Interview with Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Editor-in-Chief Thomas F. Hofmann, Ph.D.

American Chemical Society
28 Jan 201503:28
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker expresses honor and pleasure in stepping into the role of editor-in-chief for a channel with a long-standing history. They aim to address the challenges in the field by rewarding contributors who publish multiple papers annually. The speaker also highlights the importance of media coverage for social responsibility, particularly in agriculture and food chemistry, to educate consumers about the necessity of this type of chemistry. The channel focuses on topics from aquaculture to food to nutrition, addressing global societal challenges such as malnutrition and the need for sustainable agriculture. The speaker's primary research is on the chemical composition of food molecules that influence sensory perception. They emphasize the importance of conducting novel research to leave a lasting impact on the scientific landscape, which benefits both the contributor and the journal.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The speaker acknowledges the honor and pleasure of stepping into the role of editor-in-chief of a channel with a long-standing history.
  • 💼 The speaker aims to address the challenges in the field and find new ways to reward their office, which publishes multiple papers annually.
  • 📈 The speaker wants to increase media coverage as part of their social responsibility, especially in agriculture and food chemistry.
  • 🌾 There is a focus on global societal challenges such as aquaculture and food production, which face increasing challenges due to malnutrition and resource limitations.
  • 🚀 The speaker's channel, AFC, is dedicated to exploring topics from aquaculture to food to nutrition and reaching the consumer.
  • 🔍 The speaker's primary research is to uncover the chemical composition of food molecules that influence sensory perception.
  • 🧬 The goal is to identify a subset of molecules from the thousands in our diet that interact with our olfactory and taste receptors.
  • 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of conducting novel research and not simply replicating previous work.
  • 🏆 Submitting papers that are better than the journal's average can lead to a win-win situation for both the office and the journal.
  • 👣 Publishing impactful papers allows researchers to leave a footprint in the scientific landscape.
  • 🔥 The best advice given to the speaker is to follow one's passion and do what one's heart desires, rather than what others expect.
Q & A

  • What is the speaker's position and their view on taking on the role?

    -The speaker is stepping into the role of an editor-in-chief for a channel with a long-standing history. They view it as an honor and a pleasure, and are ready to face the multiple challenges in the field.

  • What is the speaker's plan to reward the office that publishes a significant number of papers annually?

    -The speaker plans to find new ways to reward the office that publishes three to five papers every year, in addition to reaching out to best-in-class scientists.

  • Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of media coverage for their channel?

    -The speaker emphasizes media coverage because they believe it is their social responsibility, especially in agriculture and food chemistry, to explain to consumers why that type of chemistry is needed.

  • What societal challenges does the speaker identify as being particularly relevant to their field?

    -The speaker identifies global societal challenges such as aquaculture and food production, which are facing increasing challenges due to malnutrition primarily caused by limitations in resources.

  • What is the focus of the journal that the speaker is associated with?

    -The journal focuses on topics ranging from aquaculture to food to nutrition to the consumer, aiming to address the needs of society through novel technologies and sustainable agriculture.

  • What is the main objective of the speaker's primary research?

    -The speaker's primary research aims to elucidate the chemical code of molecules responsible for the sensory perception of food and food products, identifying which molecules drive our likes or dislikes.

  • How does the speaker define the importance of novel research for the office?

    -The speaker believes that conducting novel research is crucial for the office, as it allows them to leave a footprint in the scientific landscape with impactful papers and benefits the journal by enhancing its scientific quality.

  • What advice does the speaker receive and how does it influence their approach to their role?

    -The speaker has been advised to do what they are passionate about and not to follow what others expect them to do. This advice influences their approach by encouraging them to pursue their own interests and passions in their role.

  • How does the speaker view the relationship between impactful papers and the journal's impact?

    -The speaker sees a win-win situation where impactful papers submitted by the office not only allow the office to leave a mark in the scientific community but also propel the journal's impact and scientific quality.

  • What is the speaker's view on the importance of originality in research?

    -The speaker stresses the importance of originality in research, stating that it is better to conduct novel research rather than redoing what others have already done.

  • How does the speaker perceive the role of sustainable agriculture in addressing societal needs?

    -The speaker perceives sustainable agriculture as a key factor in generating technologies that can address the coming needs of society, particularly in the face of increasing challenges in food production and malnutrition.

Outlines
00:00
📚 New Challenges and Opportunities in Food Chemistry

The speaker expresses honor and pleasure in taking on the role of editor-in-chief of a channel with a long-standing history in food chemistry. They acknowledge the need to find new ways to reward the office for its publication efforts, aiming to reach the best-in-class scientists and improve media coverage. This is part of their social responsibility, especially in agriculture and food chemistry, to educate consumers about the necessity of such chemistry. The speaker discusses the global societal challenges faced by aquaculture and food production, emphasizing the need for novel technologies and sustainable agriculture to meet society's needs. The channel, AFC, focuses on this topic, ranging from aquaculture to food to nutrition and the consumer. The speaker's primary research is to uncover the chemical code of molecules that influence the sensory perception of food, seeking to identify key molecules that affect our preferences. The importance of conducting novel research and avoiding redundancy is highlighted, as impactful papers can leave a lasting mark in the scientific community and enhance the journal's reputation.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Editors-in-chief
Editors-in-chief are the individuals who hold the top editorial position in a publishing organization, such as a newspaper, magazine, or academic journal. They are responsible for overseeing the publication's content, managing the editorial team, and ensuring the quality and integrity of the published material. In the context of the video, the speaker is expressing the honor and pleasure of stepping into this role and facing the challenges that come with it.
💡Aquaculture
Aquaculture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants. It is a method of food production that is increasingly important due to the growing demand for seafood and the need for sustainable food sources. The script mentions aquaculture as one of the global societal challenges, indicating the need for novel technologies and products to address the increasing challenges in food production.
💡Food chemistry
Food chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical processes and interactions that occur in food. It encompasses the study of the chemical composition of food, how these components interact, and how they affect the quality, safety, and sensory properties of food products. The speaker mentions food chemistry in relation to agriculture and the need to explain to consumers the importance of this type of chemistry.
💡Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that aims to meet the food, fuel, and fiber needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves using farming practices that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. The script discusses the importance of sustainable agriculture in generating technologies that serve the needs of society.
💡Sensory perception
Sensory perception is the process by which the body receives and interprets information from the senses. In the context of food, it refers to how our senses of taste and smell interact with food molecules to create our perception of flavor. The speaker's primary research focuses on elucidating the chemical code of molecules responsible for the sensory perception of food, aiming to identify which molecules drive our preferences for certain food products.
💡Chemical composition
Chemical composition refers to the makeup of a substance in terms of the elements, compounds, molecules, and ions that constitute it. In the script, the speaker is interested in the chemical composition of food products, specifically which molecules out of thousands are responsible for our sensory experiences with food.
💡Novel technologies
Novel technologies are new or innovative approaches, tools, or systems that have not been used before or are significantly improved versions of existing technologies. The script mentions the need for novel technologies in the context of addressing challenges in aquaculture and food production, emphasizing the importance of innovation in meeting societal needs.
💡Global societal challenges
Global societal challenges refer to the significant problems that affect societies worldwide, such as food security, climate change, and health crises. The script identifies aquaculture and food production as examples of such challenges, highlighting the need for new approaches to address these issues.
💡Malnutrition
Malnutrition refers to a state where a person's diet lacks the necessary nutrients for optimal health. It can be caused by not having enough to eat (undernutrition) or by consuming too much of the wrong foods (overnutrition). The script mentions malnutrition as a primary challenge, primarily due to limitations in resources, indicating the need for novel solutions to improve food availability and quality.
💡Media coverage
Media coverage refers to the way in which news or information is presented or reported in the media. In the script, the speaker expresses a desire to work more on media coverage as part of their social responsibility, particularly in the fields of agriculture and food chemistry, to educate consumers about the importance of these areas.
💡Impactful paper
An impactful paper is a research publication that has a significant influence on its field, often by presenting new findings, theories, or methodologies that advance knowledge or change practices. The speaker mentions the importance of submitting impactful papers to the journal, as it benefits both the author by leaving a mark in the scientific landscape and the journal by enhancing its reputation and impact.
Highlights

Honoring the long-standing history of the journal and stepping into the role of editor-in-chief.

Facing multiple challenges in the field and finding new ways to reward contributors.

Publishing a significant number of papers annually and the importance of reaching best-in-class scientists.

Working on media coverage as a social responsibility, especially in agriculture and food chemistry.

The need to explain the importance of chemistry in agriculture and food to consumers.

Addressing global societal challenges such as aquaculture and food production.

The increasing challenge of malnutrition due to limitations in resources.

The necessity for novel technologies and products utilizing sustainable agriculture.

Generating technologies to serve the coming needs of society.

Focusing on topics from aquaculture to food to nutrition to the consumer.

Elucidating the chemical code of molecules responsible for sensory perception of food.

Identifying key molecules in our daily diet that influence our taste and olfactory receptors.

The importance of conducting novel research and not repeating what has already been done.

The mutual benefit of impactful papers for both the office and the journal.

The advice to pursue one's passion in research and not to be swayed by others' expectations.

Transcripts

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ChemistryAgricultureFood ScienceEditorialInnovationSustainabilitySensory PerceptionGlobal ChallengesResearch ImpactSocial Responsibility