The School of Human Environmental Sciences is pleased to announce that Dr. Alison Gustafson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, has been selected to attend the 2012 Built Environment Assessment Training (BEAT) Institute at Harvard University.
The selection process is competitive and based on 5 criteria: fit with career goals and activities, letter(s) of recommendation, diversity of entire pool of applicants, background and skills relevant to the Institute, and opportunity to use training in future research or community action.
The Built Environment Assessment Training (BEAT) Institute is designed to provide investigators and practitioners with tangible skills that can be used to measure many of the aspects of the built environment that are believed to have an effect on health. The weeklong course brings in experts from the field, including Dr. Jim Sallis from the University of California, Dr. Karen Glanz from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Brian Saelens from the University of Washington, and Dr. Amy Hillier from the University of Pennsylvania. Each day of the course, participants will be trained in current technologies and methods used for measuring the nutrition and physical activity built environment. The main goals of the institute are to prepare investigators and practitioners to use both observational and self-report measures of nutrition and activity environments, and to increase the number of professionals qualified to conduct built environment assessments for nutrition and physical activity.
Dr. Sandra Bastin, Interim Chair, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, shared, “This training will enhance Dr. Gustafson's ability to improve the health of communities in Kentucky through the built environment. Research in this area will impact how we make better food choices and become more physically active.”