One-Day National Conference: Food, Religion, and Sustainability
1. Quick Facts & Important Dates
- Event Title: One-Day National Conference on Food, Religion, and Sustainability: Pedagogies and Epistemologies of Everyday Life
- Organized By: Department of Sociology, KC College, HSNC University, Mumbai in collaboration with Department of Sociology, Mumbai University & Indian Sociological Society (RC 06, RC 11, RC 32 and AD HOC 11)
- Conference Date: 27th November 2026
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 30th September 2026
- Accommodation Request Deadline: 10th October 2026
- Confirmation of Acceptance: 15th October 2026
- Inquiry Email: conferencecollaborative@gmail.com
2. About the Conference
Food, religion, and sustainability are deeply intertwined. Food is never just about taste or health. Across cultures and societies, religious beliefs, ethical values, ecological practices, and social relationships shape what people eat, how food is produced, and how it is consumed. Religious traditions are most often rooted in cosmologies that engender authorised and customary notions about the human-nature interface, what qualifies as food, and what the ethical dietary choices are. Dietary rules, fasting practices, rituals of preparation, and communal meals help define religious identity and cultivate moral discipline.
Many indigenous and local food traditions are closely connected to worldviews that emphasise reciprocity between humans and nature. Recognizing these connections in ways that foster connectedness can help recover and value alternative ways of relating to the environment that prioritise ecological balance over maximum extraction and profit.
3. Key Thematic Areas & Conference Highlights
Key Thematic Areas:
- Sacred Foodways and Religious Ecologies
- Food, Climate Change, and Environmental Sustainability
- Indigenous, Local, and Traditional Knowledge Systems
- Food Justice, Inequality, and Social Inclusion
- Religion, Ethics, and Environmental Stewardship
- Everyday Food Practices and Lived Religion
- Globalisation, Urbanisation, and Changing Food Cultures
- Pedagogies of Food and Sustainability
- Epistemologies of Food and Decolonising Knowledge
- Health, Well-being, and Sustainable Diets
- Technology, Innovation, and the Future of Food
Organising Committee:
- Dr. Leena Pujari
- Dr. M. T. Joseph
- Dr. Manisha Rao
- Dr. Rituparna Patgiri
4. Registration Fee Structure & Hospitality
Registration Fee:
- PhD Scholars: ₹500
- Others: ₹1,200
Hospitality and Travel:
- Participants are requested to bear their own travel expenses.
- Accommodation on a twin-sharing basis can be offered to outstation paper presenters if approached by 10th October 2026.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q1: What modes of participation are available?
Ans: Paper presentations can be made in either physical or hybrid mode, enabling participation from scholars who may be unable to travel to Mumbai. - Q2: What are the guidelines for abstract submission?
Ans: Abstracts should be up to 300 words submitted in MS Word (.doc/.docx) format (Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, Justified) along with author details to conferencecollaborative@gmail.com. - Q3: Who can participate in this conference?
Ans: Faculty members, research scholars, practitioners, and interdisciplinary scholars engaging with food, religion, and sustainability are welcome to participate.