„Mapping Taste: Food Across Cultures“ Brings Students and Faculty from Four European Countries to Mannheim
The international and interdisciplinary program brought together 25 students and five faculty members from the University of Mannheim, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas (Lithuania), and the University of Zadar (Croatia) to explore the cultural significance of food and eating from a range of perspectives. The program was organized and coordinated by the International Cultural Studies area at the School of Humanities, under the direction of Dr. Ana-Sofia Uhl and Eva Breitbach.
The program focused on the question of how food can be understood as far more than mere nourishment – as an expression of cultural identity, social belonging, and sustainable transformation. The BIP combined a virtual preparatory phase with a one-week in-person program in Mannheim, emphasizing project-based learning, international teamwork, and intercultural exchange.
The program began in May with a virtual kick-off, during which participants were introduced to the course concept and formed international project groups. Another highlight of the online phase was the keynote lecture “Gastronativism” by Professor Fabio Parasecoli (New York University, USA), which explored the political, cultural, and social dimensions of food and food culture.
During the in-person week in Mannheim, participants took part in a varied program of academic lectures, discussions, excursions, and hands-on project work. Following an official welcome by Ana-Sofia Uhl and Eva Breitbach, a lecture on food culture in Germany introduced the topic. Guest speaker Dr. Brigitte Hohlfeld, author of the book “Weggegangen. Angekommen: Mannheimer Migrationsgeschichten”, then used the migration history of Mannheim to illustrate the close relationship between migration and cultural identity. A guided city tour also gave the international guests an opportunity to discover Mannheim and learn about its history.
Further academic perspectives were provided by guest lecturers from the partner universities and the University of Mannheim. Aistė Žemaitytė from Vytautas Magnus University examined the role of food in the construction of national identities in Europe. Danijela Birt Katić from the University of Zadar introduced ethnological research methods and demonstrated how food traditions can be used as a means of investigating cultural practices. Sławomir Sztajer from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań explored the significance of food in world’s religions, while Ana-Sofia Uhl addressed in her lecture the connections between food, memory, and belonging.
Experiential learning was a particular focus of the program. Throughout the week, the students worked in international teams on their own research projects and used dedicated working sessions for group work and field research in Mannheim. One highlight was the joint cooking evening at the International Student Center (IBZ), entitled “Food & Identity.” By preparing and sharing food together, participants were able to exchange personal experiences, cultural traditions, and different perspectives, directly engaging with the program’s central theme.
Excursions also formed an important part of the program. The full-day trip through the Electoral Palatinate on Wednesday offered insights into regional cultural and culinary practices. After a guided tour of the palace gardens in Schwetzingen, the students explored aspects of traditional German cuisine over a shared lunch. The excursion then continued to Bad Dürkheim, where the group visited the winery Weingut Fitz-Ritter, learned about regional wine production and viticulture, and discussed the importance of regional food products for cultural identity and economic development. On Thursday, the participants explored the Mannheim weekly market, shared a Turkish lunch, and, under the guidance of Dr. Claudia Schöning-Kalender, took a walking tour through the transnationally shaped neighborhood around the Market Square, focusing on migration, cultural diversity, and urban food cultures.
The program concluded with the presentation of the students’ projects on June 19. The international teams presented their research findings and jointly reflected on the insights they had gained throughout the week. The diversity of the projects impressively demonstrated the close interconnections between food, culture, identity, religion, and migration.
The BIP “Mapping Taste: Food Across Cultures” not only provided participants with academic insights into a current and socially relevant field of study, but also strengthened their intercultural competencies and international networks. At the same time, the program highlighted the successful collaboration among the participating European universities and made an important contribution to the internationalization of teaching at the University of Mannheim.
