Distinguished Visiting Professors Illuminate New Frontiers in Food Studies

As part of the Chair of Food Studies Distinguished Visiting Professors Series, Taylor’s University had the honour of welcoming two esteemed international scholars, whose thought-provoking lectures ignited vibrant academic dialogue and deepened collective understanding of evolving food systems, consumption behaviours, and cultural change.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amandine Rochedy of Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, France delivered an insightful lecture series on the Modernisation of Food and Gastronomy. Drawing on vivid case studies from France and beyond, she examined shifting food practices among younger generations from traditional goûter rituals to changing norms around alcohol consumption, while unpacking the rise of individualised eating shaped by food neophobia and selective preferences.

Meanwhile, Prof. Olivier Brunel, marketing expert at the Institute of Business Administration (IAE) of the University of Lyon 3, captivated audiences with his lecture series, From Needs to Satisfaction, which explored the consumer journey within the food service industry. Moving beyond classical behavioural models, he highlighted brand influence and environmental design as key mediators of consumer choice. His concluding seminar seamlessly bridged theory and practice, encouraging students to reimagine the design of consumer experiences through a sociological lens.

Organised in collaboration with the Centre for Asian Modernisation (CAM), both series significantly enriched the interdisciplinary foundations of Taylor’s Food Studies programme, fostering critical inquiry and inspiring fresh perspectives among students and faculty alike.