My name is Monica Dantas. I am an interdisciplinary researcher, popular educator and community activist passionate about food systems. I am currently researching the political, socio-economic footprints of global food systems, social and solidarity economy, community development, sustainable agriculture and land use, especially in the global south and Brazil. My advisor committee is composed of renewed researchers in sociology, public affairs and community development and geography and sustainability. Dr. Satoshi Ikeda, Margie Mendel and Alan Nash.

Academic career and research projects

I have worked as a part-time professor at Concordia University teaching Food and Sustainability course. I am involved with research-creation projects using food as a medium for education for sustainable development, that intersects art, cooking in collective settings and community mobilization. I have also participated in research dedicated to curriculum development practices to incorporate decolonizing approaches and reducing the knowledge-to-action gap.  I have engaged in community initiatives such as Transition NDG, Award-winning waste management educational campaigns “Waste not Want not” as co-writer and founded Season Jars, a Concordia Food Coalition working group dedicated to community-based education and research-creation using food as a platform for community building, food security, intergenerational and intercultural learning.

Education  / Teaching philosophy