Video: Engineering you can sink your teeth into

Students get a taste of the sweet science behind chocolate thanks to an out-of-the-ordinary course in chemical and materials engineering.

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Students in the "Engineering of Chocolate" course get hands-on with the science behind the toothsome taste and texture of chocolate. (Photo: Geoff McMaster)

Think of it as a sensual approach to materials engineering.

Students in the "Engineering of Chocolate" course learn how to produce the more tactile qualities of chocolate — like the crisp snap and smooth texture that are all part of the scrumptious experience.

The course takes students from "bean to bar," providing them with a tastier take on concepts they've already applied to more conventional materials like steel or concrete.

The difference, says course instructor Elizabeth Lee, is that they are "strongly encouraged to eat their results."