School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan

A University of Glasgow academic has been shortlisted for a prestigious British Library Food Season Award, recognising her work reshaping how food history is understood.

 

Dr Peggy Brunache, Senior Lecturer in Public History and Archaeology and founding Director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, is among the nominees for the Food Season Food Hero Award 2026. 

 

The annual awards, run by the British Library, celebrate innovation and impact across food writing, culture and public engagement. Now in their second year, they aim to highlight “the most exciting voices and ideas” in food, from storytelling and exhibitions to policy and community initiatives. 

 

Dr Brunache has been recognised for her pioneering research into the culinary traditions of enslaved people, reframing them not simply as historical footnotes but as powerful expressions of survival, resistance and creativity. Her work seeks to restore dignity to marginalised voices and challenge conventional narratives about food and identity.

 

The Food Hero category honours individuals who have made a significant positive impact on food culture or public understanding of food. Shortlisted candidates are selected by experts across the sector, with the overall winner decided through a public vote. 

 

Dr Brunache joins a diverse shortlist that includes community food leaders, sustainability champions and industry experts, reflecting the breadth of influence shaping the UK’s contemporary food landscape. 

 

Winners of the 2026 Food Season Awards will be announced at the British Library in mid-June.