Food for Thought: RWU Summer Camp Highlights Science of Cooking

During the week-long Food Science Camp, high school students learn about physics, sustainability, and social justice through hands-on experiments and field trips.

By Triniti Brown 鈥26
Jennifer聽Pearce, Associate Professor of Physics, with three students at the Food Science Camp
Jennifer聽Pearce, Associate Professor of Physics at RWU, led high school students in experiments, showing them how to make cheese, butter, and edible slime as part of the university's Food Science Camp this summer.

BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 Science never tasted so good. That鈥檚 according to high school students who attended 雨燕体育直播鈥檚 Food Science Camp this summer where they learned about the science of cooking from Jennifer Pearce, Associate Professor of Physics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physics at RWU, who cooked up the idea for the camp.

In addition to using food to teach complex scientific concepts, the camp also covers the topics of sustainability and food justice. 鈥淜ids in high school today have grown up hearing about climate change, and they know it's a big deal,鈥 Pearce said. 鈥淲e talk about ways that regenerative farming practices can mitigate climate change, how growing locally and preserving food can reduce carbon emissions, and even about social justice issues related to the food system.鈥

From the moment they arrived in Bristol, campers from across the country collaborated on hands-on activities related to different aspects of food science 鈥 from gardening and microbiology to thermodynamics and materials science. Before diving into experiments, Pearce led the group through engaging discussions that ensured they understood the scientific principles at play. In one day, students took part in a plant scavenger hunt, baked yeast bread, and explored the , a culinary incubator based in Warren, R.I., focused on cultivating a just and sustainable local food economy. Another day, they delved into materials science, learning how to make cheese, butter, and even edible slime. 

A student works on an experiment at the Food Science Camp
A student at the Food Science Camp experiments with orange juice, applesauce, and syrup to create gelatinous spheres that resemble caviar. 

"After this camp, I definitely know a lot more about how things are made, and I probably will be studying Food Science when I go to college,鈥 said Trinity Simmons, a high school student from Chicago. 鈥淚t's just interesting. I really like baking and cooking, so that led me in the Food Science direction.鈥

Aboard RWU鈥檚 research vessel, campers ventured into Narragansett Bay to explore oyster farming and animal husbandry. Pearce discussed the science behind keeping oysters healthy during farming and the meticulous process of harvesting them while students tested the water to ensure the oysters were safe for consumption, learning firsthand about the importance of maintaining water quality.

Two students on the RWU research vessel
Two campers test the water quality of Narragansett Bay.

During the week, students also experimented with more unconventional food science projects, such as making edible slime, or fruit spheres, using sodium alginate and calcium chloride solutions. Under Pearce's guidance, they experimented with orange juice, applesauce, and syrup to create gelatinous spheres that resembled caviar. They also learned about thermodynamics through liquid nitrogen demonstrations.

"The most important thing the campers come away with is a sense of how much science goes into their everyday world, especially physics," Pearce said. "Understanding things like how heat is transferred through different materials and how this affects your cooking brings home the point that physics isn't just about the weird and strange 鈥 it's also what you're doing every day in your kitchen."

In addition to teaching, Pearce also helped some students whip up their confidence. 鈥淚'm usually pretty introverted, but I wasn鈥檛 here,鈥 said Kidd Fredricks, a camper from Easton, Mass. 鈥淒r. Pearce had us do a lot of different activities that involved teamwork, which helped me become more comfortable talking in class.鈥