Oil in your gas tank is a given, but what about the everyday items on your desk, tucked in your backpack, or scattered around your dorm room?
CFACT Collegians Sabrina Strand at Black Hills State University and William Crawford at Georgia State University challenged their peers to look beyond the gas pump and discover just how much of modern life depends on petroleum.
CFACT Collegian William Crawford discusses the everyday uses of petroleum with a student at Georgia State University
Having gathered an assortment of everyday products from their own homes, the two Collegians turned their campus tables into an interactive guessing game, asking students to identify which items were made from oil and which weren’t.
CFACT Collegian Sabrina Strand sets up her “What’s Made From Oil?” table featuring a coffee mug, spoon, tupperware, band-aid, and a plush llama!
At Black Hills State University, Sabrina set up shop inside the Student Union during the lunch rush, putting students’ petroleum knowledge to the test during a quick passing period or sandwich break.
As students made their guesses, many were surprised to learn just how many familiar products rely on petroleum-derived materials. From their shoes to their toothbrushes and even components found in electric vehicles, petroleum has a hand in far more than filling up a gas tank.
William poses beside his handwritten sign and an assortment of everyday items for his petroleum guessing game
Meanwhile, at Georgia State University, William’s table was visited by many on their way to the bookstore. Little did they know they wouldn’t need to do any reading to walk away with some new knowledge.
William used the activity to explain petroleum’s importance to the economy beyond fuel and electricity. He discussed the manufacturing of consumer goods and how oil provides pipeline and manufacturing jobs to Americans.
The conversations kept coming until Mother Nature took a turn for the worse. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, William was surprised by how many students were willing to stop by and chat.
America’s energy future doesn’t have to begin with pipelines or gas prices. Sometimes, all it takes is a table full of familiar objects and a question that turns out to be harder than it looks.
Students show off CFACT’s educational flyers and stickers after learning about the role of petroleum and carbon dioxide in everyday life
After all, petroleum not only keeps America moving but also helps make much of what Americans move around with.
And for CFACT Collegians, that’s a point worth bringing to the table.
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The post CFACT Collegians Challenge Students to Rethink Oil was first published by the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), and is republished here with permission. Please support their efforts.