My research work explores the role of cuisine and non-conventional foods in food security and food sovereignty among Indigenous people. This study takes place in the Mayan Region of Chiapas, Mexico, and asks questions about how cultural and biological diversities contribute to build more sustainable food systems.
Research Description
My research work explores the role of cuisine and non-conventional foods in food security and food sovereignty among Indigenous people. This study takes place in the Mayan Region of Chiapas, Mexico, and asks questions about how cultural and biological diversities contribute to build more sustainable food systems. Through the revitalization of the culinary practices around unconventional foods, this research will develop a replicable protocol to mitigate food insecurity in a sustainable and locally adapted way among Indigenous communities in North America.
What does being a Public Scholar mean to you?
For me, being a PS means to be committed with the public good, which in turns means to go beyond the mere production of knowledge within scientific or academic frameworks and look into people’s desires, values, necessities and interactions with the challenges they face in a daily base, and at a multiple levels and scales. In addition, I think the PSI is also a possibility to see ourselves, not only as researchers, but also as active members and contributors of these realities in which we work and engage with.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with the Public Scholars Initiative?
What I am most enthusiastic about the PSI is its versatility and the freedom it provides for us to be creative with our current PhD opportunities. I my academic experience, it is not easy to do interdisciplinary work; to bring theoretical, methodological or analytical frameworks from one discipline into another, to propose innovative methods, or to increase the level of community involvement that a research process may have. The PSI it is a great supporter of this kind of creativity and I feel so excited to be part of it.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
During my time in academia I got inspired by the power of everyday life details, the subtlety and the depth of community life. Working with farmers I have learned lessons that transcend science productivity and lead me to give importance to more integrative factors. Cultural values, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are aspects that I genuinely wish to incorporate into my professional work. The field of communication is one I would like to explore. Because of its flexible nature and the ability to build connections and network, I am sure that the PSI will be an ally in solidifying these ideas and strategies.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
My research work is co-created with Mayan communities in the South of Mexico. I work in particular with an NGO that empowers women in their journey to revitalize traditional foods associated to the ancient local varieties of corn and other vegetables not widely commercialized. We used to eat these foods very frequently in the Mexican diet, but now we are starting to forget them and the connections they provide us with the land. My research methods are community base, and they include conversational methods among talking circles, focus groups and participatory workshops, both with the NGO members, their families, their communities, and stakeholders in the local food system (Indigenous chefs, food promotors, academics, members of local food movement groups). These strategies are designed to be applied not just for data gathering, but also for sharing, discussing, validating and shaping preliminary and final results in a collaborative way.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I have always been curious and inquisitive. I find in research a lot of similarity with art. I like to create, to get inspired, to inspired others. I love to ask critical questions, to hear and tell stories, to learn, and to produce reflections and to serve people. I think didn’t have enough of these during my undergrad and my master’s degrees.
Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?
UBC is a well-known university, and Vancouver is such a diverse city. I also found professors doing relevant work in the fields I am interested in, and they kindly acceded to guide me. Finally, I think that UBC has a lot to offer beyond academia.
Being a Public Scholar means to be committed with the public good, which in turns means to go beyond the mere production of knowledge within scientific or academic frameworks and look into people’s desires, values, necessities and interactions with the challenges they face in a daily base, and at a multiple levels and scales.
