Prang Ittikul
Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Master of Gastronomy with First-Class Honours
Her Master of Gastronomy opened her eyes to the wider possibilities of food as a field of inquiry, says Prang Ittikul who came to AUT as an international student from Thailand.
“It showed me that food is not only about nutrition, flavour or hospitality, but is also deeply connected to politics, identity, power, culture and justice. My PhD represents a convergence of what has always mattered to me: food as a universal language, politics as a space of ethical and cultural significance, and art as a way of expressing complex ideas with emotional depth and accessibility. Choosing a PhD offered a path through which I could bring together scholarship, visual storytelling and social purpose in a way that felt both authentic and worthwhile.”
She says she appreciates that AUT recognises and supports diverse research approaches, including practice-based and arts-based pathways.
“My research explores how food sovereignty can be understood more broadly beyond its current agrarian emphasis, so that Indigenous food systems grounded in hunting, fishing and foraging are more fully recognised. The project is centred on Ainu foodways and hunting culture in Hokkaido, Japan, and considers how these practices are connected not only to sustenance, but also to cultural continuity, spiritual relationships and ways of living with the natural world.
“My research takes a practice-led and arts-based form through a graphic novel accompanied by an exegesis. Inspired by Ainu oral storytelling traditions and non-written ways of cultural transmission, the graphic novel enables complex social, political, and cultural issues to be expressed through narrative and visual form, while the exegesis provides the critical and theoretical framework that supports the work academically. I hope the project will encourage a more inclusive understanding of food sovereignty; one that takes seriously the diversity of Indigenous relationships with food, land, animals and knowledge. My intention is to approach the work with care, respect and accountability, so that the research can support greater awareness of Ainu perspectives and the cultural significance of practices that are often overlooked or simplified.”
Supported to thrive
Prang says her PhD supervisors have consistently provided thoughtful direction, encouragement and reassurance, helping her stay grounded and focused.
“Being guided by Professor Tracy Berno in food politics and food sovereignty, alongside Professor Welby Ings in storytelling and visual narrative, has been an exceptional experience. Professor Tracy Berno supervised my master’s degree, and her expertise in food politics and food sovereignty has been influential in shaping my academic direction. Her supervisory approach is one that aligns very closely with the way I think, learn and develop research, offering both intellectual rigour and thoughtful support. I was also encouraged by the opportunity to work with Professor Welby Ings, whose internationally recognised expertise in storytelling, visual narrative, and art and design research has opened up new possibilities for how scholarly work might be expressed.
“Equally meaningful has been the broader support system within the faculty. The postgraduate contacts in the Faculty of Culture and Society, including Donna Channings and Brett Heagren, have consistently gone above and beyond in supporting students. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care make a significant difference to the postgraduate experience.”
She is proud of what she has achieved in her AUT journey so far.
“I graduated from my master’s degree with first-class honours and was honoured to receive the Beyond AUT Award. Following this, I was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship, which has enabled me to continue my research at the PhD level. I’ve also been invited to deliver guest lectures in both New Zealand and Thailand on practice-based and arts-based research, particularly focusing on how to navigate positionality as a non-Indigenous researcher engaging with Indigenous research.
“Currently, I’m contributing to AUT’s Gastronomy Winter Series through poster design, and more recently, through a connection facilitated by Professor Tracy Berno, I collaborated with Dr Jutamas Wisansing to produce a Comic Guide Book Eat The East: The Grand Road Trip for the Thailand Gastronomy Network and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This publication in Thai is freely available for download and reflects how research developed at AUT can be translated into accessible formats for wider audiences. These experiences have shown me that AUT not only supports academic excellence, but also encourages students to engage beyond the university, and develop a voice that can contribute to both local and international communities.”
Advice for other students
Prang has some great advice for other international students.
“My advice would be to do your homework in every sense of the word – not only in your academic work, but also in understanding the path you’re choosing, the people around you and the opportunities available to you. The more informed and prepared you are, the more confidently you can move through challenges and make the most of your time as a student. I’d also strongly encourage students to build genuine relationships. The connections you form with your supervisors, peers and support staff can become one of the most valuable parts of your journey. They not only help you through difficult moments, but often continue to support you well beyond graduation.”
Follow the direction that you believe you won’t regret, she emphasizes.
“Study can be demanding, and there will always be pressure, uncertainty and moments of doubt. But if you’re working on something you truly care about, something that feels deeply meaningful to you, that passion will help carry you through. For many people, this may be the one time in life when they’re fully immersed in a topic they genuinely love, so it’s worth making that opportunity count. Remember, obsession beats motivation. You want to fall into that rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland. This is a marathon, not a sprint. A flashy spark of interest won't sustain the fire you need to carry you through the journey onto the finishing line.”
