The Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium is the leading global conference for sensory and consumer science. It brings together scientists across many disciplines and aims to advance our understanding of sensory perception and human behavior. Every two years, the symposium gathers academics, students, industrial practitioners and researchers, as well as service providers and vendors from all over the world. In the recent years, the “Pangborn” was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2013), Gothenburg, Sweden (2015), Providence, USA (2017), Edinburgh, UK (2019), Nantes, France (2023).
Sensory and consumer science is an evolving field and it is our early career researchers who help shape the future of the discipline. As we look to the future, we wish to encourage early career scientists’ participation at the Pangborn symposium and to help offset the cost of attending. To this end, the Pangborn Sensory Science Trust provides funds to the conference chairs who award bursaries to outstanding students and early career researchers (ECRs) who wish to present their work at the conference.
Receiving the Pangborn travel bursary was an important recognition of my work as an early career researcher. It supported my participation in a key conference where I connected with peers and learned from experts in sensory and consumer science. This recognition motivated me to keep advancing in the field and was the perfect way to close out my PhD journey.
Presenting my work at the 15th Pangborn was a great opportunity, allowing me to share my ideas with a diverse audience of researchers and receive valuable feedback that challenged and refined my perspectives.
Receiving the Pangborn travel bursary was a valuable opportunity that allowed me to bridge my background in cognitive science with my new focus in sensory and consumer science. My PhD in cognitive science involved studying sensory perception, particularly how various sensory modalities (like audition, vision, and olfaction) interact in our brain. Food perception exemplifies this multisensory integration, as it engages all five senses. Attending Pangborn gave me the chance to connect my expertise in multisensory processing with the practical and applied insights in sensory science, enriching my research perspective as an early career researcher in this field.
Attending the Pangborn Symposium was a dream come true. I had always wanted to participate in this fantastic conference. Being awarded the travel bursary was beyond my expectations. I was in awe when I received the good news. God heard my prayers! I couldn’t attend Pangborn without a bursary. Besides learning a lot, I met researchers I cited in my PhD. thesis and I met new ones. Also, I was honored to be invited to the ECR Oral presentation and share a part of my research with scientists worldwide. Its impact on my early career research in sensory and consumer sciences is tremendously great! It highly contributed to my recent acceptance as a post-doctoral scholar. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
Receiving the Pangborn travel bursary was invaluable, not only for the opportunity to connect with experts and peers from around the world but also to meet fellow researchers working on similar studies. Engaging in detailed discussions about our research allowed me to gain fresh insights and consider new approaches, deepening my commitment to advancing sensory and consumer science. This support has truly been a foundational step in my early career, and I am incredibly grateful for it.
Receiving an ECR bursary allowed me to present as a PhD student at the Pangborn conference in Edinburgh). I also got to act as a student organiser, facilitating networking with other ECR attendees. Attending the conference provided an opportunity to observe advancements in sensory and consumer science and meet international experts in the field, with whom I have continued to collaborate. This experience greatly contributed to my professional development.
Thanks to the bursary, I could present my PhD research on the sensory perception of foods in East Africa at the Pangborn 2019. It was a great networking opportunity. Besides, the conference opened a window to establish a sensory society in Africa (ANSWER) and contribute to consumer and sensory development in the region.
The student bursary gave me the opportunity to attend the Pangborn 2019 conference. Participating in this event was incredibly meaningful, as it allowed me to network and learn from esteemed researchers in the field. My passion for Sensory Evaluation Research grew immensely, and the experience left a lasting impact on me. It was also my first time traveling overseas, creating an unforgettable memory that I will always cherish. Thank you so much
The bursary I received to attend the 2019 Pangborn symposium in Edinburgh was an amazing opportunity for me to gain insights into recent developments in the field of sensory science, discover the diverse applications beyond food and connect with leading experts. As my first international conference, it left a lasting impact on my professional journey. The experience shaped my research approach and inspired me to seek new opportunities, ultimately broadening my career horizon.
Attending the 13th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium in 2019 in Edinburgh, UK was such a significant and transformative experience for me! In addition to the opportunity to give an oral talk, I established many professional networks and contacts who continue to inspire me to date. Since then, my career vision has never been the same again.
The inspiration from attending Pangborn 2019 was instrumental to the success of the InnoFoodAfrica project (2020- 2024). I would like to see sensory science help in design of foods tailored to consumers with limited food oral processing capabilities (incl infants and the elderly), but also having an active role in new product development, market access, and food security.
