What is IFST Future Scientist Competiton?
IFST Future Scientist Competition is an annual competition offering undergraduate/master’s students the opportunity to present their current/recently completed food-related project in front of an audience and a panel of food professionals. If shortlisted you will have 5 minutes to present your research followed by 5 minutes of questions from our panel.
Winners will receive a cash prize.
Entries for the competition will open soon!
How to enter
Applicants are required to submit an abstract no longer than 250 words on current work or a recently completed project. The project must be food related in areas such as food science, food technology or human nutrition. Successful shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their research to our panel and will be judged on scientific, originality, innovation, industrial applications and effective communication skills.
Regional Finals
If shortlisted you will be invited to present at one of our two final events (based on your university’s location):
| Regional Event | Location | Date |
| Scotland | Tbc | Tbc |
| North of England | Tbc | Tbc |
| South of England and Wales | Food and Drink Federation, London | 16 June 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Tbc | Tbc |
Kindly sponsored by:
Eligibility:
- The competition is open to undergraduate and masters students
- The project must be food related in areas such as food science, food technology or human nutrition
- The subject and presentation do not have to be taken from your final year project/dissertation, they can be taken from a piece of coursework or work experience
- This competition is only open to students studying at UK universities
