Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023 - 530

Our Experiences (continued)
Surabhi Wason
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Attending IAFP 2023 through the Student Travel Scholarship was an enlightening
and transformative experience. It provided an invaluable platform to connect with
fellow students, researchers, and professionals and share insights in the field of
food protection and safety. Throughout the conference, a wide spectrum of engaging
sessions, workshops, and presentations were offered, covering topics ranging
from emerging foodborne pathogens to innovative food safety technologies. These
sessions not only expanded my knowledge but also allowed me to explore the latest
advancements and trends in food safety research and practices.
The poster and oral presentation sessions were instrumental in honing my
communication skills. I organized a symposium and delivered two talks. Presenting
my research to a diverse audience and receiving constructive feedback allowed
me to refine my ability to convey complex concepts effectively. The interactive
discussions that followed these sessions provided deeper insights into my research
area and opened doors for potential collaborations and future research directions.
One of the highlights of IAFP 2023 was the diverse networking opportunities.
Meeting fellow students from various academic backgrounds and professionals
from academia and industry was incredibly rewarding. I greatly enjoyed the
poster sessions as I was able to interact with many researchers in my field. These
interactions facilitated the exchange of ideas, insights, and experiences, fostering
new collaborations and expanding my professional network. These connections will undoubtedly prove to be
valuable assets as I progress in my professional journey. IAFP 2023 also featured thought-provoking keynote
speakers who shared their expertise and vision for the future of food safety. These presentations expanded my
understanding of the global challenges in food protection and inspired me to contribute meaningfully to the field's
advancement.
I encourage fellow food safety students to apply for this travel scholarship; it's a gateway to global networking.
I am immensely grateful to IAFP for this experience and look forward to applying the lessons learned and
connections made to my academic and professional pursuits.
Elvia Elizabeth
Yáñez-Obregón
Universidad Autonoma de
Nuevo León
Nuevo León, Mexico
I'm beyond grateful and sincerely honored for having had the opportunity to receive
the 2023 IAFP Student Travel Scholarship and to present a poster about my research. I
would like to extend a big thank you to the IAFP Foundation and to those who made this
opportunity a reality.
Attending my first IAFP Annual Meeting as an undergraduate student exceeded my
expectations as it was very beneficial, inspiring, and enriching. Being able to connect,
exchange ideas, and share my research with students and experts was one of my
biggest highlights. One of the things that amazed me the most was how this meeting
can bring together people and their different interests from all over the world with a
common goal of providing alternatives, strategies, and research in food safety. Notably,
all the people I met were happy to share their knowledge and experiences. I believe it's
a very enriching opportunity for every person who can attend this conference.
I highly recommend everyone to sign up for the mentor/mentee program which I found
very helpful, especially for students who want to learn and get more involved in the field.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the great role of the volunteer program, which was
a wonderful opportunity to personally thank many people who made contributions to the
IAFP Foundation.
The academic and personal experiences I had cannot be compared to anything else.
IAFP 2023 opened up a new world of ideas, paths, and horizons for me that I now want
to see come true. I will be eternally indebted for this opportunity.
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530 Food Protection Trends November/December

Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023

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