Bethany Benker

Bethany Benker is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), affiliated with the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences (HAS). Her research focuses on the sociology of food, particularly commodification, distancing, and sustainability within contemporary food systems. She holds a BSc and MSc, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Her recent work includes a qualitative study on food procurement during the COVID-19 lockdowns and subsequent research on the cost of living crisis's impact on food practices. She is a primary member of the Social Science Research Group and a secondary member of the Psychological Sciences Research Group. Her teaching expertise includes food sustainability, practice theory, and study skills.

Key research themes involve analyzing how advertising and food system dynamics affect environmental sustainability at national and global scales. Her publications explore crises' intersections with food systems, emphasizing socio-economic dimensions.