Nothing breeds community quite like conversation over delicious food. This fall, the Food Systems Research Center (FSRC) and Food Systems Graduate Program are proud to introduce The Food & Ideas Gathering (FIG), an exciting monthly event that aims to foster connection between the food systems community at ̽̽ and beyond.
The first FIG event will be on Friday, October 20th at 2:15pm in the Hills Agricultural Science Building, Room 102.
Each month, FIG will showcase a variety of speakers, ranging from researchers to farmers, who will delve into an array of food systems topics. Following these engaging talks, attendees are invited to enjoy delicious food while engaging in lively conversations with fellow participants. The Fall 2023 semester series will be themed “Climate Change and Food Systems.”
The inaugural presenter for October’s talk will be Dr. Pablo Bose, a professor in the Department of Geography and Geosciences and Director of the Global and Regional Studies Program. Dr. Bose’s talk “Starting Over Again… and Again: Climate Change and Refugee Agriculture” will focus on some of the challenges and opportunities at the present for refugee agriculture programs, like Burlington’s New Farms for New Americans (NFNA). Bose says his talk will focus not just on rebuilding in terms of production and capacity "but with regard to broader questions on equity, sustainability and food justice.”
FSRC Director Polly Ericksen says that this event speaks directly to the Center mission to build capacity for food systems research. “This series aims to cultivate a cross-campus community of scholars passionate about food systems.”
Leading the organizing effort is Allison Spain, Food Systems Graduate Education & Research Programs Coordinator. Spain says, “The Food Systems Graduate Program is excited about this event as we want to support the sharing of ideas and community-building around food systems work at ̽̽ and in Vermont. We think this seminar series will be of interest to our graduate students and faculty and look forward to showcasing some of their research this semester and at future events.”
All are welcome to attend FIG Events. Subscribe to for event listings and food systems news.