Victoria Purdy:

Hello, my name is Victoria Purdy, and I am studying food science. Throughout school, I was interested in food and enjoyed the science subjects. I then started to explore what the University of Otago offered in food science as a career option.

Food science provides a supportive environment with lots of opportunities, and everyone gets involved. Food science at Otago is a fantastic course. Not only are the papers interesting, but I found the course great in terms of gaining experience and working on group projects. Especially the company-based project in third year, where my team created a new product, which was a blue cheese chocolate.

The skills you learn are very beneficial for when you finish your studies and start in the food industry. Check out their information on our website. We hope to see you next year.

Dr Graham Eyres:

Kia ora, my name is Dr. Graham Eyres, and I’m here to talk to you about the Bachelor of Science in food science.

Food science seeks to understand everything about the composition of food and its properties. The focus is on the food itself, the processes involved in its manufacture, and what influences the quality and sensory character of the final product.

Food scientists devise new products that taste the way they do. My other passion is in brewing and fermentation—about the flavour of beer. All staff in food science love what they do, and students will have the opportunity to learn about these specialist topics directly from the staff.

So why should you study food science? There is actually a worldwide shortage of food science graduates, so there are plenty of job opportunities out there when you finish. Our graduates are spread throughout the world, as food science will open the door to international opportunities and travel.

The food industry is varied and dynamic, with a diverse array of different jobs, offering something to suit everyone. You could end up working in a national or international company specialising in dairy, confectionery, snack foods, beer and wine, fruit and vegetables, or anything in between.

Have you ever wondered about who designed and produced your favourite chocolate bar? New product development employs lots of graduates to design and develop new products to launch to market.

A highlight of the degree at Otago is the full-year product development paper in third year. Teams of students will apply everything they’ve learned and work with a company sponsor to develop a new product from scratch. It’s really exciting to see a product that they’ve developed on the supermarket shelves.

So if you’re looking for a degree that’s going to take you places, choose food science at Otago.