Researchers

Dr. Mirella Klomp is a practical theologian. She has a wide expertise in the field of religion and embodiment, is fascinated by the meanings that people ascribe to practices of food and meals, and loves to throw theological perspectives on these affairs. As the coordinator of ANISE, she enjoys bringing researchers from various disciplines with an interest in food and meals around the table.

Prof. dr. Peter-Ben Smit is a biblical scholar, historian of religion and systematic theologian, who currently holds chairs in theology at Vrije Universiteit, Utrecht University and the University of Bern. He focuses on the topic of ‘community’ and how food and meals shape communities. ANISE furthers this research by connecting theological perspectives with those from other disciplines, thereby enhancing the depth of analysis.

Dr. Hilje van der Horst is Sociologist and Human Geographer focussing on consumption in relation to health, sustainability, identity and inequality. Her research aims at better understanding the role of mundane practices of consumption in societal challenges and transitions. ANISE is a source of inspiration, as well as a network, for new ways of unravelling the many practices and valuations surrounding food. 

Dr. Margreet Olthof is a nutrition scientist. She is interested in the role of diet in health of humans and planet, and intrigued by motivations and reasons that could drive people towards a more healthy lifestyle. ANISE is a transdisciplinary and inspiring platform that motivates researchers to broaden their views and think 'outside the box' on the various roles of food and eating in daily life of humans and the impact on human and planetary health.

rof. Ingeborg Brouwer has a chair in Nutrition for Healthy Living at the Department of Health Sciences. Her research and teaching activities focus on effects of diet on health and environment. She aims to show how dietary intake can be sustainable and healthy for people and planet, not only now, but also in the future. ANISE is a network of people who look at food and meals from very different perspectives; this collaboration leads to new insights and research ideas for all people involved.

Joyce Rondaij MA is a practical theologian who focuses on how literary writings reflect on what it means to be human. In relation to food, her research interests lie with the topics of hunger and vulnerability, and human’s interrelations with animals and the planet (represented in literature). She joined ANISE because of its interdisciplinary approach, which has the potential for surprising new insights.  

Jonathan Pater MA studied theology and religious studies in Utrecht and Tilburg. His research focuses on the relation between food and identity in the ancient world. He is currently writing a PhD thesis on food and banquets as metaphors in early Jewish and Christian sources and assist with the organisation of ANISE. He joined ANISE because it offers great opportunities to work with and learn from other scholars working in very different fields.

Dr. Erica Meijers is a theologian active in the field of Diaconal Studies, which concentrates on questions concerning social justice and compassion. Her research focusses on the correlation between practices of mealsharing in ecclesiastical and marginal societal contexts. ANISE provides an important forum for discussion with fellow researchers, providing her with new ideas, insights and contacts.

Dr. Hilke Bos-Brouwers is senior scientist within Supply Chain Development. Her aim is to co-create multi-disciplinary research findings for tackling food waste from farm to fork, that are of use to businesses, governments and societal organisations. Within the ANISE network, new perspectives open up on the personal and systemic changes that drive a more healthy, sustainable and valuable food system.

Dr. Franck Meijboom is an ethicist/theologian focusing on human-animal interactions in different context, such as pests, nature and agriculture, but also on animals that we have for companion or use for science. The interdisciplinary focus of ANISE perfectly fits his projects and is an essential component of addressing today's and future challenges related to food.

Dr. Jan van der Stoep is Endowed Professor Christian Philosophy at Wageningen University & Research. His research focusses on the ethics of food and agriculture. He also has a special interest in philosophy of technology, communication theory and professional ethics. He enjoys discussions at ANISE about spirituality and food.

Dr. Willemieke Kroeze is a health scientist with expertise in health promotion and nutritional behavior. Her mission is to translate scientific evidence into practice in order to motivate and support health professionals to promote a healthy lifestyle among their clients. She would like to understand which factors promote/hamper health promoting behaviors in order to create tailored strategies to address these factors. Joining ANISE supports interdisciplinary thinking to create multifactorial solutions for eating behavior.

Prof. dr. Thijs Tromp is extraordinary professor for Diaconia. His research focus is on social inclusion and exclusion. Food sharing plays traditionally an important role in Diaconal Studies, from the perspective of distributive justice. Meal sharing is essential from the perspective of hospitality, social inclusion and exclusion. ANISE offers the platform to debate the issue of food from these perspectives.

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