Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020 - 294

COMMENTARY
FROM YOUR PRESIDENT

Kalmia Kniel

I believe that I can state with 99.9%
certainty that for all of us, the year
2020 is not turning out as anticipated.
Are you adjusting to the "new normal,"
the term I hear often through major
media outlets? As you read this, I
sincerely hope that you and your
loved ones are healthy and enjoying
time together while maintaining
physical distance and wearing clothbased coverings. These are all part of the new language that we
have adopted over the past six months. As I bid adieu to my role
as President, I am filled with a myriad of emotions. It has been
an incredible privilege and honor to serve as IAFP President and
witness our members in action around the globe. I appreciate the
loss that each of us feels regarding missing interactions, including
traditions at the summer IAFP Annual Meeting. One thing that
remains true is the inspiration I feel from colleagues that we
honor with numerous IAFP awards. You can see all the 2020
awardees plus past award recipients at the IAFP website, http://
www.foodprotection.org/ about/past-awardees/. It is amazing
what IAFP members have accomplished! Likewise, the webinar
archive is overflowing with recent scientific communications on
various topics. If you missed attending these webinars in person,
be sure your membership is up-to-date and don't delay a visit to
the webinar archive (http://www. foodprotection.org/resources/
webinar-archive/).
Like many of you, I have been reflecting on the state of science
in the world. It is more critical now than ever, that we build
momentum as an organization to spread messages rooted in
science. It is acceptable that we have more armchair epidemiologists
and self-trained immunologists and virologists than the planet has
ever experienced; however, along with that, there must be a true
appreciation for the science and the individuals who have dedicated
careers to scientific exploration. Speaking of that, our members
continue to share valuable food safety knowledge and promote
food safety through behavioral change and activities during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
There is no end to all that we are tackling these days as the
state of science continues to morph. Like me, some of you may be

FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
From month-to-month and dayto-day, our world is changing quickly.
Last month, I mentioned that the IAFP
Executive Board had been faced with
a number of decisions related to our
European and Annual Meetings. At the
beginning of August, we faced another
massive decision; should we continue to
plan for a face-to-face meeting or should
we convert to a fully virtual Annual
Meeting. By now, you probably know the answer.
The discussion took place via a videoconference and the decision
was to hold IAFP 2020 as "A Virtual Annual Meeting." Now, we will
forgo the meeting planned for Cleveland and present all symposia,
roundtables, technical sessions and poster sessions "virtually" over
the Internet. In addition, there will be virtual exhibits so that the
new products and services can continue to be brought to IAFP
2020 attendees. As we move through August and September, the
meeting content will be repositioned to fill our three-day schedule
over the dates of October 26-28.

294

Food Protection Trends September/October

rethinking your student learning outcomes and designing authentic
assessments and online laboratories for distance education; while
also perusing through endless pages of scientific preprints. This
represents a new paradigm in publishing with a non-peer review
supporting the non-peer review. No one knows how long this
will continue. Scientific advancements are moving at a rapid pace
while ordering reagents within my own lab, open again after 3
months, seems to move at a snail's pace. This type of contradiction
is everywhere we look. I am extremely grateful for the silver linings,
of which there are many, including: opportunities to add aspects
of diversity, equity, and inclusion to my courses where I had
unintentionally omitted it previously. In the spring semester, I teach
a multicultural course, Food for Thought, and I am excited about
the development of new course content based on the historically
significant Soul Cooking of African Americans in the American
South, using as my guide the book The Jemima Code, Two Centuries
of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin. We all owe
much to these women who in many cases gave their lives along with
their recipes and stories. In order to tackle the grand challenges of
the world, we must include different and diverse viewpoints. As
Past President, I look forward to working with the newly created
IAFP Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and certainly you
will hear more about this group in the future.
A member of my lab group recently shared with me that she
is finding more time to reflect on moments in her life. Intention,
reflection, and acknowledgment take on new meaning these days.
As an IAFP member, I am grateful for the wealth of opportunities
IAFP has given me since I was a student member over twenty years
ago. I appreciate the IAFP Foundation for the continued support
of educational initiatives, including webinars and remind you all to
please support the Foundation this year, even if your interactions
with IAFP seem more distant; the Foundation relies on your
support. I am incredibly grateful to my dedicated colleagues on the
Executive Board and the amazing IAFP staff.
Is that the aroma of pumpkin spice in the air? That is my que
to bid you Goodbye. I look forward to reading President-Elect
Roger Cook's columns and especially to seeing you all in the near
future! One last "Thank You" for all that you do to make IAFP the
incredible association that it is and for all that you do in Advancing
Food Safety Worldwide.

David W. Tharp
One benefit of holding a virtual meeting is that Members who
have not been able to attend a meeting in-person over the years may
now be able to participate from their home location. As an example,
I want to share this edited message with you:
Dear David,
We have met many times at the Dubai International Food
Safety Conference. Each time we meet, I had a wish to
attend the IAFP Annual Meeting in America. But due
to various issues, I could not make it. But this time, I am
super excited to hear about IAFP 2020 going virtual and
with an affordable rate.
Being a Food Safety Professional for the last 10 years, the
IAFP Annual Meeting is my top dream in my "vision board;"
each day I have visualized it and now it is coming true.
Thanks to all Members of IAFP and thanks to you also.
We are excited to be able to bring the IAFP Annual Meeting to a
worldwide audience this coming October. We hope you will be able
to join us for IAFP 2020, A Virtual Annual Meeting!

http://www.foodprotection.org/ http://www.foodprotection.org/ http://www.foodprotection.org/resources/webinar-archive http://www.foodprotection.org/resources/webinar-archive

Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020