{"id":8522,"date":"2026-02-10T15:15:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/2026\/02\/10\/fridge-factor-opens-the-door-for-nc-state-students-to-become-citizen-scientists\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T20:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T00:54:22","slug":"fridge-factor-opens-the-door-for-nc-state-students-to-become-citizen-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/2026\/02\/10\/fridge-factor-opens-the-door-for-nc-state-students-to-become-citizen-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Fridge Factor Opens the Door for NC&#160;State Students To Become Citizen Scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p>To get involved in NC&#160;State\u2019s 2026 Pack Science Challenge, students don\u2019t need access to a lab \u2013 just a refrigerator, a phone and a few minutes each day for two weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEveryone has a refrigerator,\u201d says Fridge Factor creator <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/\">Paige Luck<\/a>, an instructor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/\">Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/a>. \u201cAnd using it to collect data about food storage is a logical way to improve our knowledge of food safety and foodborne illness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lib.ncsu.edu\/fridge-factor\">Fridge Factor<\/a> runs for two weeks, from Feb. 18 to March 11. The project is open to up to 250 students from any college and major.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get started, students will fill out an initial survey, then pick up a refrigerator thermometer and door magnet with a QR code at D.H. Hill Library. Supplies will be distributed Feb. 16-18 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily in the lobby.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting Feb. 18, participants will check the refrigerator temperature each day, scan the QR code and enter the data online. They\u2019ll also keep track of any food they throw out and answer weekly questions about symptoms of foodborne illness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the study is complete, students can turn in their thermometers and pick up some Howling Cow ice cream and a T-shirt, while supplies last.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Bigger Fridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The data students collect will be used to create an infographic with basic food safety information, which will be shared with participants and the campus community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe can do more to educate our own community if we have a better understanding of the food safety challenges,\u201d Luck says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She and colleague <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/people\/fbsantos\/\">Fernanda Santos<\/a>, a faculty member in food science, also plan to incorporate the Fridge Factor project in their undergraduate and graduate classes \u2014 to provide a hands-on approach to teaching science communication, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luck, who teaches Introduction to Food Science, eventually hopes to take Fridge Factor to a younger audience: middle and high school students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFood science is a discovery major,\u201d Luck explains, adding that most undergrads aren\u2019t aware it\u2019s an option when they come to NC&#160;State. \u201cIt\u2019s not food service and it\u2019s not nutrition, and they\u2019re not familiar with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fridge Factor is another way to shine a light \u2014 a refrigerator light \u2014 on food science.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe hope it\u2019s just the beginning of good things to come,\u201d Luck says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-highlight with-image\"><h2 class=\"highlight__label\">Related<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/wolfingdownfoodscience.buzzsprout.com\/\" class=\"highlight__link\" data-ua-cat=\"Highlight Block\" data-ua-action=\"Story Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/wolfingdownfoodscience.buzzsprout.com\/\"><div class=\"highlight__image-container\"><div class=\"highlight__image-background\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"highlight__image wp-image-1006678\" alt=\"A microphone\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MIc-crop.jpg\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"highlight__text-container\"><h3 class=\"highlight__heading\">Wolfing Down Food Science<\/h3><p class=\"highlight__teaser\">Check out this NC&#160;State food science podcast all about the chemistry, microbiology and engineering of food, along with its new student-written blog. <\/p><p class=\"highlight__cta\"><span>Listen and Learn <\/span><span class=\"nowrap\"><span>More&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"> <svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/aside>\n<p><em>This post was <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/fridge-factor-opens-the-door-for-nc-state-students-to-become-citizen-scientists\/\">originally published<\/a> in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-post-header {\"displayCategoryID\":1171} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To get involved in NC State\u2019s 2026 Pack Science Challenge, students don\u2019t need access to a lab \u2013 just a refrigerator, a phone and a few minutes each day for two weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cEveryone has a refrigerator,\u201d says Fridge Factor creator <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/\">Paige Luck<\/a>, an instructor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/\">Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences<\/a>. \u201cAnd using it to collect data about food storage is a logical way to improve our knowledge of food safety and foodborne illness.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lib.ncsu.edu\/fridge-factor\">Fridge Factor<\/a> runs for two weeks, from Feb. 18 to March 11. The project is open to up to 250 students from any college and major.  <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To get started, students will fill out an initial survey, then pick up a refrigerator thermometer and door magnet with a QR code at D.H. Hill Library. Supplies will be distributed Feb. 16-18 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily in the lobby.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Starting Feb. 18, participants will check the refrigerator temperature each day, scan the QR code and enter the data online. They\u2019ll also keep track of any food they throw out and answer weekly questions about symptoms of foodborne illness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Once the study is complete, students can turn in their thermometers and pick up some Howling Cow ice cream and a T-shirt, while supplies last.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>A Bigger Fridge<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The data students collect will be used to create an infographic with basic food safety information, which will be shared with participants and the campus community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWe can do more to educate our own community if we have a better understanding of the food safety challenges,\u201d Luck says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>She and colleague <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences\/people\/fbsantos\/\">Fernanda Santos<\/a>, a faculty member in food science, also plan to incorporate the Fridge Factor project in their undergraduate and graduate classes \u2014 to provide a hands-on approach to teaching science communication, for example.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Luck, who teaches Introduction to Food Science, eventually hopes to take Fridge Factor to a younger audience: middle and high school students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cFood science is a discovery major,\u201d Luck explains, adding that most undergrads aren\u2019t aware it\u2019s an option when they come to NC State. \u201cIt\u2019s not food service and it\u2019s not nutrition, and they\u2019re not familiar with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Fridge Factor is another way to shine a light \u2014 a refrigerator light \u2014 on food science.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWe hope it\u2019s just the beginning of good things to come,\u201d Luck says.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/highlight {\"teaser\":\"Check out this NC State food science podcast all about the chemistry, microbiology and engineering of food, along with its new student-written blog. \",\"callToAction\":\"Listen and Learn More\",\"imageID\":1006678} -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-highlight with-image\"><h2 class=\"highlight__label\">Related<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/wolfingdownfoodscience.buzzsprout.com\/\" class=\"highlight__link\" data-ua-cat=\"Highlight Block\" data-ua-action=\"Story Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/wolfingdownfoodscience.buzzsprout.com\/\"><div class=\"highlight__image-container\"><div class=\"highlight__image-background\"><img class=\"highlight__image wp-image-1006678\" alt=\"A microphone\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MIc-crop.jpg\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"highlight__text-container\"><h3 class=\"highlight__heading\">Wolfing Down Food Science<\/h3><p class=\"highlight__teaser\">Check out this NC State food science podcast all about the chemistry, microbiology and engineering of food, along with its new student-written blog. <\/p><p class=\"highlight__cta\"><span>Listen and Learn <\/span><span class=\"nowrap\"><span>More&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"> <svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/highlight -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Food scientists in CALS created Fridge Factor, the 2026 Pack Science Challenge. They\u2019re recruiting 250 NC State students to collect data on food storage, disposal and safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"ncstate_wire","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-8522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","tag-_from-newswire-collection-481"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8522"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8957,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8522\/revisions\/8957"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provost.ncsu.edu\/global-one-health-academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}