Science on Screen®: Food Nostalgia and the "Ratatouille" Moment

Food is more than just something you eat — it’s an experience that stirs the soul. In the bustling heart of Paris, Remy the rat uses his culinary skills to express himself, connect with others, and transport even his biggest critics into the warmth of childhood. Ratatouille, directed by Brad Bird and released in 2007, is an Oscar-winning film that has warmed the hearts of many viewers as it immerses them in the nostalgic sentiments of a home-cooked meal.

This Science on Screen® event — led by Cornell doctoral candidate Hetvi Doshi — will use the film Ratatouille as a jumping off point for exploring the scientific connection of food, nostalgia, and sensory autobiographical memory. Her research is centered around what she describes as "the Ratatouille Moment,” recalling the moment in the film when the food critic has an experience of food-related nostalgia that transports him back to his childhood.

The event will begin with an interactive presentation on nostalgia that will include student researchers Walker Strauss, Halle Jakubowicz, and Ivy Kimberly Jiang, who will lead an activity for audience members. Next, Hetvi Doshi will share research on why we feel nostalgia for foods from her perspective as an affective computational neuroscientist. Presentations will also highlight the work of the Affect and Cognition Lab (ACLAB) at Cornell, its community engagement focus, and the details of the study the research team is currently working on.

Come join us to learn more about food nostalgia through this beloved animated film!

Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

About the speaker

Hetvi Doshi is a doctoral candidate at Cornell University who researches food-related nostalgia and its influence on homeostatic mechanisms as part of the Affect and Cognition Lab (ACLAB) at Cornell. Using behavioral studies, fMRI neuroimaging, and machine learning, Doshi’s research explores how the brain evaluates images of food on different dimensions as well as the role of hunger and metabolism in this evaluation. In her Community Nostalgia Initiative (CNI), Doshi aims to communicate the findings of her research to the broader Ithaca community. Previous CNI events include an art exhibition at the Big Red Barn showcasing art from the Cornell Community centered around the theme of food nostalgia.