Summer School “Measuring Sensory Preferences of Consumers”, will be held from June the 6th to 10th 2022 at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (Viale Fanin 50, 5th floor). The school is addressed in particular for PhD students, PhD and Postdoc researchers.

The 5-day theoretical and practical Summer School will introduce participants to the basic aspects of sensory studies carried out with consumers, as well as the main factors that could affect the physiological variability and preferences between subjects. Participants, at the end of the Summer School, will know the main sensory methods related to consumer/citizen, also with reference to some economic aspects. Furthermore, they will be able to develop a basic experimental plan for the evaluation of liking and/or acceptability of foods.

There is not registration fee for the Summer School, as this 1st edition of the school is totally financed, organized and promoted within the activities foreseen by the European project H2020 ” AgriFoodBoost – Boosting Excellence in Experimental Research for Agri-Food Economics and Management ” coordinated by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb (local unit coordinator: Prof. Maurizio Canavari).

Registration has to be done by this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxphq5xHnQFanmpluR3eEC8EtaRDrkCc1S8N3z1vg3UZ9lYw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Outline

Introduction to Sensory analysis

  • Introduction to sensory evaluation and methods;
  • Case studies (extra virgin olive oil, cherries);
  • Introduction to the sex and gender variables in sensory evaluation with untrained subjects;
  • Lectures and exercises

Investigating the physiological variability

  • Main factors influencing the physiological variability among subjects
  • Focus on bitterness perception
  • CATA test
  • Exercises related to the lesson

Investigating the sustainability aspects

  • Impact of sustainability on the measurement of sensory preferences
  • Exercises related to the lesson
  • A close look into methodology: preparation of at least one type of test

Investigating the emotions

  • Implicit tests
  • Measurement of emotions
  • Exercises related to the lesson

Economic aspects

  • Consumer science in the economics filed: case studies and evaluations

Tentative schedule

Monday 06/06

9.00 -10.55 Welcome and Class

10.55-11.10 Coffee break

11.10-13.00 Class

14.00-16.00 Class

Tuesday 07/06

9.00 -10.55 Class

10.55-11.10 Coffee break

11.10-13.00 Class

14.00-16.00 Class

Wednesday 08/06

9.00 -10.55 Class

10.55-11.10 Coffee break

11.10-13.00 Class

14.00-16.00 Class

Thursday 09/06

9.00 -10.55 Class

10.55-11.10 Coffee break

11.10-13.00 Class

14.00-16.00 Class

Friday 10/06

9.00 -10.55 Class

10.55-11.10 Coffee break

11.10-13.00 Class

14.00-16.00 Individual work with tutors and conclusions

16.00 Final aperitif