Teaching

Dr Margaret Murray has a passion for authentic and engaging education. She developed the following two units on food, nutrition and health in the multi-disciplinary Master of Food Science and Agribusiness at Monash University. These units are a culmination of her interests in nutrition, health promotion and sustainability, and consider the challenges facing our food system of delivering a healthy and sustainable diet for all.

FSC5040 Food, nutrition and human health

This unit focuses on fundamental concepts in human nutrition. It describes the role and ‘in-body’ function of macro and micro-nutrients found in foods, and identifies components which are essential for human health. The concept of energy balance is introduced and its relevance for the health of populations and individuals. The nutrient reference values (NRV) for optimal nutrition for the Australian population and methods of nutrition assessment are explored. Food regulation, with a focus on labelling and health claims, is discussed along with an exploration of food policy and the question of a healthy and sustainable food system.

FSC5041 Advanced food, nutrition and human health

This unit will introduces cutting edge research and innovation in the field of human nutrition in two key topic areas, the first centred around metabolism and individual health, the second focused on large scale public health. The first topic critically examines functional foods, personalised nutrition and new technologies that are designed to enhance health and performance or prevent and manage disease, with a focus on metabolic mechanisms. The second topic explores the field of public health with a focus on how the food system influences nutrition, health issues such as chronic disease, and food security and sustainability in our changing world.

These two units form a key part of the Master of Food Science and Agribusiness, and are also offered in the Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University.

Dr Murray teaches into the Bachelor of Health Sciences Nutrition major at Swinburne University of Technology.