UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Food Decisions Research Laboratory in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management is hosting its ninth annual Online Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. This year’s virtual event, "Food Away From Home and Food Insecurity," will take place at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public.
The symposium will feature two keynote speakers, Joseph Rocchi and Troy Wiipongwii. Rocchi is a chef and Pamunkey Tribe citizen turned educator who champions Indigenous cuisines' history and educates and safeguards culinary legacies. Wiipongwii is an innovator in conservation entrepreneurship who delves into Web 3.0 tech's impact on sustainable food systems and Indigenous sovereignty's influence on conservation and economics.
“Our symposium will showcase studies that investigate food choices and decisions people face in their day-to-day lives, especially in the foodservice system,” said Amit Sharma, Edward Friedman and Stuart Mann Professor of Hospitality Management and director of the Food Decisions Research Laboratory. “This event will provide attendees with information relevant to make informed food choices and gain a broader perspective on the food and foodservice systems. Attendees will also learn important insights from our esteemed keynote speakers about the Indigenous food system and its role in the larger food system."
The symposium will also feature presentations by international scholars and an international launch of the student-led food insecurity informational project, which is part of the Free Food Map launched by the Food Decisions Research Laboratory.
Attending the symposium is free, but registration is required. Zoom access links will be sent to those who register.
About the School of Hospitality Management
Established in 1937, Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s earliest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It’s also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society.