Over a series of LIVE training seminars we will cover how the human senses make
measurements, the contents of the sensory tool box, how to select and train the right
people of each test and how to set up, run and analyse the right test for your objective.
Seminars will run for 1hr with a 15min Q&A.
IFST Accreditation
Candidates attending the full course can opt to sit the examination and gain the IFST Foundation Certificate in Sensory Science.
Booking Details
- Cost: £60/Seminar (you do not have to attend all 8 seminars).
- Revision sessions: £60
- Exam entry: £45
- Full course (8 seminars) + revision and exam offer: £450
To pay via credit or debit card, please visit our Eventbrite page
Tickets are available for UK (VAT) and non-UK residents – if you are unsure which option to choose, please email our team for advice: [email protected].
To pay via invoice, please email us directly.
Seminar Programme
Seminar 1: An Introduction to Sensory Science and the human senses
Mon 21st March, 1pm (GMT), £60
The first seminar in our Foundation series will introduce you to sensory science; what it
is, why we do it, and when. We will also discover how sensory evaluation is used in
industry.
You will learn about the human senses and how we perceive certain product qualities.
We will look at all five senses to understand how they each function alone and how they
cross over to give our overall perception of a stimulus.
Seminar 2: Understanding Sensory Methodologies
Tues 22nd March, 1pm (GMT), £60
We will discover what is in the toolbox of Sensory methodologies, including
Discrimination, Descriptive and Consumer.
This seminar will look at how to choose the correct assessor for each test and how many
assessors you might need. We will cover experiment design, understanding your
objectives and setting a hypothesis. We will then go on to discuss analysing results and
drawing conclusions
Seminar 3: Understanding Descriptive Profiling Methods
Weds 23rd March, 1pm (GMT), £60
The third seminar in our Foundation series is all about descriptive profiling methods; we
discover what they are, when should they be used and why.
You will learn how to focus your objectives, set a hypothesis and train panellists for
descriptive work.
Seminar 4: Screening panellists
Thurs 24th March, 1pm (GMT), £60
This seminar walks you through the screening process for new descriptive panellists. We
look at the exercises recommended to ensure each panellist has the right level of
sensory acuity, descriptive ability and the personality needed to succeed on the panel.
We discuss the ISO standards for screening, setting up a typical screening protocol and
how to screen for specialist assessments.
Seminar 5: What is QDA and how to you use it?
Mon 28th March, 1pm (BST), £60
What is Quantitative Descriptive Analysis and how to you use it? What are the pros and
cons?
In this seminar, we will discover how to train panellists and generate descriptive
attributes. You will learn about qualitative and quantitative references, validating a
lexicon and rating products.
We will then discuss experimental design and how to set up practically, covering
physiological and psychological errors, and how to motivate panellists.
An online practical session lasting 30-45minutes follows this seminar.
Seminar 6: Undertaking QDA Data Analysis
Tues 29th March, 1pm (BST), £60
How do you summarise and visualise the results of QDA projects?
In our sixth seminar, learn how to analyse panel performance, make use of significance
Testing, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multiple comparison Tests, and draw
conclusions
Seminar 7: Affective tests
Weds 30th March, 1pm (BST), £60
Seminar 7 in our Foundation Series will look at the different types of affective test; what
are they, why you should use them, when and how.
You will learn how to understand your objective, set the hypothesis and design a
successful project.
We cover how to create an effective screener to recruit the right consumers, what types
of questions should be included and how to investigate consumer emotions. We also
look at how to analyse consumer data and draw conclusions from it.
Seminar 8: Controlling the test environment
Thurs 31st March, 2pm (BST), £60
Our final seminar will look at creating the right space for testing, how to control the
environment and putting in the correct evaluation protocols.
Learn how to correctly serve representative samples, sample identification and
presentation order (randomisation and balancing; first order effects; dummy samples).
Finally we discuss clearing the nose and cleansing the palate.
IFST Examination for Foundation Certificate
Revision sessions take place Friday 25th March and Friday 1st April. The IFST Foundation Certificate in Sensory Science examination will follow the revision session on the 1st April 2022.
