The presentation will take place at noon Friday at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures.
Although he’s of the impression that coffee contains little to no nutritional value, said IU junior Jacob Sklar, it is considered by many to be a staple in getting a start to the day.
“Coffee gets me up in the morning and helps me stay awake at night,” Sklar said . “I feel like a lot of people drink it for the same reason, so it will be interesting to hear about it.”
In her book, “Coffee Culture: Local Experiences, Global Connections,” Tucker examines how coffee plays the role of a commodity that ties the world together.
Sarah Hatcher, head of programs and education at the Mathers Museum, said Tucker’s presentation will heavily emphasize the connection that the production and consumption of coffee brings to different cultures around the world.
The presentation will also examine conflicting viewpoints about it among cultures.
“People will be able to get a nice look at some of the things that go into the background of coffee,” Hatcher said . “We’ve all seen fair trade labeling at the grocery store, but there isn’t much insight about it.”
Hatcher said she expects the presentation to be eye-opening, as it will reveal unknown aspects of one of America’s favorite drinks.
“Visitors should expect to see elements of Dr. Tucker’s field work as well as spend time with her,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to learn about the people who are involved in the entire process, which is something most people don’t get the chance to look at.”
Hoosier Fair Trade, a fair trade advocacy group on campus, will also be in attendance with a station set up for post-event conversations about the discussion, especially about the state of fair trade coffee in Indiana and Bloomington.
“They’ll be offering free coffee as well as a chance to talk about some of the issues that surround coffee,” Hatcher said.
The event is free to the public and is sponsored by the IU College of Arts and Sciences Themester, “Eat, Drink, Think: Food from Art to Science.”
