Published: September 29, 2007 05:37 pm         

Food doctorate is the first of its kind

BLOOMINGTON — The Indiana University Bloomington Anthropology Department now offers a doctorate in the anthropology of food.

“Food studies of all kinds are increasing in popularity,” said Anthropology Department Chair Eduardo Brondizio. “IU offers the first program in the world leading to a Ph.D. in the social science of food.”

In integrating the department’s food specialists with scientists, humanities scholars and social scientists, the food studies doctorate program is deeply multidisciplinary.

In all, program administrators plan to involve 37 faculty throughout the IU Bloomington campus. Coursework covers prehistory and social change, human evolution and adaptation, health and nutrition, political economy and development, food production and environment, and food and identity. The department is also working to offer a cooperative student exchange with a similarly focused M.A. program at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

“Food connects a host of contemporary issues, ranging from obesity to ecological dead zones to fair-trade coffee to tourism,” Brondizio said. “Students will have opportunities to work on a wide range of food-related topics in a department whose menu already offers courses on chocolate’s history, primate diets, the social and environmental causes of famine, and many others.”

Students interested in the program are encouraged to submit applications for the 2008 fall semester. More information is available at www.indiana.edu/~anthro/food_anthro.html.