University of Oklahoma Offers Free Chemistry of Beer Course

(Press Release) 

NORMAN, OK—As of June 2013, according to the Brewers Association, there are more than 2,500 breweries operating in the United States, a 25 percent increase from 2011. With the Super Bowl looming, fans are expected to buy 51.7 million cases this year according to The Nielsen Company. Beer is big business. While the craft continues to grow and become increasingly more popular among Americans, people may not realize how large a part science plays in the brewing process.

The University of Oklahoma’s Janux, an interactive online learning community, is offering a Chemistry of Beer course this spring to help explain chemical processes through the practical application of brewing beer. This course, among other Janux courses, is free and available to anyone around the world with Internet access.

“The technology that is used in brewing beer has been around for thousands of years,” said course professor, Dr. Mark Morvant, assistant chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “But now, chemistry can tell us why we use those technologies and exactly how ingredients, like hops and yeast, work together to transform into the final product.”

According to Dr. Morvant, many of the chemical processes used in brewing beer can be applied while exploring other food-related modifications. Students who have a background in chemistry, will recognize organic and biochemistry concepts during the course and be able to apply them directly to the fun-loving nature of beer. Those with no chemistry background will enjoy learning how chemistry is involved in creating this popular beverage.

“We’ve built a course with a lot of support available for our students to learn these difficult concepts,” Dr. Morvant said. “Science can oftentimes be intimidating. But, putting advanced concepts in an interesting and applicable framework is how we intend to engage students to learn successfully.”

Chemistry of Beer will be offered starting Jan. 13 and will last 16 weeks. During the course, students will also learn the similarities and differences between beer styles, the home and commercial brewing processes, and analytical techniques. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the brewing process with local brew masters and brewery owners. 

To sign up for the course, visit Janux.OU.edu.

About Janux

Janux is a new interactive learning community created by the University of Oklahoma. Janux connects learners and teachers through high-quality courses. Built in partnership with Oklahoma technology leader NextThought, Janux pioneers the field of social learning and is the first of its kind in open courseware. With Janux, students are able to use interactive learning tools and collaborate with other students and professors in real time. Videos, tests, quizzes and other learning resources are integrated in on online space. For more information, visit Janux.OU.edu.

About NextThought

NextThought is a technology company that offers an integrated approach to education. NextThought’s platform enables rich social interaction inside courseware and educational materials, including videos, assessment and text. The company also provides video production and content development services. Founded in 2011, NextThought works with a number of leading universities and professional education organizations around the world. For more information, visit www.NextThought.com.

About the University of Oklahoma

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls more than 31,000 students, has more than 2,600 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 165 majors at the baccalaureate level, 157 majors at the master’s level, 80 majors at the doctoral level, 29 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 28 graduate certificates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.7 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.