Cultivating Geographical Thinking: A Framework for Student-Led Research on Food Waste

Abstract

Research has consistently demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits of student-led research, from
increased student engagement to higher retention and graduation rates. Despite these calls to increase
research opportunities for students, however, the availability of practical, easy-to-implement research
frameworks in disciplinary-specific settings remains limited. For geographers, in particular, student-led
research provides an opportunity for students to engage in the craft of geography, learning how to solve
spatial problems in a real-world context. This paper presents a practical guide to working with students
to develop and analyze a case study on food preferences and food waste. The subject of food waste
provides an accessible framework for analyzing a range of geographic issues, from culture to
globalization to industry. Specifically, this paper builds on the methodology utilized by a team of
undergraduate researchers who examined the issue of food waste using both quantitative and
qualitative techniques and adapts this project so it could be used in a variety of classroom settings.
Student-led research can and should be expanded in geography, offering students a deeper
understanding of spatial problem solving and a better understanding of geography as a discipline.