Health

International symposium on food science

Food and Health are areas of great interest to the consumers and it is of interest to the Industry, Scientists, Medical Officers, Engineers, Policy Makers and to both the Government and to the private sector organisations in meeting the challenges on food and healthcare for building a healthy nation.

Diet related non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, Cardio-vascular-diseases, Cancer, Obesity etc are diseases that affect social well-being of people. Innovations in chemical Sciences in the management of food supply chain, post harvest handling, food science and technology, food safety, herbal medicines, functional foods, pharamceuticals etc will be presented and discussed during this programme.

The 'International Symposium 2008' is organised by the Institute of Chemistry to coincide with its 37th Annual Sessions on the theme 'Innovations in Chemical Sciences for Social Well-being' and the International Symposium which will be held from 12 to 14 June 2008 is focusing on food and healthcare on a theme 'Innovations in Food Science and Technology and Healthcare for Social Wellbeing'.

The Symposium provides a learning opportunity to participants, provides a platform for interaction to share knowledge and experience with the world experts and develops and foster research opportunities contributing towards the Country's social well being.

It has attracted many world renowned expert Scientists to participate as resource persons to make presentations on scientific achievements and applications and to share their knolwedge and experience wight he participants.

They Keynote address will be delivered by an eminent - scientist from Japan, Professor Akinori Noguchi, Professor of Food Science at the Ishikawa Prefectural University, Japan, Professor Noguchi holds a Doctor of Science Degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology and has held several key positions at the National Food Research Institute and International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences in Japan.

The keynote address will be on 'The role of food science and technology in an aging society with the progress of globalisation.'

The Symposium will be inaugurated on the 12th June 2008 and the Hon'ble Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Tissa Vitarana will grace the occasion as the chief guest. The technical sessions on the 13th and 14th will focus on two sub-themes 'Food Science and Technology for Social Wellbeing' and 'Chemical Sciences for Healthcare.'

The sub-theme on Food Science and Technology focuses on post-harvest management of food commodities, food science and technology and food science and technology and food safety.

There will be nine resource papers by Professor Linus Opara, a Consultant on Post-Harvest Technology to many organisations from Sultan Qaboos University will speak on 'recent advances and technological innovations in post harvest management of fruits and vegetables', Dr. Takeo Shiina, Head of Distribution Engineering Laboratory from the National Food Research Institute, Japan will make a presentation on 'Development of quality tracing system for fresh produce based on 'Time Environment Tolerance (TET), Engineer Jayantha Sellahewa, Deputy Director Innovative Food Centre, Science Executive and Science Group Manager (Food Processing), CSIRO, Australia will be delivering his presentation on Consumer health and well-being, the challenge in the food Industry', Professor Mitsutoshi Nakajima, Bio resource Laboratory, Appropriate Technology and Science for Sustainable Development from University of Tsukuba, Japan and who has also served several key positions at the National Food Research Institute will speak on 'Micro and nano-technology for food and food processing', Dr. Chakra Wijesundera, Principal Research Scientist and Stream Leader of Lipid Research Group, CSIRO, Food Science Australia will make a presentation on 'Fats and oils for a healthy diet, trends in food formulation for a healthy life', Professor Sumio Kawano, Head, Non Destructive Evaluation Laboratory from National Food Research Institute, Japan will speak on 'Applications of NIR spectroscopy in food safety and quality assurance, Professor Upali Samarajeewa, Professor of Food Science from University of Peradeniya will make his presentation on 'Food safety management for social well-being', Dr. Sada Nand Lal, Scientist from Pesticide Research Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji will deliver his presentation on 'Bio-pesticides, Pacific Island Perspectives' and Dr. Lisa Szabo, Chief Scientist, New South Wales Food Authority, Australia will speak on 'Addressing Food safety issues, Australian experience.'

The sub-theme on 'Chemical science for healthcare' will have eight resource papers by Professor Lal Chandrasena, Senior Professor of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and Director Laboratories, Navaloka Hospitals Ltd will make his presentation on 'Innovations in chemical sciences on healthcare diagnostics, Professor L. M. V. Tillekeratne, Associate Professor, Department of Medicinal and biological Chemistry, University of Toledo, USA will speak on 'Anticancer agents targeting microtubules', Professor Iqbal Choudary, Director and Professor of HEJ Research Institute for Chemistry, Pakistan will deliver his presentation on 'Herbal/Natural products for healthcare, Innovations and developments', Dr. David Newman, Chief Natural Products Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Research Institute, USA will speak on 'Natural product research for treatment of cancer' Professor P. Pushpagadan, Hony Director General Institute of Herbal Bio-tech products Development, India will make a presentation on 'Herbal natural products for healthcare application', Professor Hunsu Can Baser, Professor of Pharmacognosy, Andolu University, Turkey will deliver a presentation on 'Development of phyto-pharmaceuticals for healthcare, Professor K. K. Bhutani, Dean National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, India will make his presentation on 'Development of natural product based neutraceuticals', Professor Varsha Tarvady, Executive Director, Parvatiben, Trikamji, Bhatt Gujarata Suhayakari Hospital, India, will speak on 'Food formulations for nutrition support/critical care.'

Twelve other research papers are scheduled for presentations. International Symposium 2008 in 'Innovations in Food Science and Technology and Healthcare for Social Wellbeing' will therefore be a grand opportunity to learn and to practice innovations in chemical sciences for human wellbeing. Today's knowledge is to-marrows wealth.

Dr. Nandanie Ediriweera, President, Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon