Digital Commons Network^™

Autistic Traits And Mind Wandering: A Correlational Study Of Themes, Intentionality, And Temporal Focus, Leilani Forby, Farid Pazhoohi, Alan Kingstone

School of Psychology

There is abundant research on the nature and content of mind wandering (MW) in neurotypical individuals, yet little research in these areas on individuals high in autistic traits. The current study explored the relationship between autistic traits and several aspects of MW: themes, intentionality, temporal dimensions, and attitudes towards MW. A total of 1,477 participants completed measures of autistic traits, MW, and stress. Autistic trait level was positively correlated with the MW theme of guilt and fear of failure (GFF), spontaneous MW (MW-S), poor attentional control (PAC), and stress, and negatively correlated with appreciation for MW’s benefits. Participants were then …

Sars-Cov-2 Nonspike Structural Proteins Hijack Mucosa Epithelial Cell Fate, Yan Gao, Lucas Lacerda Souza, Hong Soon Kang, Zehan Li, Juan Carlos Hernandez-Guerrero, Fábio Abreu Alves, Wei Zhang, Vikram Sharma, Sally Hanks, Jinhua Yu, Christopher Tredwin, Anton M. Jetten, Ciro Dantas Soares, Bing Hu

Peninsula Dental School

COVID-19 patients readily present with severe epithelial damage, such as tissue ulceration and erosion, along with disrupted tissue repair, in multiple organs. The mucous membranes of the lung alveoli [1, 2], gastrointestinal tract [3, 4], nasal [5] and oral cavity [6, 7] are the primary targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The infected epithelium triggers a dysregulated immune response that further damages tissues and organs [8, 9–10]. Increasing evidence suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause direct damage to epithelial cells and fibroblasts [11, 12–13]. Here, we report that the mucosa epithelia of COVID-19 patients can undergo cellular dedifferentiation before any …

The Difficulty With Setting A Standard Based On Difficulty: The Role Of Validity In Determining Assessment Standards., Steven Burr, Daniel Zahra, Iain M Robinson

Peninsula Medical School

When setting standards for high-stakes assessments, it is necessary to be clear whether the primary criterion should be importance or difficulty. While standard setting practices frequently rely on the difficulty to determine passing or failing thresholds, this can undermine the intended inferences and uses of assessments. Standard setting based on difficulty conflates importance with subjective perceptions of difficulty, misguiding decisions about what candidates need to demonstrate for safe and effective practice. We explore several reasons why difficulty does not align with the aims of assessment and how prioritising importance can better reflect the intended uses and inferences of a test. …

Science Challenges And Solutions To Support Implementation Of The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, Claire L. Szostek, Angus Atkinson, Victor Martinez-Vicente, Ana M. Queirós, Peter I. Miller, Kerry L. Howell, Rebecca C. Millington, Susan Kay, Matthew Faith, Karen Tait, Elizabeth Talbot, Andrew Rees, Chris Lyal, Jeff Ardron, Matthew Frost

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement provides a new opportunity to consolidate and achieve global marine environmental goals. Here we focus on how science and technology will support its implementation. We provide an overview of existing scientific knowledge and methods that are scalable to Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Reviewing data gaps, challenges and opportunities, we outline solutions and a roadmap focused on enhancing resources and capacity.

Conquering Today's Health Paradox With The Power Of Heal - An Expert Consensus Report Plus Research Priorities And Policymaker Roadmap, Katharina C Wirnitzer, Mohamad Motevalli, Derrick R Tanous, Clemens Drenowatz, Maximilian Moser, Holger Cramer, Thomas Rosemann, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Andreas Michalsen, Beat Knechtle, Zlatko Fras, Adilson Marques, Nataša Fidler Mis, Fatima C Stanford, Christian Schubert, Nandu Goswami, Claus Leitzmann, Per Morten Fredriksen, Gerhard Ruedl, Rodrigo A Lima, Christian Kessler, Michael Jeitler, Naim A Khan, Hassan Joulaei, Maryam Fatemi, Karl W Kratky, Kara K Palmer, Bernd Haditsch, Boštjan Jakše, Walter Kofler

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.

OBJECTIVE: Three multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions aimed at addressing the global health paradox.

METHODS: A total of 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge-exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies and identify key research and policy priorities, focusing on the Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) approach.

RESULTS CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy …

Does Early Or Timely Diagnosis Benefit People With Dementia And Their Carers? A Systematic Review, Ben Hicks, Orla Phipps, Martha Pusey, Pauline Mcdonald, Courtney-Ann Dennis, Katie Barnard, Sube Banerjee, Nicolas Farina

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Global dementia policies advocate for early or timely diagnosis, yet evidence on benefits or harms remains limited. This systematic review evaluates quantitative evidence comparing outcomes of early versus late and timely versus untimely dementia diagnoses. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, the protocol was registered on PROSPERO. Comprehensive searches of PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, and CINAHL were conducted without date restrictions. Eligible studies defined diagnostic timing and examined associations with outcomes for people with dementia and/or carers. Quality was appraised using the QuADS tool, and data were narratively synthesised. Results: Four studies (2018–2021) met inclusion criteria, encompassing 37,341 individuals with dementia …

Decision-Making Tool For Onshore Vs. Offshore Hydrogen Production From Offshore Wind, Jessica Guichard, Robert Rawlinson-Smith, Danny Coles, Deborah Greaves

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This paper presents optimisation studies for the combination of high efficiency reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) with offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea. Reversible systems can be used both in electrolyser and fuel cell mode, allowing potential benefits from switching between modes depending on the instantaneous condition of the electricity and hydrogen markets. The purpose of these studies is to determine the most cost-efficient method to combine rSOC with offshore wind whilst matching electricity supply with demand. For this, a model in Python for Power System Analysis (PyPSA) is set up which optimizes production, storage and transport infrastructure for …

Assessment Of Enforcement Strategy Highlights Opportunities For More Effective Deterrence In A Large-Scale No-Take Mpa, Chris Kerry, Claire Collins, Lasuni Gule Godage, Oliver S. Ashford, Kristian Metcalfe, Sam B. Weber, Tom B. Letessier

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses a significant threat to fisheries sustainability, global food security, and biodiversity conservation. Many regions rely on patrol-based enforcement to promote compliance, yet the effectiveness of such strategies in deterring IUU activity remains underexplored. In this study, we employed a mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of management and policy decisions on illegal fishing within the Chagos Archipelago marine protected area (MPA). This MPA has maintained near-continuous patrols since its implementation in 2010, providing a unique opportunity to evaluate the influence of patrolling on illegal fishing deterrence. First, we analyzed semi-structured interviews with fishers …

Achieving High Terminal Performance: A Case Study Of Korean Steel Terminals Using Fsqca, Hae Chan Lee, Saeyeon Roh, Inhyeok Yeo, Jinwoong Yoo

Plymouth Business School

Steel-dedicated terminals play a critical role in the facilitation of the Korean steel industry. Due to the nature of steel production and handling, Korean steel-dedicated terminals are heavily utilized in the transportation of steel products both domestically and internationally. Despite the importance of steel terminals, there is limited research exploring factors that drive high terminal performance for bulk terminals, let alone steel terminals. Thus, this study examines factors that lead to high terminal performance for Korean steel terminals. A configurational approach was taken using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to yield different combinations of factors that drive high terminal performance. …

Using 2d Lidar To Investigate Swash-Level Gravel Barrier Dynamics, Robert Jones, Nieves Valiente, Chris Blenkinsopp, Mark Davidson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Which Aspects Of Abortion Care Do Healthcare Practitioners In Britain Think Nurses/Midwives Should Provide? Findings From The Sacha Study, Rebecca French Sacha Study Team, Alice Fulton, Ona Mccarthy, Jill Shawe, Rebecca Meiksin, Maria Lewandowska, Melissa Palmer, Rachel Scott, Kaye Wellings, Patricia Lohr, Geoffrey Wong, Sally Sheldon, Annette Aronsson, Paula Baraitser, Sharon Cameron, Louise Keogh, Clare Murphy, Wendy V. Norman, Jennifer Reiter, Natasha Salaria

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim: To explore the views of healthcare practitioners in Britain regarding the role of midwives and nurses in the delivery of medical and surgical abortion. Design: An observational study of the Shaping Abortion for Change study healthcare practitioner survey (2021–2022). Methods: Relationships between healthcare practitioner type, participant characteristics, knowledge of and attitudes towards abortion, and views about nurses' and midwives' role in abortion care were examined using Pearson's Chi-squared tests of association and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Amongst 763 participants including doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists, 71.6% supported specialist nurses in sexual and reproductive health and abortion clinics and hospitals, …

Wnt/Β -Catenin Signalling Shapes Macrophage Behaviour During Injury And Repair In The Mouse Submandibular Gland, Araz Ahmed, Suveer Sachdeva, Simon Whawell, Isabelle Miletich

Peninsula Dental School

Xerostomia, the subjective sensation of dry mouth, is a debilitating consequence of head and neck radiotherapy and autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome. It severely impairs oral health and quality of life by promoting mucosal ulceration, infection, malnutrition, and speech difficulties, yet effective regenerative treatments remain limited. Macrophages have recently emerged as critical regulators of salivary gland repair through their roles in coordinating inflammation, fibrosis, and epithelial regeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms governing macrophage activation and function in the injured salivary gland remain poorly defined. The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is a key regulator of inflammation and tissue homeostasis across multiple …

Examining A Mindfulness-Based Intervention For Anxiety: A Single Case Analysis With A Mixed Research Method., Aysun Parlar Yazici, Alyson Norman, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

This single-case study examines the impact of a 6-week Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) on an individual experiencing anxiety, with a particular focus on intolerance of uncertainty (IU). A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative measures with qualitative data from session notes, interviews, and participant feedback. Quantitative findings indicated reductions in stress (DASS-21: pre-test = 36, post-test = 26), anxiety (pre-test = 30, post-test = 18), and depression (pre-test = 38, post-test = 28) scores from pre- to post-intervention. Increases were observed in mindfulness (pre-test = 42, post-test = 64) and resilience (pre-test = 28, post-test = 36), alongside a reduction in …

Widening Participation In Dentistry: A Quantitative Study Of Changing Demographics At A South West Uk Dental School (2014-2021)., Sally Hanks, Ian Mills, Marie Bryce, Daniel Zahra, Rebecca Glanville

Peninsula Dental School

Introduction: Access to National Health Service (NHS) dental care in the UK, particularly in rural and coastal regions such as the South West, remains a significant concern. Increasing socio-economic diversity in the dental workforce has previously been reported to improve access to care in underserved areas. Widening Participation (WP) initiatives aim to address this by encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. Methods: This study analysed admissions data from the University of Plymouth's Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme for cohorts between 2014 and 2021. Metrics included entry qualifications, age, gender, ethnicity, disability and socio-economic markers. Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests and …

Individual Differences In Alexithymia Modulate Cognition-Emotion Interactions In Daily Life Ongoing Experiences, Anqi Lei, Md Faysal, Louis Chitiz, Raven Wallace, Samyogita Hardikar, Brontë Mckeown, Jonathan Smallwood, Elizabeth Jefferies, Robert Leech, Nerissa Ho

School of Psychology

Individual differences modulate our thoughts and emotional experiences, yet how thought and emotion interact in daily life remains largely unclear. We leverage alexithymia, a trait reflecting atypical emotional awareness, to reveal these interactions in naturalistic settings. Using multi-dimensional experiencesampling via smartphones, we captured moment-to-moment thought patterns and concurrent affective states (valence, arousal, stress) in people’s daily life (N = 190 undergraduate students, age range = 18 to 36, 159 females). Using Principal Component Analysis and Linear Mixed Models, we identified four thought dimensions that relate differently to these affective states: future-self orientation, intrusive distraction, sensory engagement, and task-focus. Alexithymia modulated …

Exploring Factors Influencing Autistic Children And Young People’S Access To Dental Care In Southwest England: A Qualitative Study Of Children, Parents, And Dental Professionals, Jo Erwin, Sarah Neill, Tara Vassallo, Robert Witton, Louise Peters, Isaac Vassallo, Abigail Nelder, Martha Paisi

Peninsula Dental School

Background: Autistic children and young people (CYP) experience inequalities in oral health. They are at higher risk of dental caries and periodontal disease and are more likely to have teeth extracted under general anaesthetic than their non-autistic peers. Poor oral health among autistic CYP results from multiple factors, including sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and difficulties accessing appropriate dental care. This qualitative study explored factors influencing autistic CYP’s access to dental care from the perspective of CYP, parents/carers, and dental health professionals (DHPs). Methods: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit autistic CYP, parents/carers, …

Understanding Routine Treatment And Resource Availability For Fatigue In Multiple Sclerosis In The United Kingdom, Federica Picariello, Madison Milne-Ives, Jennifer Freeman, Rona Moss-Morris

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Fifty-five to ninety percent of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) report disabling fatigue, but a previous survey found that only 31% of UK adults with MS experiencing fatigue report being offered any treatment. The aim of this study was to capture the service perspective of routine care for MS fatigue and resource availability. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to NHS services across the United Kingdom to be completed by healthcare professionals working with people with MS. Results: Eighteen services completed the survey. Services supported a median of 1100 patients. Allied healthcare professional availability varied across services but …

Home-Based Dual-Task Balance Training For Parkinson’S Disease: A Feasibility Study Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Nesibe Cakmak, Jennifer Freeman, Camille Carroll, Lisa Bunn

School of Health Professions

Purpose: Dual-task training, incorporating both motor-motor and/or motor-cognitive elements, is recognized as a safe and effective strategy for enhancing balance in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Despite this, limited research has explored the implementation of dual-task training within a home-based context or superiority of task types. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of two novel, unsupervised home-based programmes; each adopting a comparable procedure yet with a focus on motor-motor and motor-cognitive dual-task training.Methods: Six participants with mild to moderate stage Parkinson’s disease wererandomized to group (M-DTT/C-DTT). Each engaged in 30-minute training sessions three times per week over six …

Finding Our Tempo: Exploring Embodied Synchrony Through Full-Body Play In Children, Sena Beste Ercan, Belén González Mateo, Olga Galí Pérez, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Narcís Parés

School of Psychology

This study advances the design of timing-sensitive, full-body interactive experiences supporting both collaboration and individual agency in children’s group play. We investigate how temporal structuring within an improved version of a full-body interactive system influences behavioral and perceived synchrony among children aged 9–10. Prior research has often focused on dyads, required human facilitation, or neglected relationship between perceived and actual synchrony. Addressing these gaps, we conducted a multi-user study comparing synchronous and asynchronous interaction modes using system-logged behavioral data and self-reports. Results demonstrate the synchronous condition fosters higher user performance, tighter temporal coordination, and stronger perceptions of shared movement. In …

Generative Ai In Digital Engagement: A Quasi-Experimental Study Of Tourist Sentiment, Waqas Ali, Dulekha Kasturiratne, Irfan Ameer, Shikhar Bhaskar

Plymouth Business School

This study examines whether generative AI can enhance tourist sentiment in online reviews by acting as a consistent and scalable form of digital engagement. Using a quasi-experimental Difference-in-Differences design, we analysed 11,393 reviews collected for six months from five Indian restaurants in a UK tourist city, where one restaurant adopted ChatGPT-generated responses and four served as controls. Results show that AI mediated responses produced a significant improvement in tourist sentiment, with similar effects across both social (Google, Facebook) and delivery-oriented platforms (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats). Response features such as tone, personalisation, and length had limited additional influence, indicating that …

Global Evidence For The Ecological Effects Of Greening Of Grey Infrastructure: A Systematic Review Protocol, Jessica R. Allen, Louise B. Firth, Melanie J. Bishop, Katherine A. Dafforn, Ferrante Grasselli, Mick E. Hanley, Antony M. Knights, Mariana Mayer-Pinto, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop, Kathryn A. O’Shaughnessy, Francesca Porri, Rebecca K. Smith, Elisabeth M.A. Strain, Anaëlle J. Lemasson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

BackgroundThe presence of artificial structures in our marine environments is increasing rapidly, with negative impacts for biodiversity. Greening of grey infrastructure (GGI) - an eco-engineering method applied to the marine context - aims to increase the ecological value of traditional grey infrastructure, while still allowing it to perform its primary human-centric function. GGI is a rapidly increasing field of research, being tested and implemented worldwide by academics, private practitioners, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), amongst others, using a variety of methods. Outcomes vary widely, and results are communicated across a range of peer-reviewed and grey literature, rendering the evidence base for …

The Academic Lives Of Commuter Students: Examining The Use Of The Physical And Digital Spaces Within The Contemporary University, Rebecca Turner, Rao Namrata, Christie Pritchard, Oliver Webb, Emily Pinn, Asal Baharloo, Harriet Ball

Professional Services

It is estimated that 40% of UK undergraduates commute to study, travelling varying distances, and often daily. Although commuting can be challenging, many learners see it as a way to access university, whilst maintaining existing commitments and support networks, and offsetting growing costs of higher education (HE). This study employed a novel participatory mapping technique to stimulate focus groups of second- and third-year undergraduates who commute. We explored participants’ engagement with their institution’s campus, and online/digital spaces. Our findings show commuters have nuanced and intentional interactions with the University’s physical and digital landscape. We consider how these interactions may be …

Divergent Patterns Of Probabilistic Reasoning In Humans And Gpt-5, Pegah Imannezhad, Emmanuel M. Pothos, Andy J. Wills

School of Psychology

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT‑5 are increasingly consulted for advice across a wide range of domains, yet little is known about how their probability judgments compare to those of humans. This study examined GPT‑5’s adherence to classical probability rules, focusing on conjunction fallacies, disjunction fallacies, and violations of binary complementarity. Using a large dataset on human probabilistic judgments, in which participants displayed multiple types of fallacies, we tested GPT‑5 on the same task and with matched participant profiles. GPT‑5 produced only single conjunction or disjunction fallacies and showed near‑perfect compliance with binary complementarity constraints. Its overall response pattern …

The Development Of Ace-Iii Performance Validity Tests For Dementia Screening, Donnchadh Murphy, Rupert Noad

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: Performance validity tests (PVTs) are an essential component of a neuropsychological evaluation. There is a lack of brief validated PVTs for use alongside cognitive screening assessments for dementia. The current study sought to develop and evaluate a series of brief PVTs, which could be embedded into the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) and used in a dementia clinic. Method: This study used a diagnostic accuracy design to compare the performance of 31 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease dementia and 26 healthy older adults who simulated having Alzheimer’s disease. Participants were asked to complete ACE-III, the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), and …

Precision Measurement Of A Resistance Standard At Frequencies Up To 2 Mhz, Jurgen Schurr, Shakil A. Awan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We report on two-terminal-pair and four-terminal-pair (4TP) measurements of a 10 kΩ resistance standard by means of a commercial precision inductance-capacitance-resistance meter (LCR meter) at frequencies up to 2 MHz. We discuss the effect of cables on a resistance standard measured in either two- or 4TP configuration and demonstrate within which uncertainty the effect of 2.5 m long measuring cables can be corrected accurately. Such long cables are inevitable for precision measurements of the quantum Hall resistance (QHR) at high frequencies. Furthermore, the systematic effects of the LCR meter, such as the internal input capacitances, voltage and frequency dependences, and …

Interaction Of Peep And Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist In Infants With Acute Viral Bronchiolitis, Julia Harris, Benjamin Crulli, Jos M. Latour, Andrew Nyman, Xabier Freire-Gomez, Federico Minen, Shane M. Tibby

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BACKGROUND: Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is a ventilator mode providing improved patient-ventilator synchrony compared to flow- or pressure-triggering. We examined the effect of various NAVA, pressure support (PSV), and PEEP combinations in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis. METHODS: This was a mechanistic study, nested within a randomized controlled feasibility trial. A set of 16 ventilatory combinations (each of 10-15 min), including PEEP of 1, 5, and 10 cm H2O; PSV of 20 cm H2O; and NAVA support ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 cm H2O/μV, were administered on each of 2 consecutive days to 13 invasively ventilated infants: mean (range) …

Devaluation Insensitivity Of Event Related Potentials Associated With Food Cues, Thomas D. Sambrook, Andy J. Wills, Ben Hardwick, Jeremy Goslin

School of Psychology

Eating in the absence of hunger represents a failure of homeostatic mechanisms responsible for energy balance and is a cause of obesity. The pervasive presence of food cues in the modern environment may play a role in this phenomenon. The present study used the technique of satiety-specific selective devaluation to investigate eating in the absence of hunger in the context of a reinforcement learning task. While participants’ performance on the task suggested that food on which they had sated no longer held value for them, event related potentials following images of the food were unaffected by the devaluation. Food cues …

Influence Of Exercise Training On Nitric Oxide Pathways And Their Physiological Effects, Jonas Benjamim, Stephen J Bailey, Leonardo Da Silva Gonçalves, Mia Burleigh, Mario Siervo, Andrew R Coggan, Raúl Bescos

School of Health Professions

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical signalling molecule in cardiovascular, metabolic, and muscular function. Endogenous NO production occurs via two primary metabolic pathways: 1) the classical nitric oxide synthases (NOS) pathway, and 2) the alternative (nitrate-nitrite-NO) pathway, in which inorganic nitrate (NO 3 -) is sequentially reduced to nitrite (NO 2 -) and other NO intermediates (e.g., S-nitrosothiol). The latter pathway relies heavily on the oral microbiota, which catalyze the two-electron partial reduction of NO 3 - to NO 2 -, which is influenced by oral physiology, microbial composition and salivary flow. While the role of exercise training in enhancing …

Trust Transference And Cognitive Affective Trust Dichotomy In Tiktok Short-Form Videos: The Moderating Role Of Source Homophily, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Mosharrof Hosen, Irfan Hameed, Hafiz Mudassir Rehman

Plymouth Business School

This study explores the under-researched area of cognitive-affective trust transference within the context of short-form videos (SFV) on the TikTok platform. It also provides new insights into the impact of source homophily that arises from viewing SFV. The study incorporates trust transfer theory into the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model perspective to examine trust transference. Data were gathered from 411 online users in Malaysia using a purposive sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the data via SmartPLS. The findings suggest that video characteristics, platform trust, and source credibility of SFVs on TikTok affect affective trust …

A Manifesto For Plant Science Education, Elizabeth Alvey, Andrea Paterlini, Mary E. Williams, Mia E. Cerfonteyn, Samantha Dobbie, Steven Dodsworth, Sonja D. Dunbar, Lauren R. Headland, Anastasia Kolesnikova, Pankaj Kumar, Silvia Manrique, Catherine Mansfield, Sebastian Stroud, Shannon Woodhouse, Hailey Ashton, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Emily Breeze, Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, Chana P. Chetariya, Beth C. Dyson, Alec Forsyth, Beatriz Gonçalves, Camila Gonzalez, Daniel M. Jenkins, Joanna Kacprzyk, Kirsten Knox, George R. Littlejohn, Sara Lopez-Gomollon, Enrique López-Juez, Claudia Martinho

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Societal Impact Statement: Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists and plant-aware individuals. This manifesto provides a practical evidence-based vision to strengthen plant science education, focused on five strategic priorities. It is relevant to all stakeholders within plant science and beyond: from frontline educators to institutional leaders; from commercial or charitable professionals to entrepreneurs and donors; from individual community members to their legislative representatives. Strengthening plant science education demands concrete actions from all stakeholders, ultimately to the benefit of us all. Summary: …