Senses, Systems, and Sustainability
22-23 April 2026| Helsinki, Finland
Celebrating the 20th Nordic Sensory Workshop
This year’s workshop is organized by a network of sensory science experts from Finland, in collaboration with committee members from Nordic and Baltic countries. Together, we aim to foster dialogue between academia and industry, and to strengthen the Nordic approach to sensory and consumer science.
In 2026, the Nordic Sensory Workshop will be partly co-hosted with the European Sensory Network (ESN) annual seminar, creating opportunities to share selected ESN content, such as engaging keynote talks and networking sessions, with a wider audience during the second day of the event.
Theme: Senses, Systems and Sustainability
This year’s workshop looks at three interconnected dimensions of sensory and consumer science.
- Senses – How human perception shapes product quality, choices, and eating experiences, and how to design appealing products for diverse consumers.
- Systems – Understanding sensory perception within the broader food and related systems, linking production, processing, and consumption.
- Sustainability – Applying sensory science to support responsible resource use, acceptance of new ingredients, and innovation for more efficient foods.
These hands-on sessions bring together researchers, students, and industry professionals to tackle practical challenges in sensory and consumer science. Through facilitated group work, participants will explore topics such as:
- Starting tools for setting up a sensory panel for a small company
- Product development and iterative testing
- Quality control methods
- Investigating off-flavours and sensory faults