The Chemistry of Cooking

Examining the chemistry of food composition, transformation, and sensory experience, this course blends scientific study with cultural exploration through culinary activities and excursions, offering a hands-on approach to understanding food in both chemical and cultural contexts.

• Program Dates: June 27-July 17, 2025

• Program Location: Rice Global Paris Center | Paris, France

• Who Can Apply? All Rice undergraduate students who are interested in making more meaningful connections between science, art, and society. Knowledge of high school chemistry is expected. Note for graduating seniors! You are welcome to apply to this course; however, Rice summer aid (i.e. Rice financial aid) is not available to seniors who have obtained enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester. Additionally, you will have to postpone your graduation date to the summer in order to participate. You are, however, still eligible to apply for both RICE GLOBAL tuition and travel awards included in the course application.

• Tuition Cost: $1,800 per credit hour (this course is 3 credit hours).

• What's Covered: The program will provide housing for all three weeks, metro card for all three weeks, course-set excursions/tickets, three group meals, and travel insurance.

• Financial Aid: If you already receive financial aid, you are eligible to receive financial aid for up to 9 credit hours a summer for two summer, at 50% of the tuition rate, i.e. if a Paris course is three credit hours and $5,400 total tuition, eligible students would pay $2,700. Rice summer aid (i.e. Rice financial aid) is not available to seniors who have obtained enough credits to graduate by the end of the spring semester.

  After submitting your application, our office is in direct contact with the financial aid office who will let us know if you are financial aid eligible for the summer. If you are accepted, you will immediately know how much financial aid you have available in your acceptance letter.

  To find out if you are eligible before acceptance to a course, contact: fina@rice.edu. To learn more about summer financial aid requirements, please visit: https://financialaid.rice.edu/summer-students.

• Additional Assistance from Rice Global: Students can also apply to receive additional assistance (for both tuition and travel) from Rice Global. Application for assistance is included in the course application.

• Credit Hours: 3 credit hours

• Course Instructor: Dr. Lesa Tran Lu

• Course Description: This course examines the chemistry involved in the composition, transformation, and consumption of food. Topics include chemical properties and processes of food, cooking tools and techniques, sensory perception, and nutrition. This course will also explore the various connections, both materially and philosophically, between food and culture. Culinary activities and excursions are coordinated in partnership with local culinary experts to allow students to engage more deeply with concepts covered in this course. Knowledge of high school chemistry is expected. This course satisfies the Distribution Group III and the Analyzing Diversity requirements for undergraduate students.

• Who is this class for? All Rice undergraduate students who are interested in making more meaningful connections between science, art, and society. Knowledge of high school chemistry is expected.

• Course Zoom Information Session: Take a look at the Information Session recording to learn more.

• Syllabus: Take a look at the draft syllabus - subject to change.

• Does this course fulfill a distribution and/or Analyzing diversity requirement? This course satisfies the Distribution Group III and the Analyzing Diversity requirements for undergraduate students.

For questions, please visit our student program page or email pariscenter@rice.edu. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.