Communication and Outreach (Theme 7)
Theme Leader - Dr. Margaret Ashwell

Theme 7 will raise awareness of the Early Nutrition Programming Project, disseminate findings from the project and promote the exploitation of new strategies and technologies arising from the project.  These aims will be carried out through work packages focussing on dissemination, exploitation and media relations.

Dissemination
Much of our dissemination activity will be web-based with the creation of an interesting and informative website as a primary objective.  This will provide a platform for communicating up-to-date news about the project while a sign-up facility will allow us to target and engage with interested groups and send out regular e-mail alerts.  Abstracts and posters produced by members of the consortium will also be available on the website.

Nevertheless, paper-based materials will also be produced and these will include a glossy brochure introducing and outlining the aims of the project and regular newsletters.  Two international conferences will be held during the lifetime of the project and the proceedings of these will be published.

Exploitation
A panel of experts drawn from areas with relevant expertise will advise on how the results from the project can best be exploited and their uses maximised (see Theme 9). They will explore the potential for the production of targeted ranges of food products and services for infants and pregnant women and will help identify health care practices which would benefit from the application of the project's findings.

Media Relations
This will involve both promoting the overall topic of Early Nutrition Programming as well as the specific work of the project to the relevant media and specialist press, together with dealing with enquiries from the media about the project.  The media centre will publicise the project through press releases, one-to-one briefings at conferences and via web-casts and will provide material for the press offices of the partner institutions.  It will also provide an ongoing resource and training centre for advising members of the consortium on dealing with the media.