IFT NEWS
Call for New Products & New Technology Papers
The New Products & Technology Subcommittee seeks qualifying papers for presentation at the IFT Annual Meeting in Dallas, Tex., in June 2000. Submissions must be received by January 15, 2000.
This forum is unique, in that it seeks commercial developments, not research papers. The developments must be less than two years since introduction, they must be novel and useful, and the presentation must emphasize the technological attributes of the introduction. In the past, ingredient papers have dominated in these sessions, but the Subcommittee believes there are more analytical, process, and packaging developments which would also qualify.
Guidelines and submission forms may be obtained from IFT’s Web site (www.ift.org), or by requesting Document 2290 from the IFT e-XPRESS faxback service at 800-234-0270 (650-556-9176 outside the U.S. or Canada), or by telephoning IFT’s offices at 312-782-8424.
For more information, contact Subcommittee Chair Charles I Beck (telephone 336-768-6808; E-mail: [email protected]).
Call for Forums—Document 2285
Now is the time to start planning for forum presentations at IFT’s 2000 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Tex., next June. Why forums? What qualifies as a forum?
They are not symposia. Forums consist of brief introductory remarks by three to five experts on a specified topic from different organizations, followed by discussion and audience participation. They give an opportunity to address late-breaking issues.
Because of this format, several submission deadlines are offered, as follows:
• If the forum is to be listed in the preliminary mailer and program, the application form must be received by January 15, 2000.
• If received later, but before March 1, the forum will be listed in the program directory.
• After March 1, but before May 1, forums cannot be listed in the program directory, but can only be advertised at the meeting itself.
All forums are subject to review and acceptance by the Forums Subcommittee of the Annual Meeting Committee. Application forms may be obtained through the IFT Web site (www.ift.org), through the IFT e-XPRESS faxback service by dialing 1-800-234-0270 in the United States and Canada (650-556-9176 elsewhere), or by calling IFT at 312-782-8424. Ask for Document 2285.
IFT calls for 2000 Media Fellowship applicants
The Institute of Food Technologists invites master’s or doctoral degree candidates in food science to apply for its Media Fellowship, affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for the summer of 2000. The ten-week fellowship will allow a student interested in journalism to apply his or her academic training to the researching, writing, and reporting of current events while sharpening his or her ability to communicate complex scientific issues to nonspecialists. (Students enrolled in English, journalism, science journalism, or other nontechnical fields are not eligible to apply.)
The Fellow will be selected by a committee of science, education, and media professionals and placed at a newspaper, consumer magazine, or radio or television station in the United States. Applicants must be willing to relocate anywhere nationwide. Travel expenses and a weekly stipend will be provided.
To apply, candidates must complete an application form and submit a current resumé, brief writing sample(s) of three to five pages targeted to the general public, transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work, and three letters of recommendation. All applicants should also be available for a telephone interview in early 2000.
Deadline for application is January 15, 2000. For more information or to obtain an application, visit IFT’s Web site at www.ift.org, or contact Angela Dansby at 312-782-8424, ext. 227; E-mail: [email protected].
Candidates sought for Harold Macy Award
The Minnesota Section of IFT is seeking nominations for suitable candidates from all IFT sections for the 2000 Harold Macy Food Science and Technology Award.
The award, established in 1981, is given annually for an outstanding example of food technology transfer or cooperation between scientists or technologists in any two of the following settings: academic, government, and private industry. The purpose of the award is to advance the profession and practice of food technology and to honor Harold Macy, former Dean Emeritus of the University of Minnesota and a Founding Member of IFT. The award consists of an $1,800 hono-rarium and travel expenses, and the awardee will be invited to address the Minnesota Section at the annual Macy Award meeting, to be held in April 2000.
The deadline for nominations is January 5, 2000. Nomination forms should be requested from, and six completed copies returned to, Scott D. Peterson, Chair of the Macy Award Committee, The Pillsbury Company Technology Center, M.S. 9931, 330 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (call 612-317-1966; fax 612-330-8261; E-mail: [email protected]).
Pearl of Distinction lauded at UC-Davis
Robert C. Pearl, IFT Professional Member, was one of twelve individuals who recently received the Award of Distinction given at the University of California at Davis by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Recipients were honored October 15, 1999.
Pearl, who earned a B.S. in plant science from UC-Davis in 1947, joined the UC Agricultural Extension Service as a Sutter County farm advisor in 1947. He came to UC-Davis in 1954 as a regional farm advisor conducting processing tomato raw-product studies and became an agronomy Extension specialist in 1955. He became the university’s first Extension food technologist in 1958, retiring from that position in 1989. He was instrumental in the technological revolution involving the production, harvesting, and processing of tomatoes from hand to mechanical methods and played a pivotal role in creating the UC Food Packaging Program. He established the California Fruit and Vegetable Freezing Industry Advisory Committee and the Fruit and Vegetable Canning Industry Advisory Committee. For these accomplishments, he received the 1987 California League of Food Processors Distinguished Service Award, the 1989 American Frozen Food Institute Industry Service Award, and the 1999 Food Processors Institute’s first service award, named the “Robert Pearl Distinguished Service Award” in his honor. He was elected an IFT Fellow in 1980 and received the Minnesota Section’s Harold Macy Award in 1984. Pearl served on the Executive Committee of both IFT and the Council for Agricultural Science, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Food Processors Institute. He retired from UC-Davis in 1994, but has continued an active service role both at the university and with IFT, which he joined in 1957.
The Award of Distinction is the highest recognition presented by the college to individuals whose contributions and achievements enrich the image and reputation of the college and enhance its ability to provide public service.
Regional Section and Division News
Keystone
The section awarded three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who are planning to major in food science in college. The winners are Shannon Sombers, Ephrata Senior H.S., Ephrata, Pa., now attending Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.; Sarah Woodling, Hempfield H.S., Landisville, Pa., now attending The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., and Alexandra Cherrie, Brandywine Heights H.S., Topton, Pa., also now attending Pennsylvania State University. The three were honored at Keystone IFT’s annual Student Recognition Night on November 3, 1999.
This is the second year the section has awarded scholarships, aimed at recognizing and supporting outstanding high school students just beginning their studies in food science.
Nutmeg
Student Night 1999 brought scholarships to the following students at the University of Connecticut at Storrs: Amy Phillips, recipient of the Nutmeg Section graduate scholarship; Sunita Chereku, recipient of the National IFT graduate scholarship; and Michael Legienza, recipient of the Nutmeg Section undergraduate scholarship.
The Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH, and the Life Sciences Research Office, American Society for Nutritional Sciences
present
Bioavailability of Nutrients & Other Bioactive Components of Dietary Supplements: Defining the Research Agenda January 5–6, 2000 Natcher Auditorium, NIH Bethesda, MD
A conference/workshop to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and experiences and develop an effective, realistic research agenda.
Plenary sessions include • National Food, Nutrition and Health Policy: Relevance of Bioavailability Data • General Issues in Bioavailability • Impact of Physiologic State: Children, Reproductive Age, Elderly • Case Studies: Isoflavones, Folate, Iron
Workshop sessions include • Active Ingredients • Formulation • Physiological Determinants • Methodologies • Consumer Communication Issues
For more information visit http://dietarysupplements.info.nih.gov/bioavailability/conference.html or contact the Life Sciences Research Office (phone: 301-530-7030; fax 301-571-1876). Register on line or request a registration form from LSRO, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Registration fee is $100 until December 3, 1999 and $150 after.
Regional Section and Division News
Northern California
The section and its subsections opened the year with three meetings, all on September 14.
Monterey Bay held their meeting in Prunedale, Calif. focusing on the organics industry. Speaker Gay Franklin of Golden Valley Nut Co. discussed the rise and prospects of organic foods, noting that the industry is growing 25% per year.
San Joaquin Valley met with a tour of Wawona Foods and a dinner meeting featuring speaker Erin Dormody of Fresno State University. Dr. Dormody talked about HACCP verification and the relationship between industry and academia.
And the Northern California section celebrated the “Old Guard” Past Section Chairs and IFT 50-Year Members, two of whom were able to attend the meeting—Ron Greenwald and Ed Doyle. Dana Wong, National Food Laboratories, received the section’s 1999 NCIFT Member of the Year award. Dana was the first student to serve as an officer of NCIFT and continues to be very active in the section.
Regional Meeting
Pacific Northwest
During the Northwest Food Processors Convention in Portland, Ore., January 23–26, 2000, IFT’s Pacific Northwest Regional Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 25, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.
The all-day meeting will feature speakers Gustavo Barbosa-Cánovas, Washington State University, who will discuss “Non-Thermal Processing;” John Henry Wells, Food Innovation Center, who will speak on “The Future of Food Packaging;” Steven Harper, Small Planet Foods, whose topic will be “An Update on U.S. Organic Standards,” and Martin Whitehead, Cascadian Farm, who will discuss “Natural and Organic Products: Marketing Challenges and Opportunities for Northwest Food Processors.”
Mary Schmidl, President-elect of IFT and a national food and nutrition consultant, will be the luncheon speaker. Her topic is “Functional Foods: Hope or Hype?”
Following the meeting, the Puget Sound Section will host an IFT Hospitality Reception at the Marriott Hotel Downtown, followed by a regional meeting critique.
The meeting is sponsored by the Puget Sound, Oregon, Intermountain, Lewis & Clark, and British Columbia Sections of IFT. For more information, call Julie Ruder, Oregon Section, at 503-978-4219; fax 503-978-4256.
by BETSY BAIRD
Assistant Editor