EDOR events

From bedrooms to battlefields Date: 24 March 2026 Event description: The University of Otago Leading Thinkers inaugural public lecture series, spearheaded by EDOR, was held at Tūhura, Otago Museum. EDOR Director Professor Rachael Taylor presented her research on teens and screens and how devices affect their sleep. More info: The Impact of Screen Time in Bed on Young Adults, Radio New Zealand interview (10min 52sec) From bedrooms to battlefields: Health and conflict in an inter-connected world, University of Otago

Leading Thinkers Celebration Date: 28 November 2024 Event description: Celebrating 21 years of the Leading Thinkers initiative at the University of Otago. EDOR hosts two Leading Thinkers and played a major role in organising this event. More info: Leading Thinkers turns 21 celebrating a unique gift, article by University of Otago

EDOR 20th Anniversary Symposium Date: 24th November 2023 Event description: EDOR celebrated 20 years since the inception of the centre with a symposium that celebrated our researchers here in Aotearoa and internationally. More info: Presentations from EDOR's 20th Anniversary, YouTube Flagship research centre celebrates 20th anniversary, article by University of Otago 20 years of research celebrated, article by Otago Daily Times

Transforming Lives: 100 Years of Insulin Date: 24 November 2022 Event description: EDOR, alongside Healthier Lives–He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, Diabetes NZ and Lions District 202F hosted a symposium at Parliament, Wellington to celebrate 100 years since insulin was discovered and advocate for funding of diabetes technology. More info: Presentations from Transforming Lives, YouTube Transforming Lives: Speaker bios 100 years after insulin was first used, why isn't NZ funding the latest life-changing diabetes technology? article in The Conversation Watch Professor Jim Mann on TVNZ's Breakfast show talk about how technologies can transform the lives of those living with diabetes.

Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes Report Launch Date: 15 March 2021 Event description: A PwC report into the cost of type 2 diabetes for Aotearoa New Zealand was commissioned by EDOR and partner organisations. The report was launched in Parliament by the Associate Minister of Health (Māori) Hon Peeni Henare and the Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Minister for Health (Pacific Peoples). More info: Watch a video summary of the launch - YouTube EDOR directors instrumental in Type 2 Diabetes report Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report launched at Parliament

From Evidence to Everyday: translating nutrition research for a healthy Aotearoa Date: 20 September 2019 Event description: A fascinating lineup of topics explored how nutrition research is interpreted by health professionals, the media, policymakers, the community, and ultimately makes its way into our everyday food choices. The event included the Cost of Food panel discussion, chaired by renowned broadcaster Kim Hill. More info: View a video summary of the event - YouTube From Evidence to Everyday programme and presentations Speaker bios From Evidence to Everyday The Cost of Food panel discussion - Radio NZ summary and recording From Evidence to Everyday presentations, YouTube

Focus on Fibre and Food Date: 12 February 2019 Event description: The Focus on Fibre and Food presentations and workshops examined two topical aspects of human nutrition and health: the role of dietary fibre in preventing and treating non-communicable diseases; and the importance of knowing what New Zealanders eat to inform health research and policy. More info: Watch the Focus on Fibre and Food Monitoring presentations Meet the speakers and chairs for Fibre and Food

The global effort to tackle obesity and diabetes Date: 23 February 2018 Event description: EDOR and the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge co-hosted a public lecture by two international obesity and diabetes researchers. The Minister of Health, Hon Dr David Clark, delivered an opening address, followed by presentations from Professor Jeff Reading (Canada) and Professor Nick Wareham (UK). More info: View the talks from "The global effort to tackle obesity and diabetes" public lecture Diabetes a social issue, article by Otago Daily Times

The Cost of Sugar Forum Date: 16 March 2017 Event description: This public forum held in Auckland was about the wide-ranging impacts of sugar in our society.  Celebrated broadcaster, Kim Hill, chaired an expert panel and took questions from the audience to tease out what we really know about this complex and controversial topic. More info: The 'cost' of sugar, recording, Radio New Zealand website The cost of sugar event and speaker information

The Diabesity Crisis: how can we make a difference? Date: 17 March 2017 Event description: The Diabesity Crisis symposium showcased the latest national and international research on diabetes and obesity.  Jointly organised by EDOR and two National Science Challenges — A Better Start and Healthier Lives — this event focused on how preventive actions and treatments can make a difference to the rising tide of diabesity. More info: The Diabesity Crisis - event details and recordings Meet the Diabesity Crisis symposium speakers and chairs

Is Type 2 Diabetes preventable, curable, or both? Date: 25 March 2015 Event description: Professor Mike Lean holds the chair of Human Nutrition, based at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he is also a consultant physician. In 2014 he was one of only 19 Scottish researchers in the top 1% for international citations, on the Thomson-Reuters 'Highly Cited' Researcher listing. Professor Lean spoke about the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), the biggest research study ever funded by Diabetes UK, which aims to reverse the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes using a non-surgical weight management programme. More info: Podcast of Dr Lean's public lecture

Rethinking the use of evidence to guide obesity prevention in high-risk ethnic groups Date: 9 October 2014 Event description: Professor Shiriki Kumanyika is Co-Chair of World Obesity - Policy and Prevention (formerly the International Obesity Task Force), a member of the US Task Force on Community Preventive Services and President-elect of the American Public Health Association. Based at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Dr Kumanyika gave a public lecture at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and attended EDOR's health inequalities workshop. More info: Podcast of Dr Kumanyika's public lecture Dunedin welcomes distinguished obesity researcher International researcher attends health inequalities workshop

EDOR celebrates a decade of research Date: 19 August 2014 Event description: EDOR celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a free public lecture and reception at the Otago Museum. Professor Mann and advisory board chair Sir Eion Edgar opened the evening's proceedings after which Professor Boyd Swinburn, a distinguished clinical and public health researcher, gave a public lecture entitled: "Matching research agendas to the action strategies for preventing obesity and diabetes". More info: EDOR's 10-year anniversary event details EDOR celebrates 10 years, article by The Last Word

How should we label our food? Date: 26 February 2014 Event description: A public lecture by Dr Mike Rayner, Director of the British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group, which is based within the Nuffield Department of Population Health of the University of Oxford. Dr Rayner described the elements of food labelling most relevant to health, looked at how foods are currently labelled around the world, and discussed the impact of different food labelling methods on public health. More info: How should we label our food? - podcast and lecture slides Food labelling, Community or Chaos programme Access Radio interview, aired 15 April 2014 (56 mins)

NZ's Waistline - what will it take to fix it? Date: 7 June 2013 Event description: This Wellington event, organised by EDOR, was the third in a series of national meetings to continue to encourage collaborative action against the epidemics of diabetes and obesity. More info: NZ's Waistline - what will it take to fix it?

Who is responsible for NZ's waistline? Date: 25 March 2011 Event description: EDOR, in conjunction with the Centre for Translational Research in Chronic Diseases, hosted this seminar in Dunedin. The purpose was to follow-up and maintain momentum gained from the symposium held at the end of 2010 entitled 'Who Cares About New Zealand's Waistline?' More info: Who is responsible for NZ's waistline?

Who Cares About New Zealand's Waistline? Date: 18 October 2010 Event description: EDOR, in conjunction with the Centre for Translational Research in Chronic Diseases and the Prior Policy Centre, hosted a day-long seminar in Wellington to examine the evidence base for public health measures which will reduce the risk of obesity and its comorbidities, thereby encouraging a range of sectors to act on this growing problem. More info: Who Cares About New Zealand's Waistline?