Continuing Education
Please note that The Society of Sensory Professionals provides information on upcoming conferences, symposia, and commericial courses for member
information purposes only, with no intention of recommending or endorsing anything listed.
Submissions to the CE area may be made by using either the conference
or course form.
Consumer Methodology
May 2012
A Powerful Framework for Sensory Product Testing
In this 2-day course, you will achieve a deeper understanding of traditional discrimination and rating methods by learning a common framework in which to interpret results across methodologies. In particular, you will learn how to select the most suitable and powerful discrimination methodology based on project objectives, how to develop standards to detect when sensory differences and ratings exceed a consumer-relevant acceptability threshold, how to assess and manage risks in product testing decisions, and effectively use the “no preference/difference” option. Invited speaker, Frank Rossi, Associate Director of Applied Quantitative Sciences at Kraft Foods, will talk about issues in risk management in product testing.
Location: The Radisson BLU EU, Brussels, Belgium
From: May 21, 2012 to May 22, 2012
Offered by: The Institute for Perception
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: €750; 50% discount applied to each additional registrant from the same company, Academic discount available
Further information: http://ifpress.com/short-courses/
Targeting the Consumer II: Advanced Consumer Science for New Product Development and Choice Trials
The sequel to Targeting the Consumer I. This course aims to give you the latest knowledge and tools from across sensory, consumer, psychological and statistical sciences to ensure your work is at the forefront of methodology. After an update session detailing how the science has moved on in relation to the topics we covered in Targeting I, we examine more aspects of the New Product Development process. In the next three sessions we examine tools and theory to help Sensory and Consumer Insights staff integrate their work into the Marketing process. In the final session we examine recent developments in choice modelling, and see how consumer science is addressing the analysis of cross-cultural trials. A key feature of Targeting I courses was the time and value given to participants' discussion. This will be continued in this course. In every hour at least 15 minutes will be devoted to discussion and/or exercises. The small class size will also encourage interaction among participants, and between participants and instructors. Discussion is also encouraged during group lunches and dinner.
Location: Microtek Labs, 230 W. Monroe, Suite 550, Chicago, Illinois, United States
From: May 22, 2012 to May 24, 2012
Offered by: Dr. Hal MacFie Consulting
Target audience: Advanced
Cost: $2400 USD; 25% discount for members of academia
Further information: http://www.halmacfie.com/pages/chicagomay2012.html
Drivers of Liking® and Product Portfolio Optimization
Learn to “see” the market from your consumers’ perspective as you develop an understanding of similarity, Drivers of Liking,® and Landscape Segmentation Analysis.® In this 2.5-day course, you will actively: Construct maps with products and consumer ideal points and identify products’ strengths and weaknesses using descriptive and analytical data; Understand the limitations of internal preference mapping based on 27 category appraisals conducted at a major consumer products company; Find consumer segments using individual ideals; Use mapping results to improve existing products and conduct computer-aided design of new products. Invited speaker, Dr. Kevin Blot of Unilever, will show applications of LSA in new introductions.
Location: The Radisson BLU EU, Brussels, Belgium
From: May 23, 2012 to May 25, 2012
Offered by: The Institute for Perception
Target audience: Intermediate
Cost: €950; 50% discount applied to each additional registrant from the same company, Academic discount available
Further information: http://ifpress.com/short-courses/
November 2012
Sensory Evaluation of Fragranced Products
This course is designed to enable participants to acquire or deepen their skills
in fragrance/odor identification and description. Odor profiling techniques are
reviewed in detail and learning is applied to multiple product categories including
finished products and raw materials. Special attention is given to fragrance brief
development, assessment of the technical performance of fragrances, (fragrance/
odor and malodor, masking and off-odors) and scent fidelity. Challenges of
testing with fragranced products are also covered, with focus on subjects (whether
trained or naïve), site/environment, samples, sensory methods and descriptors.
Attention to consumer responses to fragrances covers the qualitative and
quantitative assessment of the emotional and functional benefits of scents in
complex products. Discussions on the alignment of fragrance imagery with other
sensory modalities and the avoidance of cognitive dissonance in fragranced
products. A fragrance reference kit is provided to each participant for use in the course
and retain for future study and reference. Participants are encouraged to bring
working samples to the class for analysis.
Location: Sensory Spectrum, 554 Central Avenue, New Providence, New Jersey, United States , United States
From: November 7, 2012 to November 9, 2012
Offered by: Sensory Spectrum
Target audience: Beginner
Cost: $2,050 USD
Further information: See page 12 in the 2012 Course Booklet;
http://www.sensoryspectrum.com/docs/SensorySpectrum2012CourseBooklet.pdf
