Maria Giovanna Onorati

Maria Giovanna Onorati is a full-time Associate Professor of Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes at the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG), located in Pollenzo, Italy. She holds a PhD in Theory of Language and Sciences of Signs from the University of Bari. Her roles include teaching, research coordination, and institutional leadership, such as Delegate for Anti-Discrimination and Inclusion Policies and member of the Ethics Committee at UNISG.

Her research focuses on food as a driver of cultural integration, with emphasis on media’s role in shaping food practices, taste sociology, and intercultural communication. Key projects include the UNHCR-funded 'Food for Inclusion' and initiatives like 'Sustainable Eating in the New Normal.' She has contributed to European education projects on intercultural competence and vocational training.

Publications span food consumption during pandemics, plant-based dietary trends, and the interplay between cultural identity and food origins. Her work bridges sociology, media studies, and gastronomy, addressing contemporary issues of sustainability and inclusion.