MacKenzie Wade

MacKenzie Wade is a PhD Candidate in sociocultural anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara with an emphasis in Environment and Society. She holds roles as a Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology. Her research focuses on cultural perceptions of edible insects, food systems, and human-environment interactions. She leads the Santa Barbara Bugs initiative, promoting community education on sustainable food practices through workshops, museum collaborations, and local partnerships.

Education:

• MA in Anthropology from Durham University
• BA in Anthropology from Kansas State University

Research Interests: Explores how cultural narratives shape food choices, particularly around edible insects, and their implications for sustainability, equity, and public health. Her work critiques racialized histories of food perception and advocates for inclusive, just food systems. She investigates invasive species management through entomophagy and collaborates with the IV Ethnobotany Project for community-driven ecological restoration.

Key Projects:

• Developed Santa Barbara Bugs to normalize edible insects via local outreach
• Contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives like the UCSB Public Humanities Graduate Fellows Program
• Published widely on entomophagy ethics and food systems in journals like Environmental Research Letters and AAA Culture & Agriculture