Roland Harper Lecture

Established 1993

The lecture honours advanced work in consumer or sensory science. The focus of this award is in bridging the gap between the applied areas of market research, product development and sensory analysis and the industries covered by SCI, in tandem with the fundamental sciences of chemistry, biology, psychology and sociology, which underpin these areas.

The interests of SCI's Food Group, which is in charge of the administration of this award, span across foods and non-foods (such as fragrances, textiles and personal care products), brand effects, consumer behaviour, as well as marketing attributes in environmental and health concerns. To gain a competitive advantage in increasingly crowded markets, a better understanding of factors that influence consumer perception and choice is essential.