At the heart of each project, a question of public or private interest
For each project, the Research Center’s team treats players’ operational issues like scientific problems that need to be solved within a specifically chosen academic discipline.
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On a scientific level, research therefore helps to promote conceptual knowledge by identifying the key factors of examined systems. This is done by applying a multidisciplinaryvision to the undertaken efforts. These results are shared with the international scientific community via peer-examined journal articles and through conferences. On an operational level, the work results in useable recommendations that are a genuine springboard for innovation.
The Social Sciences research axis focuses on the social and cultural dynamics of contemporary food practices. Through predominantly qualitative and comparative approaches, the work carried out aims to better understand the extent to which current trends (acceleration of international exchanges, new technologies, environmental concerns, etc.) impact practices and change food patterns and cultures.
At the same time, a focus is placed on the place of food in France and its evolutions: specific food (“-free” food), use of commensality as a lever for social action, evolution of cooking practices and their representations, cultural and heritage weight of food and cooking.
From the ecological transition to new places and consumption patterns, via digitalisation, the restaurant industry is facing profound societal, environmental, technological and economic changes that are challenging the sector’s organizations, businesses and practices.
The Cognitive Science axis in the Institut Paul Bocuse focuses on the different cognitive mechanisms involved in the relationship between man and food. In particular, we are interested by properties of different mental representations of food: perceptual representations, episodic memories, concepts and categories, and so on.
PRIVILEGED RESEARCH TOPICS The research program Knowledge and familiarity in the food domain aims at i) identifying the cognitive mechanism underpinning recognition and familiarity in the food domain, and ii) determining the nature and the extent of the influence of knowledge and familiarity on food experience and behavior throughout the lifespan. Such a thorough understanding of the cognitive systems underpinning the food domain will supplement the full range of evidence-based practices for encouraging healthy eating habits in children.
The research program Multisensory perception of flavor aims at refining our understanding of the perceptive determinants of the meal experience. Thus, F&B designers will be able to exploit this knowledge to: customize the food and beverage offer, improve the customer perceptual experience, and tackle the challenges of innovation and creativity within a context of worldwide competition.
The goal of my research is to better understand the factors that influence food preferences, appetite and energy intake within and across cultures and at different stages in the life-course (children, adults and elderly). Exploring the factors that influence appetite/energy intake within and across meals and the development of eating behaviours is essential to design interventions aimed at improving dietary patterns and subsequently overall health and well-being.
The studies are designed by integrating the real situations complexity and by combining, if necessary, different methodological approaches, such as observation, choices and perception evaluation, quantities consumed, or social interactions analysis.