How much cheese does it take to jump?
How much chocolate does it take to squat?
How many eggs does it take to walk?
Seniors in Jim Panzer’s environmental physics class have been calculating answers to questions like these. They recently visited Christine Mitchell’s health class to share their findings. The learner-centered collaboration provided everyone with an eye-opening look at the foods we need and their impact on the climate.
Each physics investigation started with two basics. “I asked the students to pick a food that they eat, and a move that they do,” said Panzer, "and to consider the environmental, personal health and other implications of their food choices."
Mitchell’s health students were already thinking about food as energy; they had just completed a unit on nutritional basics and how food choices impact wellness.
Using standard physics formulas, each senior calculated the energy used and carbon emitted to grow or produce a specific food, and how long it takes a person to use that energy. Panzer encouraged them to think broadly about the equity issues surrounding food such as pricing, workers’ rights and food deserts, and tie their findings to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The results were surprising.
“Just because eggs cause CO2 emissions does NOT mean you need to stop eating them,” said Maggie Mendelson. She showed how eggs compared favorably to other proteins in terms of their carbon load.
Hasti Shahdad looked at the manufacturing process of chocolate, and found while there are 19 kilograms of CO2 per kilograms of chocolate, one serving of chocolate releases alot of energy. “Chocolate can be a good alternative for oil and beans that are typically distributed to people at risk," she said.
Panzer stood back, smiling, as his students used wit and the everyday nature of their material to present their material to small groups of sophomores. “I’ve only seen their PowerPoints,” he said. “I love how relatable they are making it. During each presentation, they're bringing their individual personalities to the slideshows and making them come alive! They are good!”