Advanced Donut Theory
This class discussed a variety of basic and not-so-basic facts about donuts:
- The Donut Industry
- Current large players, consumption in the US and abroad; recent trends in donut consumption; the rise of big industry; and the recent bankruptcy of Hostess.
- The History of the Donut
- Dutch settler roots and evolution from the oliekoeks; the invention of ring donuts by Hanson Gregory; and the later evolution of donuts into filled and unfilled donuts; jam and custard; and the late invention of donut holes. The etymology of "donut" versus "doughnut" was also covered.
- Donut Eating Techniques
- Best techniques for eating filled and ring donuts; important considerations; and the combination of donuts with tea, coffee, or milk.
- Donut Classification
- Classification of donuts by yeast versus cake donuts, topological types, and the special properties of donut holes.
- Donut Mathematics
- Topology; homogeneity; surface area to volume ratio; packing density.
- Donuts in Popular Culture
- National Donut Day, Tour de Donut, culture such as the Simpson's. And various other references throughout modern American culture.
Slides are available upon request.