Author Archives: Kevin Jiang

Food Is Exciting

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Researchers from the Cornell Food & Brand Lab came and talked to us about their work and discovery regarding food. The type of science and work that the lab seems to perform is somewhat interesting, in that the focus isn’t necessarily on the chemistry of the foods, but involves the psychology of the consumption of food. The discussion featured many cool facts and discoveries. For example, there was some emphasis on the amount of choices an individual should have when entering a buffet or dining hall. The researchers spent time investigating this subject because they wanted to determine what amount optimized factors such as a healthy distribution of nutrition and the degree of variety that was actually consumed. Interestingly enough, they discovered that to encourage variety and risk-taking from individuals in these buffets or dining halls, having too many options actually deters people from seeking variety in the meal, since they don’t want to spend the effort to look at everything and thus default to what is familiar.

I think food labs of this sort have a great deal of value to our society. A significant issue facing a large chunk of our population is the consistent consumption of healthy foods. Consciously, I think most people can have a healthy meal once in a while, but to eat healthily on a consistent basis requires, in my opinion, an environment and setting that subconsciously encourages an individual to pursue healthier options. I think food labs can definitely help to tackle problems like these!

Science vs. Religion?

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The Becker-Rose Cafe Series event with Gregory Sloan was very fascinating. The event began with a mini history lesson in regards to Galileo, who of course was forced to recant many of his scientific discoveries because they ran counter to the teachings and beliefs of the church. This set the stage for a more general discussion in regards to science vs. religion. As a non-religious person myself, I have always been bothered when people try to discredit scientific discovery and data on the grounds of the words in a religious text or the tenets of a religion. In fact, Gregory Sloan spent quite some time emphasizing the importance of data; science’s credibility is derived from data, and data, if collected in a non-biased and appropriate manner, is often indisputable.

However, I thought Gregory Sloan’s approach to the topic of science vs. religion was interesting and in all likelihood, the best approach. He stated that as human beings, we too often attempt to pit science and religion against one another, when in reality, they can absolutely coexist. Some very brilliant scientists on this earth are highly religious, and we shouldn’t view that as problematic. It is definitely plausible that religion provides one with a spiritual connection with an or some entities, and perhaps this can lead to a healthier existence. Science provides a structured and data-driven way to explain much of the phenomena on this planet and beyond, but I suppose certain questions are answered better through religion.

Hungary’s Role in the Syrian Refugee Crisis

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Professor Holly Case came to the Becker-Rose Cafe Series and talked to us about the Syrian refugee crisis. Specifically, she focused on the role that the country of Hungary has played in dealing with this crisis. She described that in the summer of 2015, several parts and many individuals of Hungary were extremely devoted to the cause of providing food and shelter for these refugees. In one town, a building was stocked and manned 24 hours a day by volunteers, who provided nourishment for refugees who passed through. However, even in a relatively small country like Hungary, there exists great disagreement in regards to how open and accepting the nation should be to aiding these refugees. She discussed how some within Hungary subscribe to the Spaceship analogy, which I think can be interpreted in several ways, but in this case, I believe the idea is that with a finite set of resources within a country, only so many people can be sustained, before the Spaceship becomes devoid of resources.

The professor also discussed how there often exist external forces that can greatly shape a country’s decision-making. For example, she described how many of the construction projects within a nation like Hungary are in fact heavily funded by the European Union, and thus the EU can apply pressure towards nations who don’t engage in humanitarian activities. Overall, I think whether a specific country should or should not aid refugees has to be linked to the availability of resources. The resources of a nation must first satisfy the survival needs of its citizens. I think the Spaceship analogy does have some merit in this regard, but if there does exist resources to support those in dire need, it is obvious and humane that aid is the right course of action.

Making West Campus Food Even Better

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We were fortunate to have Paul Muscente, Associate Director of West Campus Dining, and Chef Daniel Czebiniak of the Flora Rose House come tell us more about Cornell dining and West Campus food. This was probably one of my favorite events to date, as they provided us with a lot of insight into the decisions that are necessary for a high-level daily dining experience. For example, some people asked about the protein rationing and general decrease in meat items for a given meal, and they explained this decision was based on a push for healthier student diets and a more sustainable environment.

Prior to this event, I think I almost took for granted the level of detail and analysis involved in making Cornell dining such an elite and reputable service. The chef made it seem like they rarely take the approach of cooking everything ahead of time, keeping bins of food warm, and replacing empty bins when the time is appropriate, but instead are much more incremental in the way they cook throughout the night, which I thought was really neat and definitely makes for a better dining experience. In addition, they explained how after each meal, they always gauged and attempted to quantify the amount of waste in order to determine future portions and perhaps to alter menu items.

The guests were also very receptive to new suggestions and ideas for improving West Campus dining, such as the placement of dessert and fruit in the dining hall, in the hopes of encouraging a more healthy dining experience. All in all, it was a great event, and I’m confident that West Campus food will be even better going forward!

Parallels Between Glass and Biodiversity

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We were fortunate enough to have Professor Drew Harvell come talk to us about glass sculptures of marine creatures, biodiversity, and also screen the film Fragile Legacy. I found the session to be incredibly interesting, as she attempted to demonstrate the parallels between glass sculptures and marine creatures. The beautiful glass sculptures capture many aspects of these marine organisms, including the immense amount of detail and complexity of their surfaces, but also their fragility. Indeed, a large chunk of the film was devoted to the restoration of many glass sculptures that had broken down through the years as a result of a lack of attention and care. This struggle to restore these sculptures mirrors the concern of the individuals in the film to save these aquatic creatures. The deep-water dives of these individuals was not simply for their own enjoyment, but to reveal to human beings the beauty of biodiversity and how quickly it is beginning to diminish.

In terms of inspiring change, I think the glass sculptures can definitely be utilized to help convince people of the importance of saving marine life. Indeed, the reality is that if we continue many of our practices that are harmful to the environment, organisms that are this beautiful and complex (in essence, living art), will only exist in glass form.

International Crime: No Justice?

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We were fortunate to have Jens David Ohlin, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, attend the Becker-Rose Cafe Series event. In a very casual environment, Professor Ohlin engaged us in conversation regarding international criminal law. I found the main theme of the discussion, which was determining the legality of killing civilians in war or conflict, to be highly interesting. The professor shared with us that it becomes considered criminal when the number of civilian deaths is disproportionate to the importance of the target. Although the policy sounds reasonable, it actually is difficult to apply in the court. Indeed, “disproportionate” is of course highly vague and subjective, and thus Professor Ohlin pointed out that prosecutors are often hesitant to embrace cases dependent on this law.

The professor also pointed out that international criminal law can be highly political, and as a result can prevent cases technically required by law from ever taking form. Countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia, both of which have been widely reported to have committed serious criminal infractions, have many business partners and economic allies; this has prevented a strong and unified push for prosecution against these nations in an international court. More concerning is when a nation is supposed to prosecute or seek justice under the terms of a contract or treaty, and instead fails to do so. Thus, what perhaps needs to be instituted is a system that penalizes those who fail to uphold justice in a world where no true international police force exists.

An Unfortunate Abstraction

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We had the good fortune of having Mary Jo Dudley, the Senior Extension Associate Director of the Cornell Farmworkers Program, and Justine Vanden Heuvel, Associate Professor in Plant Sciences, attend the Becker-Rose Cafe Series.  They discussed a subject we all possess a deep interest and love of: food! However, what they shared and discussed with us was not the rosier aspects of the food industry, such as the distribution of goods at our local Wegmans or how to construct delicious meals out of healthy ingredients, but rather the farm workers who are indispensable to the industry and are the true source of the procurement of the food we consume daily.

Our guests raised an interesting point in stating that in the process of consuming food, we consider factors such as the manner in which it was cooked or perhaps the quality of the ingredients, but what is abstracted away are the human beings involved who are the source of this meal. We learned that over half of the farm workers in this nation are undocumented immigrants. The reality that our guests lamented is the average American’s distaste with farm labor because of factors like the negative stigma attached to the work and the physical labor necessary. With this in mind, the recent clamoring within the GOP for immigrant deportation is not only immoral, but completely infeasible from an economic standpoint. Our nation has been built off the backs of immigrant labor, and the least we can do is provide these workers an opportunity to fulfill dreams like learning English and obtaining a basic education.

A Lesson in History

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We were fortunate enough to have Professor Eric Cheyfitz, the Ernest I. White Professor of American Studies and Humane Letters at Cornell University, attend the Becker-Rose Cafe. He provided us a brief education in the Native American history that is fundamental to our nation. What was clear in his discussion was his immense distaste with the manner in which the United States has treated our indigenous peoples. I thought his description of the genocide that the United States has committed was particularly interesting, in that our genocide has not just been overt murder in events such as the Trail of Tears, but in the way we have systematically attempted to destroy their culture and forced assimilation.

The Professor was quick to point out that this shouldn’t be a story of victimization, but rather one of immense resilience. Native Americans are the poorest demographic in this nation, and the decision to assimilate into United States culture would in all likelihood improve their economic condition. However, what they value far more is maintaining their culture, and I find that desperation to cling on to their values, language, and practices to be incredibly inspiring. In regards to their values, Professor Cheyfitz also raised an interesting point in comparing the society of the United States, one rooted in capitalistic and materialistic values, and that of Native Americans, one based on sharing and a communal approach to life. Thus, we as citizens of the United States have a great deal to learn from these indigenous peoples.