The Kitchen is a Laboratory: Experimental Science Activities Based on Food and Cooking

Abstract

Since 2001, a group of Portuguese scientists has been using experiments with food and cooking to attract the interest of the public, and particularly young people, in science and scientific activities. These science dissemination activities, entitled A Cozinha é um Laboratório (The Kitchen is a Laboratory) have been received with great interest and very positive feedback by the general public, as well as by schools in all levels of education. Subsequently, this approach was also used by the Portuguese team of the Pollen: Seed Cities for Science project to promote inquiry-based science education in primary schools and engage families and the community in this process. This paper presents the activities conducted as part of these initiatives, which have already resulted in two books.