Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center will hold its annual Research Symposium to highlight food and agricultural products research conducted by FAPC, OSU and other universities.

Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center will hold its annual Research Symposium to highlight food and agricultural products research conducted by FAPC, OSU and other universities.

Sponsored by the Institute of Food Technologists-Oklahoma section and DuPont Nutrition and Health, the symposium will be held Feb. 17 in room 201 of FAPC from 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and will feature oral and poster presentations and a speaker presentation.

“The event will provide an opportunity for graduate students to make presentations of their work and for researchers to network with others in the food and agricultural field and possibly foster future collaborations among colleagues,” said Peter Muriana, FAPC food microbiologist and chair of the symposium.

The keynote speaker, Larry Steenson, senior principal scientist at DuPont Nutrition & Health, will discuss “Use of Antimicrobials in Food; an Industry Perspective.”

This year, FAPC is fortunate to have Steenson give the keynote presentation, Muriana said.

“He is an excellent microbiologist having experience in both academics and industry,” Muriana said. “I hope our student body takes advantage of his visitation, especially on the heels of the start of our new proposed undergraduate food safety option curriculum in the department of animal science.”

Both Muriana and Steenson received their doctoral degrees working in the same laboratory at North Carolina State University.

“I have used his group at Danisco, now DuPont, several times in recent years to help with problems some Oklahoma companies were having with product formulations,” Muriana said. “It is enjoyable to see him annually at IFT annual meetings where he is a long-standing member of the Microbiology and Biotechnology Divisions of IFT where he relates well to the students participating at these meetings.”

Following the keynote presentation, industry representatives are invited to attend an industry luncheon with Steenson.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Steenson discuss important industry related topics,” said Chuck Willoughby, FAPC manager of business and marketing relations. “We encourage food and agricultural industry leaders to attend the luncheon to network with Dr. Steenson.

Student awards, sponsored by IFT-OK and DuPont, will be presented in both the oral and poster presentation categories.

First and second place winners in the oral competition will receive $250 and $150, respectively. First, second and third place winners in the poster competition will receive $250, $150 and $100, respectively.

The symposium is open to anyone who wants to attend. There is no charge for the day’s events; however, registration is required. The deadline to register is Feb. 6.

To register or for more information, please visit http://fapc.biz/workshops/2015-research-symposium/researchsymposium or call Karen Smith at (405) 744-6277.

This year’s FAPC Research Symposium is being held in conjunction with OSU Research Week, which runs Feb. 16-20.”

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.