1 package of ground beef + mixed Italian herbs + 3 large tomatoes + one iron fish + a dash of 1961 Lafite wine = a melange of science needed for three aspects of a perfect spaghetti bolognaise dinner
Motivation: A young scientist who finds passion in using his knowledge for others
Iron deficiency is a wide spread, serious issue for many females world-wide. A good solution comes from the application of food science. Iron is used in the body primarily for oxygen transport, carried by the hemoglobin in blood cells. Women lose a lot of blood during their monthly menstruation and must replace their lost iron regularly. In first-world countries, women generally choose iron supplement pills. However, in Cambodia this medication is too expensive for rural communities. Chris Charles, a graduate in biomedical sciences at Guelph University, has taken his science into communities. He has overcome superstitions by designing fish-shaped, iron pieces, a lucky symbol in Cambodian culture, which leaches iron into food while it cooks (Brown, L., 2011). Charles suggests cooking something acidic (tomato sauce) with the iron fish to maximize the amount of iron leached into the food, and the absorption of iron into the body (Charles, C., 2011). Iron is generally found in an oxide form that only becomes soluble in the body in the presence of an acid (Dumont, R., 2011).
The significance of Charles research is more than just his success in decreasing anemia. He has also implemented his solution in a society that would not generally accept science. As young scientists it is important to resolve issues which will help people. This idea is simplistic, yet its motivation is what keeps science alive. Charles’ story is inspiring because it has taken food science to a level above the Iron Chef.
Expansion: change of career allows for exploration of new ideas
Pasta is made from wheat, resulting in an ideal, lasting energy source (Legendre, G., 2011). George Legendre was formally an architect, but then chose to use his skills in the area of food science. He has determined the exact mathematical equations to graph the design of 92 varieties of pasta. For example, a common pasta, spaghetti, is 255mm long, with its length defined by the equation K=j/10 (Legendre, G., 2011). The perfectly circular structure has the equation of Π=0.1cos(i*π/20) or θ=0.sin(i*π/20) for the two lateral dimensions, where variables represent dimensions (Legendre, G., 2011).
Maturation: determination results in a marketable product
Hennie van Vuuren, a microbiologist in Vancouver has spent many years perfecting yeast. His art is used in the creation of alcohol. The dreaded hangover includes head-aches for 30% of people (Macqueen, K., 2011). This is caused by an allergic response to substances, for example histamine. Histamine is an amine which functions as a neurotransmitter, acting on the digestive and respiratory systems. To minimize the reaction, yeast can be genetically modified to avoid the creation of bioamines (Macqueen, K., 2011). Van Vuuren’s dedication and persistence have made his alcoholic beverage successful.
Placing Your Knife and Fork Together
A meal can only be concluded with some manners, ranging from rearrangement of utensils to a burp, depending on your culture. However, the work of a scientist is a continual process from inexperienced creativity during your masters, to changing your objectives at midlife, and finally to creating a useful product after many years of endurance.
Imagination + passions + reason + knowledge = the concoction for a scientist
Add some eggs and you will have the specific scientist: a chef.
Works Cited:
Brown, L., 2011. Canadian’s lucky iron fish saves lives in Cambodia. The Record, [newspaper] 12 November 2011. Available at: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/624229–canadian-s-lucky-iron-fish-saves-lives-in-cambodia [20 December 2011]
Charles, C. Iron Fish. [email] (Personal communication, 21 December 2011)
Dumont, R. Chemical structures of hemoglobin. [email] (Personal communication, 19 January 2011)
Hemoglobin. [image] Available at: Avenue to learn CHEM 1A03 power-point slides. [19 January 2012]
Legendre, G., 2011. Pasta by Design. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
Macqueen, K., 2011. Headache-free wine? Maclean’s. 21 November 2011, p.74.