Nutrition Societies Presidents' Forum: future challenges and opportunities for nutrition societies in the 21st century.

The Chair introduced "Pasteur's Quadrant" as a potentially useful paradigm for modern science. Developed by Princeton's Donald E Stokes, the quadrant is two-by-two matrix that classifies knowledge as fundamental and/or applied. The Chair also noted the effect of competitive pressures, and the necessity for cooperation among nutrition societies. The Presidents of The American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS), The American Society for Clinical Nutrition (ASCN), The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), and the Chair of the Institute of Food Technologist's (IFT) Nutrition Division presented their views on how societies can prepare to meet their members' upcoming needs. The Director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy discussed the future role of nutrition societies and how they might interact with various interest groups. The Forum, which included an opportunity for audience participation, took place soon after the February 1996 release of "Meeting the Challenge: A Research Agenda for America's Health, Safety, and Food." Published by the Executive Office of the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy, the report highlights the importance of nutrition to our nation's health.