2025 GLOBAL TASTE & SMELL SUMMIT
September 15–16, 2025
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
Presented by
World Taste & Smell Association
Reawakening the Senses.
Reimagining the Future.
The World Taste & Smell Association invites you to step into a new era of sensory innovation — where science meets story, perception meets purpose, and taste and smell take center stage.
Join us at our invite-only Global Taste & Smell Summit for two immersive days of dialogue, discovery, and multisensory exploration.
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Call for Participation: Showcase, Speak, or Collaborate
This year’s Summit will feature:
TED-style salons & roundtables
Breakthrough science & cross-sector panels
Live demos & a sensory innovation showcase
Sensorial workshops and tasting experiences
Have a product, prototype, installation, or insight that belongs in our Sensory Innovation Showcase? Want to host a tasting, demo a tool, or lead a discussion?
Why Get Involved?
Sponsoring or showcasing with WTSA isn’t just about visibility — it’s about creating real impact:
Support research & diagnostics for sensory loss
Help fund toolkits, education, and inclusive training
Drive awareness at the intersection of food, health & human experience
Get your innovations in front of scientists, media, clinicians, chefs, and cultural leaders
Not the right time to Sponsor?
You Can Still Join the Movement.
Tickets will be extremely limited —
registration opens soon.
Featured Collaborators
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Joshua M. Levy, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.
Clinical Director, Sinonasal and Olfaction Program, NIH NIDCD
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Alex Woo, Ph.D.
CEO, W2O, Flavor Scientist & Innovation Expert, WTSA Board Member
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Paule Joseph, PhD CRNP FAAN
Co-Clinical Director & Senior Researcher, Sensory Science and Metabolism (SenSMet) NIH/NIAAA
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Stephanie Feuer
WTSA Co-Founder, Writer & Advocate
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Amy Marks-McGee
Trend Expert (TrendIncite) and WTSA Board Member
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Gabrielle Marks
Trendcaster & Anosmia Advocate, WTSA Steering Committee
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Jenna Troyli
WTSA Board Member & Co-Founder, Noted Communications
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Benjamin P.C. Smith, Ph.D.
Executive Director & President, Monell Chemical Senses Center
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Dr. Jonathan Overdevest
Assistant Professor, Rhinology & Skull Base Surgery | Department of Otolaryngology - HNS, Columbia University Irving Medical Center | New York Presbyterian
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Mindy Yang
WTSA Co-Founder & CEO, Sensory Expert, & Human Experience Optimizer
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Tian Yu, Ph.D.
AI in Sensory & Consumer Science | CPG Digital Taste & Smell Expert
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Nadia Kadri
@NewYorkNose and perfumeversenyc
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Carla Seipp
Beauty & fragrance journalist
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Derek Toomre, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine
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Dr. Kavita Bhatnagar
Food Scientist, Author, Times Power Icon- Food, Nutrition & Eating Behaviour (Challenging fear driven narratives around food)
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Caroline McMillan, PhD
Sensory Design, Research + Technology | Speaker | Odor2Action Lab Research Fellow | EXIST-Women Scholar | Podcaster
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William Harris
Founding Partner at AvroKO, Award-Winning Hospitality Innovation Icon
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Dan Vinh
Vice President of marketing and communications at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
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Christian Santiago, MBA
Advancement Officer, the Society of Fellows, Culinary Institute of America.
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Dr. David Rosen
Associate Professor Thomas Jefferson University
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Dr. Bernadette Cortese
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina. Scientific interest in olfactory function with stress, anxiety, and PTSDScientific
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Colleen McLeod Garner, MBA
Commercial Space | CPG, Space, & AI-Driven Innovation | Visionary Business Development | Beta Gamma Sigma | Top 100 Women in Aerospace & Aviation Nominee
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Kimmo Piironen
CEO, u-Smell-it™: An XPRIZE winning Rapid Smell Test for large population COVID-19 Screening and Surveillance.
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Brian Lin
Research Assistant Professor at Tufts University, CellSor Co-Founder, Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS)
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Eric Vanderson
Co-Founder, Taste Compass. Biotech leader turned food science entrepreneur
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Andrew Ford
Co-Founder, Taste Compass. Tech visionary behind FlexBooker and CityEats
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Aaron Wisniewski
Sensory Designer. Pioneering the flavor, function, and culture of the modern drinker who prioritizes health and wellness. CEO & Founder of Alice and the Magician, Founder/CEO of Guinep Recovery Cocktail, Advisor/Board Member of OVR
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Liz Alvarez
Director of Programs @ The Connected Chef | Transformative Partnerships and Operations | Culinary Consultant from Kitchen to Table
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Alissa (Allen) Nolden
U Mass Assistant Professor. Dual-title Ph.D. in Food Science and Clinical & Translational Science.
• Chemosensory function during and after cancer treatment • Genetic differences and individual differences in perception • Plant-based foods and consumer perceptions of sustainable foods -
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Mei Xu
Entrepreneur, Founder of Blueme Fragrances, Author of “Burn”, Forbes
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Alex Highsmith
Non Alc Enthusiast + Retail Specialist @ahigh4life Co-Owner @Spirited Away Director of Sales @Guinep Recovery Cocktail Actor & Award Winning Producer of @Epinephrinefilm
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Sylvie Florman
Freelance Writer & Content Creator, Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, Edible Manhattan, Hunker Home, Cool Material, & more.
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Amanda Montague
Chief Mission Officer at Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA)
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Michale Harney
Vice President & Tea Taster, Harney & Sons Fine Teas
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Brigitte Harney
Manager/Buyer at Harney & Sons Fine Teas
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Leah Holzel
Culinary professional and author, with a focus on culinary research and recipe design for anosmia. I offer one-on-one guidance in smell training and coaching to individuals navigating smell loss.
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Raechel Hammer
Senior Director of Philanthropy and Government Relations, Monell Chemical Senses
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Staci Vernick
Senior Director, Communications & Marketing at Monell Center
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Nazli Parvizi
President MOFAD (Museum of Food & Drink), Advisor, Cork Collective,
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R. Kyle Palmer
CSO, COO, Opertech Bio
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Scott Bartman
Founder at Bartovation
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Timothy Cunninghamm
Chief Executive Officer at Smell Taste Technology, LYTE Balance
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Jarin Chu
GTM Leader | New Space Advisor | Anthropologist | Lover of Food | Asker of Deep Questions