harvard food science
Harvard Food Science Class Promises 50% Kill Rate
I got this email just now, regarding that Harvard food science class I lotteried for:
Currently, over 670 students have signed up for the lottery for Science of the Physical Universe 27: Science and Cooking. Today’s lecture is NOT a shopping class. Only 350 students will be allowed to attend the class because of fire code regulations. Students may begin lining up at 12:30 p.m. Students who are admitted into the classroom should plan to stay for the entire class and will not be allowed to re-enter the classroom if they leave.
We will have overflow rooms in Emerson 105 and Science Center Rooms 309 & 309A with live streaming of the class. In addition, students will be able to watch live streaming of the class on the course website. The video of the class will be posted on the website as well within a few days.
You will be notified about the results of the lottery by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Uh, great. 50% chance in lottery, essentially no recourse if it falls on the wrong 50%. A TF told me that some students sent in two page essays listing out why they should get into the class. You can look forward to an incensed YouTube video if I don’t get in. They should have done the lottery with preference for Asian girls named Lingbo. (Ok. How about that us seniors are graduating and still need the Science requirement? Eh? Eh?)
Take that, random number generator.
On the plus side, El Bulli’s Ferran Adria is the lecturer today.
(But what about the class lottery?!!)
Inside Harvard’s New Science of Cooking Class
Ten minutes before Science of the Physical Universe 27 – better known as the food/science extravaganza that’s bringing in Ferran Adrià (El Bulli), Wylie Dufresne (wd-50), and José Andrés (minibar, Jaleo) to campus — the doorway was already mobbed. See the press release about the food science class here. .
There’s a seven minute rule at the school. Classes never start on time; students always arrive at least a few minutes after the hour. But this was something different. By the time Applied Math and Physics Professor Michael Brenner pushed his way to the door (see video below), anxious students were ready to charge through the doors.
Finally, I managed to run over to a seat, but not before almost being trampled over. People were sitting in the aisles, standing in the back, and between the seats. Some ended up just leaving in defeat.
The class sounds amazing. You can read through my notes after the jump. Except… it’s being lotteried with no preference for seniors! Even though it’s probably going to be offered again next year (albeit, with different speakers). I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get in, but will be pretty upset if I don’t. Sigh. I’m sure taking intro to Computer Science will take up enough of my energy…
Anyway, if you’re curious about happened in that first lecture, check out my notes.
Notable events: Brenner made some insta-gel using Calcium Chloride. He also fried an egg, had students whisk up some mayonnaise, and promised that we’d make custards, sous vide eggs, molten chocolate cakes and use MEAT GLUE to make shrimp noodles. Man.
Also, there were some bizarrely actor-like chef photos that caused the audience to explode into giggles. Dan Barber of Blue Hill, I’m looking at you.