Personal profile
Biography
I am a qualitative social scientist whose research focuses the interactions between nutrition research and public health policy. My PhD Obesity: A historical account of the construction of a modern epidemic spanned medical sociology, public health policy and the history of medicine. I have subsequently worked on food security policy and commercial actors’ understandings of public health regulation. I have a growing teaching portfolio, experience of a range of research methods, including documentary analysis and interviewing lay and professional publics. I am also co-convenor of the interdisciplinary network Food Researchers in Edinburgh (FRIED) and currently organise the network’s seminar series.
Research Interests
National and international food policy, especially the areas of public health nutrition, food security and sustainability
Global health governance and the work of the WHO and the FAO
The development of nutrition science and chronic disease epidemiology in the UK and the US
Interactions between research evidence and public policy
Popular understandings of nutrition and healthy eating
Education/Academic qualification
Science and Technology Studies, Master of Social Science
Jan 2006 → Jan 2007
Award Date: 6 Aug 2008
Science and Technology Studies, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Obesity: A historical account of the construction of a modern epidemic , University of Edinburgh
Jan 2007 → Jun 2010
Keywords
- HM Sociology
Research Themes and Networks
- Governance & Democracy
- Health & Wellbeing
- Energy & Sustainability
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Nutritionism
Fletcher, I., 5 Aug 2025, Elgar Encyclopedia of Food and Society. Holloway, L., Goodman, M. K., Maye, D., Kneafsey, M., Sexton, A. E. & Moragues-Faus, A. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 360-363 4 p. (Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Producing but not consuming? Food provisioning in remote, rural areas of the UK
Fletcher, I. & Bruce, A., Jun 2025, In: Rural sociology. 90, 2, p. 326–346 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Gender and interdisciplinary research
Fletcher, I. & Lyall, C., 20 Jun 2024, Elgar Encyclopedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity. Darbellay, F. (ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 231-234 4 p. (Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
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Shaping the integration of arts, humanities and social sciences in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research
Vienni-Baptista, B., Fletcher, I., Spaapen, J., Wallace, D. & Ohlmeyer, J., 31 Jan 2024, The Edinburgh Companion to the New European Humanities. Braidotti, R., Casper-Hehne, H., Ivković, M. & Oostveen, D. F. (eds.). Edinburgh University Press, p. 47-65 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Open AccessFile -
Foundations of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research: A Reader
Vienni-Baptista, B. (Editor), Fletcher, I. (Editor) & Lyall, C. (Editor), 11 Jul 2023, Bristol University Press. 264 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Activities
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Boundary workers: facilitating dialogue between Science and Technology Studies and the scholarship on inter- and transdisciplinarity
Fletcher, I. (Speaker)
3 Jun 2025Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Producing but not consuming? Food provisioning in remote, rural areas of the UK
Fletcher, I. (Speaker)
27 May 2025Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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The Future(s) of UK livestock
Fletcher, I. (Organiser) & Blair, K. (Organiser)
26 Feb 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Transforming UK Food Systems Programme
Fletcher, I. (Presenter), Blair, K. (Presenter) & Burns, J. (Presenter)
6 Jan 2025 → 7 Jan 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Spanning boundaries: facilitating dialogue between the scholarship on inter- and transdisciplinarity and STS
Fletcher, I. (Speaker)
5 Nov 2024Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Building for health centred, net zero aligned Food Systems Transformation - A Living Good Food Nation Lab
Brennan, M. (Principal Investigator), Moore, N. (Co-investigator), Fletcher, I. (Co-investigator), Jaacks, L. (Co-investigator), Alexander, P. (Co-investigator), Wilson, M. (Co-investigator), Darmon, I. (Principal Investigator) & Simm, G. (Co-investigator)
1/04/24 → 30/04/27
Project: Research
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TRAnsforming the DEbate about transforming livestock systems (TRADE)
Fletcher, I. (Principal Investigator), Alexander, P. (Co-investigator), De Oliveira Silva, R. (Co-investigator), Gorjanc, G. (Co-investigator), Jaacks, L. (Co-investigator), Moran, D. (Co-investigator), Watson, M. (Co-investigator) & Wilson, A. (Co-investigator)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/06/22 → 31/05/25
Project: Research
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A Social Science Investigation of the role of Guts and Microbes in Health and Disease
Fletcher, I. (Principal Investigator) & Haddow, G. (Co-investigator)
1/06/20 → 31/07/20
Project: University Awarded Project Funding
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Should We All Give Up Meat to Save the Planet?
Fletcher, I. (Principal Investigator)
6/04/18 → 6/04/18
Project: University Awarded Project Funding
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PTAS: Principal's Teaching Award Scheme
Moore, N. (Principal Investigator), Wilson, M. (Co-investigator), Darmon, I. (Co-investigator), Fletcher, I. (Co-investigator) & Bruce, A. (Co-investigator)
14/09/15 → 5/06/17
Project: University Awarded Project Funding
Press/Media
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Rural areas miss out on locally produced food, study finds
22/07/25 → 23/07/25
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Press Release
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Where does your food come from?
6/09/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Dr Fletcher talks about sustainable diets in relation to upcoming EISF SciMart
2/04/16
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment