Launched in 2024 under the ISBNPA Strategic Plan’s Inclusive Culture and Diversity Working Group, the effort was led in Africa by Professor Vincent Onywera, a long-standing advocate for sport and health development across the region. The project aims to strengthen scientific visibility, build networks among African researchers, and elevate the global impact of research emerging from Africa.

The newly launched database African Researchers in the Area of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Health – AfrISpoTE represents the culmination of collaboration between ISBNPA and African academia. We are pleased to see the final outcome of this joint effort, which now stands as a vital tool to advance behavioral change science, foster international partnerships, and accelerate progress toward healthier, more active communities across the continent.

In the past few months the Climate Action Committee explored the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as a potential measure to tackle ISBNPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

We contacted a few airlines, had some meetings, researched the most up-to-date literature and recommendations to make a decision about the pursue, or not, of this potential solution.

Our conclusion was that while SAFs hold significant promise as a tool for mitigating carbon emissions from air travel, they are not a panacea and their current deployment faces substantial challenges. Whether their promotion constitutes greenwashing depends on the context and transparency of the claims made. If presented as a readily available, fully sustainable solution without acknowledging the limitations in scale, cost, and potential environmental trade-offs of certain pathways, it could be considered misleading.To be considered a genuinely acceptable mitigation strategy, SAF development and deployment must:

• Prioritize truly sustainable feedstocks that avoid competition with food production and minimize land-use change impacts
• Utilize low-carbon energy sources in their production, especially for e-fuels
• Achieve significant scale and cost reductions through technological advancements, policy support, and investment
• Be part of a broader strategy that includes measures to manage and potentially reduce the demand for air travel and address non-CO2 emissions from aviation
• Ensure transparency and avoid overstating the current impact and near-term potential while underemphasizing the challenges

In summary, SAFs have the potential to be a crucial part of aviation’s decarbonization, but their current state and the way they are sometimes promoted raise valid concerns about potential greenwashing. A realistic and comprehensive approach is needed to ensure that SAFs genuinely contribute to emissions reduction without creating new environmental or social problems.

The outcomes of this critical meeting will be unveiled at the ISBNPA2025 Annual Meeting in June, hosted in Auckland. Attendees can anticipate a comprehensive presentation detailing our strategic objectives designed to foster innovation, enhance member engagement, and expand global impact over the next five years. We look forward to engaging with our members in Auckland as we chart an inspiring path forward together, reinforcing our commitment to creating healthier communities in a healthier planet through transformative research and practice.

The International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) is excited to announce the commencement of our comprehensive evaluation process for the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. This initiative is taking place over the months of September and October 2024, marking an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing research and practice in the fields of behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

Utilizing focus group interviews as a key component of this evaluation, ISBNPA is applying Appreciative Inquiry methods to gain deep insights into the successes and areas for improvement within our strategic framework. We are privileged to have Dr.s Galia Barhava-Monteith and Baruch ter Wal from ORO Group Mentoring at the helm of this evaluative endeavor. Both played instrumental roles in supporting ISBNPA during the development of our current strategic plan, and we are delighted to have their expertise guiding us as we shape our future direction.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the over 25 members of the ISBNPA community who generously participated in these focus group interviews. Your time, wisdom, and invaluable contributions are instrumental in informing this process. Your insights not only reflect your dedication but also underscore the collective strength of our society.

As ISBNPA moves forward, we remain committed to fostering an environment where innovation thrives, collaboration flourishes, and impactful research continues to drive positive change in public health worldwide.

Stay tuned for more updates on our journey towards developing a new strategic plan that will guide ISBNPA into a promising future. Together, we can continue to make meaningful strides in improving global health through behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

During the meeting, António Palmeira represented ISBNPA to engage with project leaders to explore how their initiatives could effectively integrate ISBNPA’s core values and strategic plan initiatives. This collaboration aims to ensure that these projects not only advance scientific understanding but also promote equitable health outcomes across diverse communities.

The ten funded projects under the HealthEquity initiative are set to address critical issues such as diet-related diseases, physical inactivity, and social determinants of health. By aligning these projects with ISBNPA’s strategic goals, there is potential for transformative impacts on public health policies and practices.

The ERA4Health Kick-Off Meeting provided a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and strategic planning among stakeholders committed to improving health equity. ISBNPA’s involvement ensures that behavioral nutrition and physical activity remain central components of these efforts.

As these projects move forward, ISBNPA will continue to offer guidance and support to ensure that they reflect best practices in behavioral science and community engagement. This alignment is anticipated to drive meaningful progress towards reducing health disparities and promoting wellness across populations.

Stay tuned for further updates on how these collaborative efforts evolve and make tangible differences in global health equity.

The ISBNPA has achieved a significant milestone, with 20% of its membership now drawn from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This represents an increase from a historical figure of less than 5%, effectively quadrupling the representation from these regions.

This noteworthy achievement equates to around 100 members and comes as a result of several initiatives, most notably the ISBNPA Ambassadors program.

A critical component in achieving this success has been the concerted efforts of the members of the Inclusivity and Diversity Strategic Plan initiative. Their mission to foster an inclusive environment that respects diversity and promotes equality has been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

The Inclusivity and Diversity Strategic Plan initiative has been working tirelessly to ensure that all members, regardless of their geographical location or economic status, have equal access to resources, opportunities, and benefits. By doing so, ISBNPA aims to address health disparities globally through research, practice, policy development, and advocacy in behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

This achievement marks a significant step towards realizing our goal for inclusive representation within ISBNPA. We believe that it is only through such diversity that we can truly achieve our mission – to promote better human and planetary health globally through improved understanding of dietary and physical activity behaviors.

We extend our gratitude to all those who contributed towards reaching this milestone. The success of this initiative is testament to their dedication towards fostering inclusivity within our organization.

By achieving this milestone, ISBNPA is leading by example in demonstrating how scientific societies can make meaningful strides towards inclusivity. As we celebrate this achievement today, we are also reminded that there is more work ahead. We remain committed to furthering our efforts towards equitable representation in our society.

The ISBNPA family welcomes and encourages individuals from all backgrounds to join us as we continue our journey towards inclusivity, diversity, and global health promotion.

We are currently initiating outreach programs to airlines, requesting the inclusion of SAFs in their operations.

You can also play a pivotal role in this movement! We have prepared an email template that you can use to lobby airlines about SAFs. All you need to do is personalize your letter, find the email addresses of the customer services of the airlines you use, and hit send!

Let’s do this together!

Subject: Urgent Action Needed: Transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Dear [Airline Company Name],

I hope this email finds you well. As a researcher and a member of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the aviation industry’s impact on climate change. Specifically, I would like to address the urgent need for airlines to transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs).

Why SAFs Matter for Researchers and Conference Attendees:

1. Reducing Carbon Emissions: As researchers, we are committed to advancing knowledge and addressing critical global challenges. However, our frequent travel to scientific conferences contributes significantly to carbon emissions. SAFs offer a viable solution to reduce our environmental footprint.
2. Role Modeling: By advocating for SAFs, researchers can lead by example and inspire positive change within our academic community. Our choices matter, and supporting sustainable travel options aligns with our commitment to science and the planet.

Challenges and Opportunities:

1. Limited Options: As a researcher attending conferences like the ISBNPA annual meeting, I find my sustainable travel options limited when airlines do not prioritize SAFs. We need more accessible and affordable SAF-powered flights to make responsible choices.
2. Collective Impact: If airlines collectively commit to SAF adoption, we can create a significant positive impact on global emissions. Collaboration between airlines, researchers, and policymakers is crucial.

Our Call to Action:

1. Commitment: I urge [Airline Company Name] to publicly commit to increasing SAF usage in its operations. Transparency in reporting SAF adoption progress is essential.
2. Collaboration: Engage with SAF producers, research institutions, and other airlines to share best practices and accelerate SAF deployment.
3. Advocacy: Support policies that promote SAF development and incentivize investment in sustainable aviation.

Email Addresses for Key Decision-Makers:

• CEO: [CEO’s Email Address]
• Sustainability Director: [Sustainability Director’s Email Address]
• Public Relations: [PR Email Address]

As a researcher, I believe that our collective efforts can drive positive change. Let us work together to ensure that sustainable travel becomes the norm for conference attendees worldwide.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to hearing about [Airline Company Name]’s commitment to SAFs and its impact on researchers like myself.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name] [Your Contact Information]

The Growing the Next Generation, a key initiative of the ISBNPA Strategic Plan, is excited to announce that the pilot of the Building Future Leaders Program will be attended by 22 mid-career researchers from around the globe.

The program curriculum will undergo rigorous testing with these esteemed colleagues. Our goal is not only to learn from their experiences and feedback but also to refine our program based on these insights. We aim to roll out an improved version of the program next year for the entire ISBNPA community.

(part of the Inclusive Culture Initiative of ISBNPA Strategic Plan 2022-2025)

See the complete list of the Ambassadors on this [webpage]

ISBNPA has taken a proactive step towards addressing the issue of underrepresentation in the field of behavioral nutrition and physical activity by appointing ambassadors from underrepresented regions. These ambassadors are tasked with disseminating information about ISBNPA’s activities and opportunities to researchers and populations in their respective regions.

The importance of such an initiative cannot be overstated. It is well-known that research in the field of behavioral nutrition and physical activity has predominantly focused on developed countries, leaving behind large parts of the world where these issues are equally, if not more, pressing. By appointing ambassadors from these regions, ISBNPA aims to bridge this gap by promoting equal representation and access to research opportunities.

The ambassadors play a critical role in identifying gaps in research, disseminating information about existing research, and encouraging researchers from their regions to participate in ISBNPA’s activities. This includes attending conferences, submitting abstracts for presentations or posters, and applying for the Pioneers Program, scholarships or grants.

Moreover, the ambassadors also serve as a point of contact for researchers who may not have access to academic networks or resources outside of their region. This creates opportunities for collaboration between researchers from different parts of the world and helps build a more diverse community within the field.

Overall, the appointment of ISBNPA ambassadors from underrepresented regions is a commendable initiative that promotes equal representation and access to research opportunities. It is hoped that this will lead to greater collaboration between researchers from different parts of the world resulting in more effective solutions for addressing global health challenges related to behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 

Contact the Ambassador of your region

You can reach out directly to your region’s ambassador. See the full list of current ambassadors below.

Do you want to become an ISBNPA Ambassador?

Please send an email to Antonio Palmeira executive.director@isbnpa.org with 

Please submit a one-page motivation letter to executive.director@isbnpa.org that includes your country, areas of research, and affiliation. We are actively seeking ambassadors in regions where we currently do not have representation. To ensure that your application is considered, please review the list below to determine if you may be a good fit for our program. Thank you for your interest in becoming an ambassador with us.

Announcement 

ISBNPA is excited to announce the launch of a large-scale Group Model Building (GMB) initiative running alongside the upcoming ISBNPA Annual Meeting in June 2023!

ISBNPA invites all its members to collaboratively map the complex pathways linking physical activity and carbon emissions, contributing to our understanding of planetary health. Join us in shaping the future of research in behavioural nutrition and physical activity, and take part in our collective efforts to address climate change.

This initiative is part of ISBNPA’s strategic plan and Climate Action Committee.

Sign up for one of the online group model buildings:

July 6, 2023, 1500 UTC – LINK TO ZOOM REGISTRATION 1 (best suited for African and European timezones)

July 7, 2023, 1600 UTC – LINK TO ZOOM REGISTRATION 2 (best suited for the Americas’ timezones)

(a third online meeting will be posted here for Oceania and Asia)

If you want to start working already in the model, click [HERE] or scan the following QR code