Stored products research in Europe – a very personal perspective!

The general consensus is that there are about 50 countries in Europe. There are no discrete boundaries and some countries may be both in Europe and another continent. In this short presentation, I want to dip into the history of stored products research over the past 50 years or so in this diverse geographical and political area. It is curious how the emphasis of the research has changed but perhaps more often been cyclical with areas being topical and novel, falling out of fashion, and then being “rediscovered” often with scant recognition for what has gone before. The trap of pretending that there was no research prior to the advent of electronic publication of journals and especially of abstracting services has reinforced the opinion that is apparent in much literature of the past 10-20 years that nothing before about 1970 actually happened. It may also be related to the geographical locations where research is undertaken and the accessibility, often determined by the language, of the research to a global community. The current levels of research activity are driven and limited by funding, political factors and perceived necessity. These are debatable subjects at best. So, where are the primary targets for research in the future or have the problems really been solved? This presentation will attempt to sample and illustrate how the nature of research may follow advances in methodology, how it has perhaps been a consequence of failure to appreciate what has gone before, and is likely to continue changing with demand. How and where will this be achieved?Keywords: Food security, Insecticides, Biological control, Insect pests, Fungal infestations

Toxic absence: why leader presence matters in times of crisis

Aim(s) – This study examines the importance of senior-leader presence on the ‘front-line’ in times of crisis. Background – The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented demands on nurses charged with delivering critical care. Extant research suggests that the active presence of ward level leaders has an important role to play in supporting front-line staff and mediating the negative impacts of stress and burnout. There is little evidence on the impact of senior leader presence or absence on the experience of frontline critical care nurses, particularly at times of crisis. Method(s) – A three-phase qualitative interview study of critical care nurses in the UK and Ireland. A total of 107 semi-structured interviews with 54 nurses representing 38 different healthcare units. Results – Senior-leader presence at time of crisis serves as an important symbol of organisational support. Where senior leaders are not meaningfully present, they risk allowing the necessary pain of difficult work situations becoming toxic. Toxicity is manifest in increased staff stress, emotional ills, absence and turnover. Conclusion(s) – Senior-leaders must balance their responsibilities for strategy and structures with the frontline presence required to shape a positive emotional climate. Implications for Nursing Management – Senior managers should consider supplementing their strategic focus with punctuated returns to the floor. Symbolically, leaders who get their hands dirty embody a sense of mutual struggle and practical support. Managerially, time on the floor increases the opportunities for collecting primary data to improve decision-making and support