membership Officer, Dean placed the members at the core of the Society and its activities, a sentiment which will remain with me as I carry on his work.

So what does it mean to be a member of the Society – and why do we have a Trustee with Membership as a core function of their role? I have been a member of the Society since my undergraduate years, and remained an active and involved member since then. I have held several roles within the Society, including Editor of the Gazette and Secretary of the Irish Section, so I come to this role with an understanding of how important the Society is to your professional development at all stages of your career.

To me, the relevance of, and manner in which I engaged with the Society changed throughout my time as a member. Core activities such as attending and presenting at meetings, and networking remain constant, but other benefits such as travel grants, journals and textbooks, training and chairing at conferences varied depending on my career stage, my geographical location and professional development. I am sure this is much the same for most of you. This dynamic interaction of our members within the Society is why the role of Honorary Membership Officer was developed. It is imperative, that as the Society develops and grows that we meet the needs of all our members, throughout their time with the Society.

Launched this year, our new Strategic Plan places the memberships needs at the front and centre of its key objectives. Over the coming months, myself and the Membership Committee will develop our plans and activities to support the Trustees and core Nutrition Society team in delivering on these objectives. In doing so, we want to amplify your voice, and will be reaching out to you for your input. We want to see more Member-led events, more grants and supports, and innovative ways to support you and your career development. Your voice is key, and I am always more than happy to hear from you – so please do contact me (Eileen.gibney@ucd.ie) with any ideas, thoughts or comments.

A Blue Plaque To Honour Dr Elsie Widdowson

Dr Elsie Widdowson BSc, PhD, CH, CBE, FRS was a former president of The Nutrition Society (1977-1980), Head of Infant Nutrition Research at the Dunn Nutrition laboratory (1906 -2000) and a past British Nutrition Foundation president (1986 to 1996). She was a pioneer and inspirational force in the field of nutrition and had a huge impact on nutritional research.

The blue plaque, pictured below, was unveiled on 27 June 2021. Financed by the Society, the British Dietetic Association, the British Nutrition Foundation and the Royal Society, the plaque is placed on the former bakery in Barrington, Cambridge, that made the bread for Dr Widdowson’s studies.