“Education is not just about sitting in a class. It’s about big ideas and how those ideas connect to the real world.”
- Winona State University professor Jim Armstrong

To make that happen a loosely organized group of techers at the Minnesota school created an intellectually stimulating atmosphere outside of the campus that brings students and teachers from different subject areas together.

Which is why professor Toby Dogwiler explained how differences in the rock deep below the ground influence the varieties of beer produced in different countries.

“I prefer cider,” the geoscientist told the group. “But I like beer a lot.”

Different kinds of bedrock produce different kinds of groundwater, Dogwiler said. And since beer is 90% water, the water that comes from the well affects the taste. (Read more).

Ths isn’t exactly news to those who brew beer and have long since learned to replicate the characteristics of water from classic brewing regions, but it likely raises the awareness of the average beer drinker. (There is also the debate about how exactly water can be replicated. That’s for another time.)

The series is in its third year. This year’s topic, “Does science matter?” was chosen because of a decline in interest in science, Armstraong said. “Fewer of us are going into science. The level of scientific illiteracy among students is rising.”

If beer didn’t get their attention the next presentation should have.

WSU physics professor Nathan Moore discussed how to get in and out of the grocery store without the hassle of maneuvering between people and carts. He has created a computer program to calculate how many paths a shopper can take through the store based on a grocery list.

Hope one went through the beer department.

Posted: October 26th, 2006 under Ingredients.