Ever since an unfortunate misunderstanding involving a Bunsen burner and Jumbo MacLean’s duffel coat in third year, this 5pm Dining blog scribbler and science have not been happy bedfellows.

However, a new collaboration between The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and the University of Edinburgh’s Psychology Department sounds just the sort of thing that we would look out our white coat for.

Volunteer whisky tasters

The Project Flavour Behaviour event is part of a research experiment being carried out by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in partnership with Dr Adam Moore from the University of Edinburgh’s Psychology Department.

120 volunteer whisky tasters are required to be guinea pigs at a secretive scientific research experiment in Edinburgh on Wednesday 16th December.

Participants at the event, which is free and takes place at the prestigious Royal College Of Surgeons of Edinburgh, will take a written test about personality traits and then taste special samples of whisky.

Adventurous spirit

A previous knowledge of whisky is NOT required – an open mind and adventurous spirit is all you need.

The findings from the event will be analysed by Dr Moore and feed into the ongoing research experiment, which will be unveiled in more detail during 2016.

Here’s the deets: Project Flavour Behaviour, free, 6.30-830pm, Wednesday 16th December, Royal College Of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW

To sign up to be a volunteer taster, click here http://www.smws.co.uk/projectfb

While not exactly the same as this, there is loads of research taking place at the moment which looks into the ways that external factors such as music, strangely shaped cutlery, different colours of crockery etc can affect our perception of taste.

Chinese tastes better with Taylor Swift

A lot of this research has been done by Professor Charles Spence of Oxford University. Along with the takeaway people Just Eat, the Prof released a study yesterday which looked at the way different genres of music enhanced our appreciation of different takeaway foods.

Apparently, Taylor Swift is the best soundtrack for a Chinese takeaway.