Sold-out event offers public a taste of food science

Staff from the College’s Food and Beverage Innovation Centre are helping to ensure children and women don’t put science, technology and mathematics on the backburner.

On the evening of Novembre 28, they teamed up with STEM by Steph to present a sold-out Sip, Savour, and Science Food Lab event. Their mission: to demonstrate what food science is about and to inspire more girls and women to pursue STEM in their education and careers.

With hands-on experiments, food tastings, and opportunities for inspiring discussions with leading female experts in STEM fields, the sold-out event gave the public – including children as young as eight – a chance to explore the world of food science.

Guests participated in edible experiments that illustrated the principles of food science -from creating an acidic beverage, to assembling pizzas with gluten- and gluten-free crusts, and a wild berry experiment.

The event was organized by Stephanie Thompson, founder STEM by Steph – a Niagara-based social enterprise that connects women to STEM experiences – and Ana Cristina Vega-Lugo, PhD, Scientific Manager of the College’s FBIC, along with Stephanie Skotidas (Research and Development Technologist) and Christine Raymond (Research Services Support). A crew of staff members and research assistants from the College’s award-winning Research and Innovation division were also involved to support the event, held at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.