Research Overview
My research asks a deceptively simple question: how do people come to understand food systems, and what kind of learning makes that understanding meaningful?
Working at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, education, and critical pedagogy, I examine how place-based and experiential learning (PBEL) can deepen our connection to food and our food systems. This includes not only what people learn, but how they learn, whose knowledge is prioritized, and how those processes shape broader relationships to food, land, and community.
Current Research
PhD Research — Trent University
My doctoral research explores how university campuses can be powerful sites for food justice, collective learning, and social change. By examining courses, gardens, student groups, and campus food services, I hope to demonstrate how everyday food practices can challenge dominant, unsustainable food systems.
At its core, this work highlights the potential of campuses to lead the way toward more just, ecological, and community‑rooted food futures.
Research into Practice
Alongside my doctoral work, I have contributed to interdisciplinary research projects spanning food systems, health, and organizational contexts. My role has included:
- Facilitating interviews and focus groups
- Recruiting and working directly with participants
- Managing and interpreting qualitative data
- Contributing to research writing and reporting
These experiences have strengthened my interest in collaborative, applied, and community-engaged research.
Publications & Works in Progress
- Dissertation research (in progress)
- Manuscripts in preparation:
- Agricultural literacy and experiential learning
- Composting food waste in rural communities
- International students’ dietary patterns and health
Selected Presentations
Mapping and Place-Based Experiential Learning — Canadian Association of Food Studies Student Symposium
Food and the Urban Environment — Guest Lecture, Trent University
Mastering Productivity: Leveraging Notion and Notero for PhD Success — IDSR Seminar Series
Future Directions
I see my research continuing to expand beyond formal educational settings, with a growing focus on community-based learning, informal education, and public-facing scholarship.
More broadly, I am interested in how education, when it is experiential, critical, and grounded in place, can contribute to more equitable and sustainable food systems.
Emma Paisley 