This research highlights the limitations of current food safety detection and introduces nanoparticle-based smart packaging. These nanosensors detect gases from spoilage and signal safety through colour changes. By replacing guesswork with real-time indicators, this approach could prevent foodborne illness, improve consumer confidence, and modernise food safety in an increasingly technological world.

This research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to obesity by comparing childhood- and adult-onset cases. Through physiological testing before and after weight loss, it examines differences in inflammation, metabolism, and fitness. Findings aim to support personalised treatments, improving patient outcomes and reducing the broader healthcare burden associated with obesity.

This research addresses rural water scarcity in Colombia by developing a household treatment system combining filtration and solar disinfection. Using engineering models, it optimizes flow, pathogen inactivation, and sunlight exposure to ensure reliability. The approach delivers safe, simple, and sustainable water access, reducing disease and improving quality of life in underserved communities.

This talk traces the devastation of the Black Death to highlight a modern crisis: antibiotic resistance. Misuse of antibiotics accelerates the rise of superbugs. Using AI and machine learning, the research identifies genetic resistance patterns and guides effective treatments, aiming to improve clinical decisions and prevent a return to a pre-antibiotic era.

This research investigates tularemia, a highly infectious disease caused by Francisella tularensis, and explores a weakened bacterial strain as a vaccine candidate. By studying how the pathogen evades immune defenses, the work aims to enable rapid immune recognition and response, improving protection against both natural infections and potential biothreats.

This research shows that estrogen directly influences fat taste perception by acting on estrogen receptors within fat-responsive taste cells. Sex differences in fat preference persist even without gut–brain signaling, indicating hormonal regulation at the sensory level. These findings may inform obesity research and strategies to improve dietary behavior and health outcomes.

Malaria still kills hundreds of thousands annually, while drug and insecticide resistance spread. This research shows that limiting mosquito sugar supply alters their evolution, reducing malaria parasite burden over generations. Targeting mosquito sugar metabolism offers a novel, sustainable strategy for controlling malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Over 11 million U.S. homes rely on toxic lead pipes. Bioderived polyethylene offers a safer replacement, but long-term durability must be ensured. This research studies how chlorine degrades pipe materials and how molecular branching improves resilience. Accelerated aging tests link polymer structure to performance, guiding design of longer-lasting, reliable water infrastructure.

Maternal undernutrition in rural Ethiopia remains highly prevalent at 38 percent. This thesis identifies key drivers including gender inequality, poor nutritional counseling, and cultural food taboos. Using human-centered design, a “couples forum” intervention was developed and validated, showing strong feasibility and cultural acceptability as a promising community-based solution.

This study explored food choices among high school students in Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressing a major lack of local data. Through surveys and interviews, it revealed that students care about health and sustainability but need involvement in shaping solutions. Meaningful change requires listening to youth and making healthier choices easier.