FAQs

The Academy of Nutrition Sciences is the result of a longstanding working relationship between four organisations with a history of involvement in: nutrition science research; the communication and application of research; nutrition and dietetic practice and education; and nutrition professional regulation.

The founding organisations are the Association for Nutrition (AfN), the British DieteticAssociation (BDA), the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) and the Nutrition Society (NS).

Each of the founding organisations brings a range of perspectives and expertise, and by forming an umbrella body for joint strategic activity, the Academy will be able to deliver outputs and impact at a scale that would be unlikely for the individual member organisations in isolation. We believe this will add value to the ANS member organisations, amplifying the impact of the work they already do and increasing the profile of nutrition as a profession and discipline based on sound scientific evidence.

Ensuring the quality of public information on nutrition is a critical goal, because the public have limited guidance to help them to obtain well informed and safe advice. This will require concerted effort and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. The founding organisations also agree that the funding of nutrition research needs to be given greater priority than is currently the case, and there is a need for clear, confident leadership.

Other organisations that comply with the Academy’s values and principles as outlined in the constitution and byelaws, can apply for membership (see Q7).

In other areas (such as engineering, science and biology) there are umbrella organisations that have a powerful voice on behalf of the whole sector. Nutrition science did not have such a voice until the Academy was formed. The Academy presents an authoritative voice advancing and promoting evidence-based nutrition science.

Discussions between the founding organisations of the Academy have been ongoing for around 20 years, in one form or another. All founding organisations agree that the health and wellbeing of the public and the need to advance evidence-based nutrition science have now become pressing priorities. The time has never been more appropriate for a body such as the Academy.

Our vision is to be an authoritative voice advancing and promoting evidence-based nutrition science.

Our mission is to champion nutrition science, enhancing its impact on policy and health for public benefit.

To deliver this, the charity’s Trustees have developed a strategic plan, with three strategic priorities:

• Promoting collaboration and partnerships

• Influencing science and policy

• Developing our organisational resilience.

More detail can be found here

Various activities are being initiated that align with one of more of the three strategic priorities. These are being chosen to add value, focusing on outcomes that an individual member organisation could not achieve alone, and may also build on existing work in one or more member organisation(s) to bring greater prominence, amplify the impact or build synergies across the field.

Over time, to achieve the charitable object in our constitution, it is expected that the scope of the Academy’s activities will address: leadership; communication, education and training; stakeholder relationships; and advancing the research agenda.

Aligned with its strategic priorities, the main outputs to-date from the Academy of Nutrition Sciences are Position Papers (published open access in peer-reviewed scientific journals) and associated editorials .

Position Papers summarise the status quo on a topic, identify challenges and opportunities, and make recommendations.

The Academy also publishes topical blog posts on its website; which fall within several categories such as those that concern the Academy’s outputs, those that comment on the work/actions of others and those that publicise nutrition science activities of its Member Organisations.

With the support of nutrition-trained volunteers and utilising communications expertise residing within it Member Organisations, an independent social media presence for the Academy is being developed to illustrate its work and value as a voice for the nutrition and dietetics community.

Position Papers are aligned with the Academy’s strategic priorities, extensively reviewed by the Academy’s Trustees and subsequently published open access in peer-reviewed scientific journals. They present the Academy’s position on a major aspect of nutrition science, identify challenges and opportunities, and make recommendations.

The status of the blog posts published on the Academy’s website is different. Some are designed to share news on a recent development. The aim of others is to encourage debate or reflection on controversial issues, focusing on the strength of the evidence base underpinning these issues. An approval process is in place for the blog posts but, unlike the Position Papers, they do not present an official position of the Academy.

Membership of the Academy is open to organisations that comply with its values and principles, including commitment to evidence-based nutrition science, as outlined in the constitution and byelaws. Membership is not open to individuals. An application form and guidance will be available in due course, via the website.

The Academy aims to be inclusive, therefore organisations outside the UK that fulfil the membership criteria are welcome to apply for membership.

No. Membership of the Academy is not open to businesses, as described in the byelaws agreed by the Trustees. Membership is only open to organisations whose primary function is developing and delivering evidence-based nutrition science.

The founding member organisations applied for charitable status for The Academy of Nutrition Sciences and this application was approved and entered onto the Register of Charities on 26 September 2019. The Charity Commission is satisfied that The Academy of Nutrition Sciences is established for charitable purposes for the public benefit. The constitution and byelaws are available from the 'About' section of the website. The Academy is led and managed by a Board of Trustees, with support being provided (as required) by each of the member organisations (current and future) and by volunteers.

No, all the members will be organisations operating in the evidence-based nutrition science arena.

No. The Academy will complement and amplify the existing work of the four founding organisations that are collaborating in this new initiative: the Association for Nutrition (AfN), the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) and the Nutrition Society (NS).

The work of the Academy is currently funded through membership subscriptions.

The Academy has been established as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and its Trustees have been appointed in accordance with the CIO constitution. After the first two Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the Academy, a third of the Trustees will retire from office and new trustees will be elected by the AGM. Each member organisation will have the opportunity to nominate future Trustees and to vote at the AGM on the appointment of Trustees and other matters (one vote per member organisation). The Trustees have responsibility for managing the affairs of the CIO, supported by an Operational Support Group comprising senior representatives from each of the founding members organisations, a secretariat and working groups that will be established from time to time.