Sabri Ülker Foundation İstanbul Science Summit 2026
Concept Note
Childhood Nutrition: Education, Health and Security: A Global Perspective
19-20 October 2026 | Rixos Tersane Istanbul, Türkiye | Hybrid
| Organizers | Format | Venue | Audience |
| Sabri Ülker Foundation and The Nutrition Society | Hybrid: in-person and online participation | Rixos Tersane Istanbul, Türkiye | Researchers, health professionals, educators, policymakers, young scientists |
Sabri Ülker Foundation İstanbul Science Summit 2026: Concept Note
1. Event overview
Sabri Ülker Foundation İstanbul Science Summit 2026 is an international scientific meeting organized by the Sabri Ülker Foundation and The Nutrition Society. The Summit will focus on childhood nutrition through the connected themes of education, health, and food security.
The meeting will bring together international experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, civil society representatives, and early-career scientists. It will provide a platform for scientific exchange, practical discussion, and new collaboration around evidence-based approaches to child nutrition and public health.
The programme will include plenary lectures, thematic symposia, panel discussions, workshops, selected oral presentations, and digital ePoster displays.
2. Key information
| Item | Details |
| Event title | Sabri Ülker Foundation İstanbul Science Summit 2026 |
| Main theme | Childhood Nutrition: Education, Health and Security: A Global Perspective |
| Organizers | Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation and The Nutrition Society |
| Date | 19-20 October 2026 |
| Venue | Rixos Tersane Istanbul, Türkiye |
| Format | Hybrid, with in-person and online participation |
| Main scientific format | Plenary lectures, thematic symposia, panel discussions, workshops, selected oral presentations, and digital ePosters |
3. Rationale
Childhood nutrition shapes growth, cognitive development, learning capacity, immune function, and long-term wellbeing. Yet many children remain affected by malnutrition, poor diet quality, food insecurity, nutrition misinformation, and unequal access to health and education systems.
The Summit responds to these challenges by creating a focused scientific platform for discussion across early-life nutrition, school and family education, public health, and food security. It is designed to connect scientific evidence with practice, policy, and communication.
4. Main aim
The main aim of the Summit is to create an international scientific platform for evidence-based discussion on childhood nutrition, education, health, and food security.
5. Specific objectives
- Present current scientific evidence on childhood nutrition and child health.
- Discuss early-life nutrition in relation to growth, cognition, and long-term wellbeing.
- Examine nutrition education models for children, families, schools, and healthcare settings.
- Address food insecurity, nutrition in emergencies, and public health policy responses.
- Support dialogue between scientists, educators, health professionals, policymakers, and civil society.
- Provide young researchers with opportunities to present their work through ePosters and selected oral presentations.
- Strengthen scientific collaboration between Türkiye and the international nutrition community.
6. Scientific themes
| Theme | Scope |
| Theme 1: Developmental Origins | Breastfeeding, maternal and child health, the first 1000 days, early-life nutrition, developmental programming, growth, cognition, and long-term wellbeing. |
| Theme 2: Nutrition Education | School-based nutrition education, nutrition literacy, diet quality assessment, healthcare professional-led education, and educational models for children and families. |
| Theme 3: Public Health Approaches | Food insecurity, nutrition in emergencies, commercial determinants of health, policy approaches, community programmes, health equity, and systems-level responses. |
7. Programme summary
| Day | Programme focus |
| Day 1 | Welcome session; plenary lecture on global perspectives in childhood nutrition and health; Symposium 1 on Developmental Origins; selected oral presentations; Symposium 2 on Nutrition Education. |
| Day 2 | Symposium 3 on Public Health Approaches; sessions on commercial determinants of health, food insecurity, and nutrition in emergencies; plenary lecture on translating theory into action; workshop on writing for publication; closing session. |
8. Abstract, ePoster, and Oral Presentation process
Researchers will be invited to submit abstracts in English under one of the three Summit themes through the official submission page. Accepted abstracts will be displayed as digital ePosters during the Summit.
Authors who wish to be considered for the Oral Presentation session must indicate this during abstract submission and upload their ePoster by the required deadline. Selected oral presenters will deliver a 15-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute question and answer session.
Presenting authors selected for oral presentation are expected to attend the Summit in person. Travel and accommodation for the presenting author will be arranged, and relevant expenses will be covered by the organizing team.
9. Key dates
| Milestone | Date |
| Abstract submission opens | 22 June 2026 |
| Extended Abstract Deadline | 21 August 2026, 23:59 GMT+3 |
| Abstract acceptance notification | By 24 August 2026 |
| Oral Presentation ePoster deadline | 9 September 2026, 23:59 GMT+3 |
| Oral Presentation notification | By 2 October 2026 |
| Oral Presentation attendance confirmation | 6 October 2026, 23:59 GMT+3 |
| Final ePoster deadline for Poster Exhibition | 9 October 2026, 23:59 GMT+3 |
| Summit dates | 19-20 October 2026 |