TEK Faculty Fellow Renee Bonzani Presents Interdisciplinary Foodways Research at the 8th Annual Food Summit
TEK Faculty Fellow, Renee Bonzani, recently presented innovative interdisciplinary research at the 8th Annual Food Summit, showcasing how traditional ecological knowledge, anthropology, and advanced scientific analysis can work together to better understand food systems and cultural heritage.
The poster presentation, titled “From Chinese Lotus to American Lotus: TEK, the EduceLab and Class on People and Plants Lead to Kentucky Local Foodways,” highlighted research conducted through the TEK course ANT 350: Plants & People. The project was completed in collaboration with Michael J. Detisch of EduceLab at the University of Kentucky and was supported through a Student Opportunity Food Connection Grant funded by CAFÉ under the direction of Dr. Krista Jacobson, Director of the Food Connection program.
The research focused on identifying and analyzing “lost or sleeping” indigenous food crops — including tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, and roots — using both traditional ecological knowledge and cutting-edge micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Students examined how these plants can be identified in archaeological contexts and explored their potential role in rebuilding resilient and localized food systems in Kentucky.
Using EduceLab’s advanced imaging and analytical technologies, students prepared and carbonized plant samples before analyzing their elemental signatures through scanning micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. One key area of study involved American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) tubers, a plant with deep cultural significance among the Osage Nation. The project demonstrated that carbonized tubers retain important elemental characteristics that can aid archaeologists in identifying ancient food remains recovered from archaeological sites.
The poster also explored the ethnobotanical importance of American lotus, known in the Osage language as Tse’-wa-the and referred to in English as Yonkapin. Historically valued as both a sacred and nutritional food source, the plant symbolizes health and longevity within Osage traditions. By incorporating indigenous knowledge systems into scientific inquiry, the research emphasized the importance of reconnecting modern communities with traditional foodways and sustainable agricultural practices.
Students in ANT 350: Plants & People played a central role in the project, engaging directly in hands-on laboratory analysis, anthropological research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through the TEK framework, students developed several of The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's (CPE) Ten Essential Skills, including critical thinking, communication, inquiry, teamwork, and problem solving.
The course itself examines relationships between people and plants while asking broader questions about sustainability, resilience, and food security. Students investigate how indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge can inform contemporary food systems and how scientific techniques can help recover evidence of ancient plant use from the archaeological record.
Bonzani’s presentation at the Food Summit highlighted the value of experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom learning with community engagement and real-world research applications. It also demonstrated how TEK courses foster meaningful collaboration across disciplines while preparing students for future academic and professional pursuits.