Food Group

About us

The Food Group is one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's many Interest Groups. The Interest Groups are member driven groups which exist to benefit Royal Society of Chemistry members, and the wider chemical science community, in line with the Royal Society of Chemistry's strategy and charter.

Our aims

The aims of the food group are to promote the role of chemistry in food and enable transfer and sharing of information and networking between academia and the food industry. This includes analytical, biochemical, chemical, physical, nutritional and toxicological aspects of food and food ingredients and the composition and relationships between structure and functionality throughout the entire food chain in a way to enhance sustainability and food and nutrition security. We also aim to:

• foster an awareness of the importance of chemistry in the food chain
• encourage interactions between scientists and technologists engaged in food research and development
• help transfer such scientific research from ideas to applications

Get Involved

We are always looking for new members who are keen to get involved. You can

• help organise our activities
• attend our events
• nominate relevant colleagues and students for prizes
• connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@RSC_FoodGroup)

If you would like to find out more please contact the Secretary using the form below.

Bursaries for attending food chemistry related scientific meetings

These are available to contribute towards registration, travel and accommodation costs. The meeting does not have to be RSC-organised or UK-based, but it should be noted that there is no guarantee to fund total costs.

Applications can be made at any time throughout the year but must be made at least one month prior to the meeting. Bursaries will not be provided for retrospective applications.

Read our guidance on eligibility, the application and selection process

How to Join

RSC members can join the Food Group by updating their details in the “My communities and subscriptions” tab of the online RSC membership area.

Login and add to your list of interest groups

Awards and prizes

We award two medals: the Early Career Medal (previously Junior Medal) and the Open Medal (previously Senior Medal). Both are awarded biennially, in alternate years. The next call for medal proposals will be for the 2024 Open Medal.

These awards aim to encourage and recognise excellence in the application of chemical sciences to food from those in academia, in industry, consultancy or governmental roles.

Annually we run the RSC Food Group prize at the Nursten symposium which is specifically dedicated to postgraduate students in the area of food and flavour science in the UK.

On an ad hoc basis, we run poster competitions. The last poster competition was for schools. Find out more.

Quick links

Forthcoming events

Forthcoming events organised by the Food Group.

Contact the Secretary

For further information on the Food Group you can contact the Secretary, Mr Alan Cross MRSC.

Support for interest groups

Useful information and resources for all RSC interest groups.

Relevant publications

Check out the latest Saltmarsh’s Essential Guide to Food Additives: Edition 5

Committee

Chair

Professor Jane Parker MRSC

Treasurer

Professor Wendy Russell MRSC