The International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste has convened every 3-4 years since 1962 under the guidance of the International Commission on Olfaction and Taste. The meeting rotates locations between the United States, Japan and Europe reflecting the co-operation of the 3 large regional societies of investigators for the chemical senses, respectively, the: Assoc. Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS), Japanese Assoc. for the Study of Taste and Smell (JASTS), and European Chemoreception Research Organization (ECRO).  Each of the regional societies is in charge of organizing the details of the ISOT meeting when that meeting is in their region. The 15th ISOT will be held at the Hyatt Embarcadero Hotel in San Francisco CA July 21-26 of 2008 under the umbrella of the AChemS organization and in combination with the 30^th Annual meeting of AChemS. 

 

The purpose of the ISOT meetings is to bring together researchers from around the world to present and discuss their latest research in the broad field of the chemical senses. This field includes not only the obvious senses of taste and smell but also chemical irritation and related sensations.   Scientists investigate the mechanisms and functions of the chemical senses in the oral and nasal cavity as well as in the viscera including the gut and airways. Globally, this will be the largest meeting of its kind in 2008. 

 

The meeting is designed to provide an integrative approach as well as a historical context for modern research in the field. The general organization of the meeting includes oral presentations in the form of organized symposia and thematic collections of volunteer papers, as well as extensive poster sessions. Anticipated attendance at the 2008 ISOT meeting is over 1200 people with more than 700 total presentations.

 

Regards, 

Thomas Finger
ISOT Meeting Chair

 

ECRO Meeting Sept. 3-7 Portoroz, SLOVENIA http://www.ecro-2008.si