The IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) 2013 Annual Meeting & Food Expo will bring a robust program schedule to Chicago’s McCormick Place South on July 13-16. Awaiting food industry professionals from around the world will be myriad educational sessions, informative speakers, ceremonies, social events, field trips and more.

Those arriving earlier to participate in pre-meeting short courses on July 11-12 or the Nanoscience Primer Workshop and the IFT International Food Nanoscience Conference on July 12-13 at the Hilton Chicago may even be hard-pressed to find time to visit the legendary Taste of Chicago at nearby Grant Park. Designed to offer in-depth, practical education within a limited timeframe, this year’s short courses will cover topics ranging from the fundamentals of textural design to labeling requirements for foods marketed in the U.S.

Following another full day of short courses on Saturday, July 13, expo attendees will be able to relax and congratulate the recipients of the prestigious IFT Achievement Awards and newly elected IFT fellow at the IFT Awards Celebration. A welcome reception will follow immediately.

The opening general session on Sunday, July 14, will feature keynote speaker Fareed Zakaria, editor-at-large at Time, host of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” and a best-selling author.

During the Fennema Lectureship immediately following the general session, Dr. Kipp Herreid, director of the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science and a renowned teacher, author and case studies expert, will share his insights into the power of different delivery formats for case studies, problem-based learning and other active learning and teaching methodologies.

This year’s scientific program includes three Beacon Lecturer sessions. Sunday’s speaker will be Catherine Geslain-Laneelee, M.S., executive director of the European Food Safety Authority. Two sessions will be held on Monday—one by David Robson, head of energy and environmental foresight, Scottish Government, U.K., and another by Mark J. Manary, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and director of the Global Harvest Alliance, an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood malnutrition.

Open July 14-16, the IFT Food Expo will again offer the industry’s largest collection of food ingredients, equipment, packaging and services, with more than 1,000 exhibitors gathered under one roof. Attendees will also find special interest pavilions focusing on products, ingredients and vendors from the Asia-Pacific region and Belgium; food safety and quality; healthy food ingredients and organic food ingredients. Innova Market Insights’ “Taste the Trend” pavilion will offer data on new product trends, as well as enable visitors to sample products. Meanwhile, Mintel’s “New Products and Consumer Insights” pavilion will feature main-stage presentations and opportunities for attendees to interact with products. On the second stage, attendees can attend small group presentations as well as participate in “Ask the Analyst” sessions.

For more information about IFT 2013, visit www.ift.org.

IFT 2013 Schedule at a Glance (Subject to change)

Thursday, July 11

1-5 p.m. “Integrating Risk-based Preventive Controls Into Your HACCP Program” short course

Friday, July 12

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Short Courses

9 a.m.-Noon Nanoscience Primer Workshop

1-6:30 p.m. IFT International Food
Nanoscience Conference

Saturday, July 13

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. IFT International Food Nanoscience Conference

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Short Courses

3-4:30 p.m. Phi Tau Sigma & IFT Division Competition Awards Ceremony

5:30-6:45 p.m. Awards Celebration

6:45-8:15 p.m. Welcome Reception

Sunday, July 14

7:15-8:15 a.m. Sunrise Sessions

8:30-10:15 a.m. Opening General Session and Keynote

10:30 a.m.-Noon Scientific Sessions

10:30-11:15 a.m. The Fennema Lectureship

Noon-2 p.m. Poster Sessions

Noon-5 p.m. IFT Food Expo

Noon-5 p.m. Career Center Live: Career Fair Networking Event

1:30-3 p.m. Scientific Sessions

3-5 p.m. Poster Sessions

4-4:45 p.m. Beacon Lecturer

Monday, July 15

6:15-7:15 a.m. IFTSA & Feeding Tomorrow Fun Run/Walk (Grant Park)

8:30-10 a.m. Scientific Sessions

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Career Center Live: Formal Interviews

10 a.m.-5 p.m. IFT Food Expo

10:30 a.m.-Noon Scientific Sessions

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Poster Sessions

1:30-3 p.m. Scientific Sessions

2:30-5 p.m. Poster Sessions

4-4:45 p.m. Beacon Lecturer

5-6:30 p.m. IFT Community Live: Division Connection Networking Event

7-11 p.m. IFTSA Closing Ceremony and College Bowl, including Beacon Lecturer

Tuesday, July 16

7:15-8:15 a.m. Sunrise Sessions

8:30-10 a.m. Scientific Sessions

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Career Center Live: Formal Interviews

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Poster Sessions

10 a.m.-4 p.m. IFT Food Expo

10:30-Noon Scientific Sessions

1:15-2:45 p.m. Scientific Sessions

1:30-4 p.m. Poster Sessions