Valencia Hosts the First ESM Training Event

Valencia Hosts the First ESM Training Event

The first Training Event of the project took place in Valencia from 9 to 13 February 2026 at IATA-CSIC. It was a special milestone for the network, as it was the first time the doctoral candidates met in person and the whole consortium gathered together.

During the first three days, Doctoral Candidates attended inspiring lectures covering colloidal science, statistics, polymer science, nutrition, machine learning, open science, ethics, and sensory science. These sessions built a common scientific ground while fostering lively interdisciplinary discussions between candidates and lecturers.

The fourth day was dedicated to a poster session, where doctoral candidates presented and discussed their individual research projects with the consortium. They also met with their Scientific Advisory Committees to develop a Personal Career Development Plan tailored to their ambitions and research paths.

Before the closing dinner, the group enjoyed a city tour of Valencia, creating a relaxed setting that encouraged interactions, strengthened connections, and helped build new relationships across the network.

The event concluded with a convivial dinner featuring Spanish cuisine, providing the perfect ending to a productive and memorable week and reinforcing the sense of community within the project.

We are already looking forward to the next Training Event.

Welcome Duolima!!!

Welcome Duolima!!!

We’re excited to welcome Duolima Han to our programme!

She joins ETH Zurich as a PhD candidate within the ESM MSCA Doctoral Network.

We look forward to her contributions and wish her every success on her research journey.

Plant-based nutrition quiz… round 2

Plant-based nutrition quiz… round 2

How well you know plant-based foods? From protein to iron, some ingredients might surprise you.
In this second quiz, the Edible Soft Matter Doctoral Network tests your knowledge again!

And now we’re curious 👀 Did any of these surprise you? Or what’s the hardest false myth about plant-based nutrition you’ve heard? Drop it in the comments

Sources:
Mariotti et al., Dietary Protein and Amino Acids in Vegetarian Diets—A Review, Nutrients, 2019
Springmann et al., The global and regional costs of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns: a modelling study Lancet Planet Health 2021
https://www.lentils.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SPG-Sustainability-Flat-Sheet-KK-LRES.pdf

New Research Challenges the ‘Plant-Based Is More Expensive’ Narrative


https://brain-effect.com/en-eu/blogs/magazine/eisenhaltige-lebensmittel-fuer-veganer?srsltid=AfmBOoozsZmjVCHpPqTY-Z7MsQcmFAHu6_IesrFy4XYXuJnILjnX1_Vd
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/iron-rich-plant-foods
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/the-vegetarian-diet/

Plant-based nutrition myths… how many you can spot?

Plant-based nutrition myths… how many you can spot?

Protein, iron, cost… plant-based diets are often surrounded by misconceptions. But what does the science actually say?
In this quiz-style post, the Edible Soft Matter Doctoral Network tackles some of the most common myths.
👉 Swipe through, test your knowledge, and see if you can spot the myths!

Sources:
Mariotti et al., Dietary Protein and Amino Acids in Vegetarian Diets—A Review, Nutrients, 2019
Springmann et al., The global and regional costs of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns: a modelling study Lancet Planet Health 2021
https://lnkd.in/eY2tVUY3
https://lnkd.in/efmwfH7d
https://lnkd.in/eJceCntN
https://lnkd.in/eEb4Upn3
https://lnkd.in/eGnyU5vN

 

 

New year, new resolutions🌱!

New year, new resolutions🌱!

Thinking about eating more plant-based but don’t know where to start? Then join the Veganuary challenge!
Short of Vegan and January, this challenge was 1st launched in 2014 by the British non-profit organization, Veganuary, to entice people to eat fully vegan for a month. Over time, it has become popular, involving millions of participants worldwide🌍.

But where do you begin? Small actions lead to bigger change! You don’t need to eat vegan to join the challenge. Find tips below to easily increase the amount of plant-based foods in your diet!

Within the ESM project, we are proud to be part of the shift towards more plant-based diets. The doctoral candidates are working hard to gain knowledge on various plant-based food matrices (i.e. meat analogues, vegan cheese or plant-based beverages) and develop innovate plant-based food products. Don’t miss out and follow our page!