Exhibit Provides A Scoop: How Food Fuels A Body

Mica Professor Finds Lessons In Energy And Human Waste

That exhibit was built at the museum quickly after the items were pooled on the floor.

Pocock, conversely, said his project has been on his mind for a couple of years but only recently did he approach Hofmann. It wasn't the kind of experiment he was willing to do without knowing someone would show the work. He lasted 63 days with his scales, also the length of the show.

Carrying scales and jars, and doing all that measuring of human waste, got "annoying" at times. Students and co-workers thought he was on a radical diet to lose weight. But he said he enjoyed the labor of sawing wood; the largest piece represented more than 500 pounds of food he ate. He also learned a lot about his own habits from keeping the diary, including just how many cookies he ate. The daily notes are displayed on the walls of the museum.

There were some surprises, he said. Liquids are about 80 percent of what he consumed. Far more of the food and beverages were used as energy and far less became waste than he was expecting. "Where did it all go? It was like a magic trick," he said.

Standing amid his faux food and waste, Pocock said he's pleased with the exhibit - even if he has to withstand bathroom humor for a while.

If you go

My Food My Poop runs through Aug. 22 at the Contemporary Museum, 100 W. Centre St. Hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, go to contemporary.org. Read a diary of Pocock's experiment at myfoodmypoop.com .