QAEHS HDR student Nicole Schröter recently participated in the international Pint of Science festival, bringing her research out of the laboratory and into local Brisbane venue, Sea Legs Brewery at Kangaroo Point. Presenting her talk, “What Can We(e) Reveal? Urine for an Exciting Talk,” Nicole engaged a diverse public audience in an accessible and interactive discussion on innovative approaches to understanding drivers of population consumption trends. Her research sits at the intersection of human biomonitoring, analytical chemistry and epidemiology, exploring how pooled urine samples can be used to better understand population-level consumption patterns. Her work focuses on food-intake-related biomarkers, chemical indicators measured in urine that provide insights into what people consume. By analysing these biomarkers, Nicole aims to uncover not only how much is consumed across populations, but also how consumption patterns vary according to demographics, socioeconomic factors, and time.
This research is particularly relevant in today’s food environment, where access to high-quality food coexists with an abundance of ultra-processed products. These foods are typically energy-dense, low in nutritional value and easy to overconsume, contributing to adverse health outcomes. Presenting at Pint of Science provided a valuable opportunity to share these insights in a relaxed, conversational setting. The format encouraged open discussion and curiosity, highlighting how surplus pathology urine samples can reveal hidden patterns in public health. Nicole’s participation underscores the importance of science communication and community engagement, demonstrating how complex research can be translated into meaningful conversations that resonate beyond academia.
