Mars Symbioscience Joins 1,000 of the Nation's Leading Science & Technology Organizations at the 4th USA Science & Engineering Festival

GERMANTOWN, Md., April 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- How does a bitter cocoa bean become a delicious cocoa powder? What is the real story/science behind the headlines about cocoa and health? If you have scientific questions about cocoa, we have the answers and more at the 4^th USA Science & Engineering Festival (USASEF) Expo. Visit the Mars Symbioscience (MSS) booth #507 on April 16 and 17 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC to discover what makes cocoa so special. Hint: it's not just its taste.

MSS will join more than 1,000 of the nation's leading science and engineering organizations exhibiting at the USASEF. The company is the Health and Life Sciences segment of Mars, Incorporated, a multinational company frequently ranked among the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. MSS research scientists and representatives, armed with real cocoa pods, will take attendees on a "tour" of the transformation process from cocoa tree to cocoa. Visitors will have the opportunity to "picture" themselves as a scientist at the booth's selfie station, while learning about the latest MSS research on topics including cocoa flavanols.  

"We are very excited to participate in this year's Science & Engineering Festival," said Frank Mars, President of Mars Symbioscience. "Mars may be well known as a global food company, but less known is the company's dedication to health and life sciences research. Mars has a deep history of collaborating with a network of scientists from around the world to conduct innovative research that positively impacts people, pets and the planet and Symbioscience's remit has been to translate this knowledge into practical consumer applications."

The MSS booth will also feature representatives from Mars Fishcare, a segment of Mars Petcare, and Mars Sustainable Solutions™. Visitors will not only immerse themselves in cocoa science; they can also learn about Mars' efforts in the area of marine science and underwater work to develop an effective method to rebuild damaged coral reefs. A live fish tank, a water testing station and a chance to see the tools that scientists are using to rebuild coral reefs around the globe are a just a few of the interactive, multisensory elements that visitors will find when they stop by booth 507.

The 4^th USA Science & Engineering Festival is open to people of all ages who want to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The event is free and open on Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, 2016 at 10 a.m. For more information about USASEF, visit http://www.usasciencefestival.org/. For more information about Mars Symbioscience, visit www.marssymbioscience.com.

About Mars Symbioscience
Pioneering some of the most innovative and breakthrough fundamental scientific research, and with sustained funding from Mars, Incorporated, Mars Symbioscience was established in 2005 as an internal technology-based health and life sciences venture area to develop and commercialize new products and services supported by evidence-based science. To date, Symbioscience has successfully incubated, introduced and transitioned five technology platforms in the areas of food, plant, biomedical and life sciences, including Wisdom Panel®, (www.wisdompanel.com), a range of complex canine genetic tests for breeders, veterinarians and, CocoaVia® (www.cocoavia.com), a revolutionary new cocoa flavanol extract-based dietary supplement designed to help support healthy living/aging by promoting circulatory/cardiovascular health. For more information, please visit www.marssymbioscience.com.

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