Splash Fall 2014
Course Catalog

There are lots of newspaper articles talking about the "recent advances in health sciences". Some suggest "beer helps to prevent cancer", others assert "beer increased risks of getting cancer". Which one should we believe?
How do doctors decide what to do when coming across contrary scientific evidences? And what doctors don't know about the surgery they perform or the drugs they prescribe?
We will do some hands-on experiments on drawing conclusions in the world of uncertainty, and take a quick survey of current methodologies in medical sciences.


Prerequisites
Have flipped coins, or played any other games involving probability or uncertainty.

If you've ever had influenza - "the flu" - before, you surely know the symptoms. Runny nose, cough, fatigue, death. Oh, so you're not familiar with that last one? Then come learn about how the flu can be more deadly than you think. And how it can lead to the extinction of humanity. And whether we have any hope for the future...

Molecular Imaging emerged in the early twenty-first century as a discipline at the intersection of molecular biology and in vivo imaging. It enables the visualization of the cellular function and the follow-up of the molecular process in living organisms without perturbing them. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging, an important molecular imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body. The theory behind PET is simple enough. Briefly, tracking molecule need to tagged with a positron emitting isotope and followed by scan the body with PET-CT. PET imaging have many advantages. The most important is its sensitivity: a typical PET scanner can detect between 10−11 mol/L to 10−12 mol/L concentrations. Dr. Arutselvan Natarajan, Stanford staff scientist will give an overview of PET which is key imaging modality for cancer staging and therapy.

Learn about the core ethical ideas that govern all scientific and medical research. Discover the criteria that must be met for medical research and clinical trials. Explore the level of adherence of various forms of scientific research to these core principles and the means of oversight setup to ensure research is conducted in an ethical manner. We will also explore specific topics, examples, and cases; where the ethics of research are non-trivial to evaluate and often accompanied with social controversy. We will apply the core principles learned to actively debated areas of scientific and medical research.

Protein bars. Kale. Bacon. Acai berries. These are some of the latest names on the list of trendy foods. Ever wonder how to sift through all the hype and know what is REALLY healthy for you? In this SPLASH class, Stanford students passionate about teaching others how to eat healthily will clear up the confusion. You will learn the basics of eating for a more energetic, strong, and happy you!

This class will explore the process of how neurons send electrical signals throughout the brain and to the rest of the body by opening and closing ion channels and releasing chemical neurotransmitters. It will then use this new knowledge to briefly explain common medical problems ranging from seizures to depression and more.


Prerequisites
It is recommended, but not necessarily required, that students have taken high-school biology AND physical science or chemistry.

What is meditation? Why do people believe in God? What’s it like to have an ecstatic experience?

This course will talk about the latest science of religion, pulling in anthropological, psychological, and neurological perspectives. We’ll talk about why belief in something like God has been so darned persistent throughout human evolution. We’ll discuss what it’s like for a “believer,” and also take a look at religious brains in action. We’ll discuss both Western and Eastern experiences including prayer, ecstatic experience, meditation and ritual.
We’ll also talk about practical take-home lessons we can learn from these extreme brain states.

You’ll learn:
-Why babies are religious.
-What it's like to die.
-What the “God spot” is in the brain and whether or not magnetic stimulation can cause religious experience.
-The difference between mindfulness, meditation and prayer and why it’s important.
-And more!

What do cheese, zombie ants and the biggest, oldest living thing have in common? Fungi! Mushrooms are the part of the a fungus that we see, but they're just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the action takes place out of sight.

Come learn about the hidden world of fungi in a two-part course, sign up for one or both sections. In the first section we'll hunt for mushrooms around campus. The second part will be an interactive exploration of the fungal ways of life.

How is that we are able to learn so many new things without our brains exploding? Cognitive psychologists have designed clever experiments to reveal many of the tricks our brains use. In this class, you'll learn several surprising facts about how your brain really works.

Description: Do you think that DNA is just sitting in the nucleus waiting to be used? Think again! DNA is highly dynamic - constantly changing shape and even moving throughout the nucleus. In this class we will explore the amazing world of DNA, and discuss some of the challenges that the cell needs to overcome to package, access, and repair this amazing molecule.

If you unfamiliar with DNA structure and how the cell uses it, please consider taking ‘Introduction to DNA structure and function’ which will provide the background necessary to get the most out of this class. See you there!


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of DNA structure is required in order to get the most from this class.

We all want to understand how the brain works. Scientists want to model brain function to understand our behavior. Doctors want to cure diseases like Alzheimer's and autism. Computer scientists want to model the brain in order to recognize cats on the internet. However how the brain works still remains mysterious. Much of our knowledge has come from fascinating case studies: people with personality changes, short term memory loss, and uncontrollable movements. Here I'll give a whirlwind overview of some remarkable patients that have transformed how we think of the brain and ourselves.

Why is it what if you cut off your friend's leg it won't grow back, but if you cut off a salamander's leg it will grow back? Can you name 2 parts of the human body that can grow back if they are lost? Did you know that there are some worms that you could cut into 279 pieces and each of those pieces would become a new worm? Come to this class to get an intro to what stem cells are and what they do, and to hear about some of the crazy ways different creatures regenerate their body parts. We will also discuss the biology of cancer, the reasoning behind some of the ways we currently treat cancer, and some new discoveries in the cancer and stem cell fields!

When standard treatments fail to cure blood cancers then bone marrow transplantation is the only curative option. Patients receive bone marrow cells from a healthy donor. This provides a new healthy immune system that helps keep the cancer cells from reappearing. Stanford staff scientist Dr. Suparna Dutt will give an overview of Bone Marrow Transplantation- Blood Stem Cell Therapy that has saved thousands of lives over the past 30 years.


Prerequisites
Grade 7

This class will give an overview of human immune system followed by an introduction on how our body recognizes different infectious agents like bacteria and virus. Then we will discuss how our immune system fights infection. Finally, benefits of immunization like flu shot will be discussed.


Prerequisites
None

What really is schizophrenia? To many people who don’t know very much about the specifics of mental illness, schizophrenia is the disease whose symptoms are most predominantly stereotyped as characteristics of “crazy” or “insane” people.

People often confuse schizophrenia with Multiple Personality Disorder. However, schizophrenia actually involves a disconnect between thought, emotion, and behavior. 50% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have not received treatment. Schizophrenia can affect anyone, no matter their age, talent, and social status. In this class, we will learn about the subtypes and symptoms of schizophrenia and focus on understanding what it means to live with schizophrenia.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites - just eagerness to learn :) TRIGGER WARNING: We greatly appreciate your willingness to share your personal experiences with us and/or the class if you wish. However, we fully understand that not everyone is comfortable doing so, and we would further like to note that some of the content we will be discussing in class may be triggering for some individuals. Please let us know if this is the case for you, and we would be happy to accommodate your needs.

Learn how stem cells can be developed into photoreceptors- the main light sensing cells of the eye- to potentially restore vision. This class will include an introduction to stem cell biology, then dive into applications to blindness-related diseases such as macular degeneration. This class is designed for students with very little or no knowledge of stem cell biology.


Prerequisites
All levels welcome, class will be at a very introductory level. No biology or stem cell background necessary!

Monjons, bandicoots, and dunnarts are a few more strange marsupials to add to the list of creatures found on the island continent! And let's not forget the egg-laying echidnas. An overview of the amazing diversity of flying, sliming, crawling, and most of all hopping critters and my personal experience working in the Australian outback.

There is a killer among you! Enter the classroom as a forensic scientist investigating the (fake) murder of a Stanford student! Learn about the basic chemical principles involved in Crime Scene Investigation, such as the detection of blood with luminol. By the time you leave, you will have gained a better understanding of chemical reactions and have caught your first murderer in the process.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic chemistry concepts

What is DNA and how is it being used in the cell? In this introductory course we will use lecture and small group exercises to go over the basic concepts of DNA: what is it built from and how it is arguably the most important component of the cell. For more advanced topics relating to DNA, consider enrolling for ‘Dynamic DNA’. There, we will apply the knowledge from this introductory class to explore the environment within the nucleus and the protein machines that control how DNA is packaged and moved.

Did you know that mental health issues affect one in every five American families?

Mental health is often a difficult subject to speak openly about. This may be for several reasons, including the unwillingness and fear of individuals to see themselves or others close to them as “diseased”, the lack of a culturally sensitive, mainstream vocabulary for the discussion of mental health issues, and the stigma of seeking aid or treatment for psychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, by not speaking openly and competently about these issues, we as a society risk leaving many individuals untreated, endangering their lives and damaging their communities and families, and holding back on potential advancements in care.

The aim of this class is to promote more open and informed conversations about mental health issues and their impacts in the larger community. We hope to shed some light on different types of mental health disorders, their current care and treatment methods, and perhaps most importantly, how we as students can serve as allies to those who seek to make mental health a priority in their lives and to those who are struggling with mental health issues.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites - just eagerness to learn :) TRIGGER WARNING: We greatly appreciate your willingness to share your personal experiences with us and/or the class if you wish. However, we fully understand that not everyone is comfortable doing so, and we would further like to note that some of the content we will be discussing in class may be triggering for some individuals. Please let us know if this is the case for you, and we would be happy to accommodate your needs.

We will explore how a high fat diet and no exercise may lead to obesity and then full-blown diabetes.

Where parrots’ bills can crush bone, monkeys perform deafening choruses, and wild pigs stampede through the underbrush, the Amazon rainforest holds a wealth of amazing creatures. Come meet some funky fauna in this whirlwind introduction based on firsthand experience – no binoculars required!

Learn about the emerging field of neural prosthetics: electronic systems that interface with and connect to the brain and nervous system. We will start with a brief introduction to neuroscience as well as some of the guiding principles used in the field, transitioning to real-world examples. This class will cover descriptions of neural prosthetic systems that are commercially available or under active development. Systems discussed will include retinal prostheses, cochlear implants, and cortical communication and motor prosthetics.

Think you know what HIV is? Want to become an expert on HIV/AIDS? In our informal seminar we aim to investigate the history of the domestic and global HIV/AIDS epidemic, mechanisms of viral transmission and cellular entry, and current research breakthroughs.


Prerequisites
High school introductory biology (preferred, not required)

Is it possible to predict all the diseases you will get the moment you are born? Do our eating habits and lifestyle choices really influence our health? Is a world like that shown in the movie Gattaca a possibility for our future? Find out in this class what modern genetics and medicine have to say about these exciting questions and learn what knowing a person's DNA sequence really tells us and what are the strengths and limitations of prediction based on a DNA sequence.


Prerequisites
Any sort of introduction to Biology course; should understand very basics of DNA and genes.

This class will explore the basic composition of blood, structure of the heart, and process of blood circulation--and then use this new knowledge to explain common medical issues such as blood types, heart rate, blood pressure, heart attacks, sickle-cell anemia, stroke, and more.


Prerequisites
It is recommended, but not necessarily required, that students have taken high-school biology.

Can a sugar-pill cause morphine release? Can hypnosis cure blindness? Can looks kill (literally)? Can getting shot not hurt?

We'll talk about old history and new science developing around "mind-body" medicine, how your mind and brain affect your body in really interesting ways. We'll meet people with paralysis who can regain their movement, and blind people can regain their sight by the power of words. We'll see how the brain can produce pain completely independently of any "physical" cause. We'll discuss theories of how the brain might be involved in diseases like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.

If that's not enough, you'll learn about ritual executions that rely on the victim's expectation, and soldiers in WWII who get shot but don't seem to mind.

In short, we'll explore the strange and perplexing frontier where Mind meets Body.

One in every three women and one in two men will contract it. We wear cute pink tee shirts and run 3 Days for it. You pay $20 of hard-earned cash to your friends who do Team in Training. But how much do you really know about cancer? In this class, we'll discuss causes, biology, types, and treatments for cancer.

If you're obsessed with macaroni and cheese, you can thank Thomas Jefferson for bringing back recipes and machines to make it in the United States. However, most americans get their fill with a blue box and bright orange powder that takes 10 minutes to make. As the "comfort food" movement takes a hold in the US, we look at the rich history of this delicacy and the path it took become one of America's favorite foods. We will explore the science of the classic béchamel sauce, how cheese is made across the world and the varieties available, the Kraft Mac n' Cheese revolution and what's in that orange powder, and a molecular gastronomy take on making better cheese sauces. We will also discuss the physics of the macaroni noodle and how to get the best pasta to cheese ratio. Demos and tastings will be included, so please notify if there are any food allergies.


Prerequisites
Chemistry and biology topics will be presented, but no formal coursework needed, just a love of science and food!

The human immune system is a complex system. It is full of mysteries that we as scientists like to solve. Do you want to know what happens when you get sick? This course can help you learn and point out when you are getting sick and the timeline of when you will get better!!!


Prerequisites
Curiosity for the human disease and immune system.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), or simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases with high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Diabetic patients have the symptoms of frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger from elevated blood glucose levels. Untreated, diabetes can cause many complications some of which could even be lethal. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that the diabetes cases worldwide will rise from 217 million in 2005 to 366 million by 2030.Populations of both types of diabetes are rapidly increasing. This course gives a brief introduction on current situations of diabetes and its prevention and state-of-art new technologies for diagnostics. Some hand-on experiments are also expected to show the students how to measure blood glucose levels at home using point-of-care devices

Students will learn about human anatomy using cadavers and 3-D visual tools. Various anatomical regions will be covered including the abdomen, upper limb, lower limb, back, and heart/lung.

Caution: Real human cadavers are used in the teaching of this course.


Prerequisites
Must be a junior or senior (11th/12th grade) to attend this course due to graphic material (human cadavers)

This class will begin with a broad overview of neuroscience, starting with the fundamentals of molecular & cellular neurobiology and building up to perception and clinical neurology. Actual material from previous years' Brain Bee contests will be presented as practice questions. The optional second part of the class will introduce more advanced topics in neuroanatomy, neurohistology, MRI/CT reading, and clinical case studies.

*Note: All topics from the Brain Facts booklet, published by the Society for Neuroscience and used by the Regional-level Brain Bees, will be covered. Although prospective Stanford Brain Bee contestants may find this class to be a useful optional review, any student interested in neuroscience is welcome!


Prerequisites
No previous knowledge of neuroscience assumed, but the class will move quickly, and a basic understanding of biology and chemistry will be useful. Bringing a writing utensil and notebook is recommended. Alternatively, a laptop or tablet may be brought to take notes electronically. Students will take away the most from the course by reading or at least skimming the Brain Facts text before coming to class, available for free at http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/brain-facts-book/

Mud is not just for little children. There's a lot of great biology going on down in the muck. Did you know that there are microbes that breathe metal and ones that will die if they're exposed to oxygen? There's a whole world of bacteria that has nothing to do with the stuff we worry about being in your food. We'll be making and learning about Winogradsky columns (self sustaining microbial ecosystems that fit in a soda bottle) that show the amazing diversity of microbes in a clear, colorful way that you can take home and watch grow.


Prerequisites
Willingness to get your hands very dirty, and possibly your clothes too. You WILL be touching mud!

In this session, you will learn how your immune system fights off cancer every day and how new medical treatments are using the immune system to eliminate tumors in patients.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of cells and an interest in biology, cancer, the immune system, or medicine

Learn about the Hepatitis B! Come hear about what the virus is, what the signs and symptoms are, and what YOU can do to protect your community from Hepatitis B.

Many of us think of fungi as mushrooms we sometimes eat. By the end of this course, you'll realize that these complex organisms represent tons of unexplored biology and chemistry that can even help fight diseases, like cancer. This course will be an introduction to basic fungal biology and natural products chemistry and its applications. *Bonus* there will be lots of pretty pictures of newly discovered fungi.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology would be helpful, but not necessary.

Ever sat in awe at the wildlife around you?
Interested in knowing how ask questions about the fauna in our surroundings?
If so join this workshop where we students will get an introduction to the frameworks in the field of ethology.


Prerequisites
None

What motivates us? What systems in the brain drive us one way or another? Why did I just check Facebook again?

In this talk, you’ll learn about sex (now I have your attention :P), addiction, pornography, drugs, altruism, self-control, and even the meaning of life. You’ll learn about how dopamine and oxytocin work and why they matter. You’ll also get some practical advice on ways to boost willpower, develop good habits and break bad ones.

Have you ever dreamed of being in Ms. Frizzle's class and taking a ride on the magic schoolbus through the convoluted gyri and sulci of the human brain?

Why does your brain look the way it looks? How does it differ from your dog's brain? Is your brain more powerful than your macbook pro (with retina display)? Are you smarter than a pre-operational stage 2-7 year old? How is your brain committing this course description to memory so you can successfully retrieve it when deciding what course to sign up for later?

Do these questions pique your interest? Take our class! Don't understand anything we're talking about? Take our class!

Get up, close, and personal with real brains. Not only will we answer the questions above, but we will have real brains for hands-on exploration. We hope to see you in class!

Scientific findings are nothing if they cannot be shared with the world. And when topics from cell division to rocket ship design are so complicated that they require both words and pictures, why not use comics? We will discuss how scientific theories are integrated into comics as well as how comic book techniques are integrated into science. In the end, we’ll make science comics of our own!

Leaping lemurs, concealed chameleons, towering trees! A friendly people filled with laughter and song but crippled by poverty. Find out from first-hand experience what makes Madagascar a time capsule of biodiversity, and what can be done to protect it through community involvement.

This class is an introduction to food-related environmental policy. Through group activities, we will explore the human impact of agriculture.

This class will explore the basic structure and function of the nervous system and show students how the brain enables and encodes sensation, movement, language, memory, personality, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions--as well as tell the fascinating stories of how scientific pioneers made these remarkable discoveries.

From ancient sages to modern science, we'll talk about this most central of human virtues.

Why don't we do what we want? Why do we procrastinate? Check FB? Eat more than we wanted?

We'll talk about the neuroscience of it, the biochemistry of it, and the practice of it. We've been at this a long time, so you'll hear from the Greeks, Eastern sages, from modern scientists, and willpower Olympians.

-Why your willpower is powered by sugar
-The top exercises proven to increase your willpower
-The crazy scientist who showed that willpower was like a muscle
-People whose willpower puts us all to shame

Whatever it is you want to accomplish, willpower will help you do it. And this class will help you build willpower.

Evolution: the process that's responsible for all life you see around you. In this class, you'll get a brief introduction to the process of evolution and hear a collection interesting evolutionary stories from eye evolution to how humans are still evolving today.

This is the age of new and advance technology and medical science. If you are interested in biotechnology and biomanufacturing that specialize in manufacturing biopharmaceuticals, you are invited to hear more of this potential career and what you should do to get there.


Prerequisites
Preferring students with basic science, biology, and/or chemistry background. Basic laboratory background will also be helpful. This is, however, no required, depending on the level of knowledge, I can go slow or fast. I will welcome anyone who are interested.

Our survival on planet depends on our ability to deal with evading pathogens which are everywhere. In this class participants will learn what different pathogens are and how they cross the defense barrier to cause disease. What are the defense mechanisms our body has and how we are defending the pathogens most of the time. It would also be interesting to discuss that in presence of such an active and efficient immune system, how pathogen cause disease.

An Introduction to the world of food science!

Basics:What is food science? What do I do with a food science degree? What jobs are there for me?

Depth: Trends in food science, what to expect from a food science program, what food science programs have to offer

This class will explore the basic machinery inside of a typical human cell and how it uses this equipment to transform DNA into mRNA and proteins that are essential for everyday life, while also providing students with an appreciation of how cells accomplish these extraordinary functions--automatically and with amazing speed and accuracy.


Prerequisites
It is recommended, but not necessarily required, that students have taken high-school biology.

Is all about DNA, right? But, if that's true, why are identical twins not exactly the same? Why are calico cats different colors? Learn about epigenetics, the science of what's modifying your genes! We will explore how cells use epigenetic mechanisms to make decisions about becoming a neuron or a liver cell even though both types have the same DNA. We'll also look at the role epigenetics can play in diseases such as cancer.


Prerequisites
Basic biology (should know what DNA is).

A lot of the science fiction you watch has, well, less science than fiction. In this course, we'll:
-discuss how bad science in movies and TV can have a negative effect on our culture
-see some specific examples of bad biology in popular media
-talk about the real science behind these misrepresentations
-show how it would be possible to fix these problems without affecting artistic integrity
-learn how to identify good and bad science on your own

How do cars, clownfish, and tsunami protection connect? Why are coral reefs called “the rainforests of the sea?” To find out, sign up for this interactive lecture/discussion on coral reefs.

This class is for anyone, from ocean enthusiasts to people who haven’t thought about reefs since watching Finding Nemo. We will learn about some amazing features of coral reefs: what they are and what they do, some of the animals that live on them, why they are important to humans, and what we can do to protect and preserve them.


Prerequisites
none

Learn how radiologists use x-rays to look inside your body. Develop an understanding of what it would take to build your own x-ray machine.

You walk down the aisle of a supermarket and you stumble upon these weirdly flavored chips. Ever wonder how someone's crazy idea is put from concept to product?

Culinary arts + food science = AWESOME PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. You take science and add it to cooking and bam, that delicious or sometimes bizarre flavored chip comes to a store near you.


Prerequisites
Intro to food science knowledge would be nice. Food culture, food history and food properties knowledge would also be nice, but all are not necessary. It would be better for you.

What is the brain? How does it work? How can I make it stronger?

You’ll learn about awesome experiments that show that the brain can be rewired, remolded and strengthened. You’ll meet someone operating with half a brain (literally), people who built physical strength just by thinking about it, and people who rewired their brains and cured mental illnesses with the power of thought. We’ll cover what you need to know about the brain.

If you could find out whether you will develop a disease with no known cure, would you want to know?

This course will provide an introduction to the science behind Huntington’s Disease, which is a genetically inherited disease that affects both the mind and the body. After an overview of cool topics like DNA and genetics, we will talk about genetic testing – what that is, and how it applies to parents or children who may have Huntington’s Disease. You will then use this knowledge to debate the ethical concerns that arise when screening for inherited diseases.

If your parents have Huntington’s Disease, would you get tested? If you were going to have children but did not know if you had the disease, would you get tested? Would you have kids if you tested positive?


Prerequisites
Basic biology knowledge is helpful, but we'll provide a quick intro at the beginning of the course for context!

Come be part of a zombie apocalypse! An interactive introduction to how game theory and math can be used to understand the spread of a zombie virus. Don't worry, the math won't kill you--you will survive (haha). We will extrapolate this to the spread and infection of real world viruses such as ebola, small pox, dengue fever and the common cold.


Prerequisites
None!

At the smallest scale, life is made possible by very special molecules, including DNA, RNA, and proteins. Yet though they are special, these molecules follow the same physical rules as the rest of the universe. Molecular biophysics is the study of how these molecules of life physically work. In this class we will explore selected topics in molecular biophysics, looking at different examples of how biological molecules function and what experiments we can do to uncover these molecules’ mysteries.


Prerequisites
Some background in biology, chemistry, and/or physics is helpful, but not required.

This class will explore the basic anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive systems--and then use this new knowledge to discuss issues important for personal health such as sexual intercourse, the menstrual cycle, birth control, embryonic development, and labor & delivery. Please note that this class will analyze somewhat graphic images and discuss mature topics--and will make every effort to do so both candidly and respectfully.

Why are different kernels of the same corn different colors? The answer: jumping genes! These mobile genetic elements, called transposons, can move around the in the plant genome. Turns out that 40% of the human genome is made up of these jumping DNA segments. Learn about the role that mobile DNA elements have played in shaping plant and animal genomes and the roles they play in human development and disease.


Prerequisites
Basic biology (should know what DNA is).

What causes a healthy cell to become cancerous? This class explores what cancer is and how it develops. We will also simulate the experiments that scientists use to learn more about cancer and to develop new treatments to fight it.


Prerequisites
Background in introductory cell biology and genetics is recommended

DNA has existed for billions of years, but does it do? In this class, we'll explore the role of DNA and how cells can pack so much of it into one tiny space (Strawberry's have 9 feet of DNA in each cell!). This will also include a short lab where we will extract DNA from strawberries.

Ever wonder how your brain helps make you who you are? How does your brain help you see and move? Can we come up with a cure for brain diseases? This class is a hands-on introduction to the brain and its various functions. You'll get to see and touch real human brains and ask your burning questions to Ph.D. students who are becoming brain experts!

Interested in medicine? Or just curious why your doctor(s) ask you certain questions/perform certain maneuvers? In this session, you will learn how doctors approach the patient interview, just as one would in medical school!

Action 4 Nature -

From Angry Bird to the now extinct passenger pigeon, we will be talking about Hawkwatching, birding and The Biology of Birds of Prey and all on Stanford Campus!

Bring your binoculars, scopes, your sketch books and your stories of birds/hawk watching!

Do you know new neuron born in adult brain ? Perhaps you may have heard/learn that no new neuron born after birth, this is no longer true. Now its well established that adult and even old brain does produce neuron. Can we increase neuron generation to replace lost neuron in stroke and neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer?. This class will take you from history to introduction to current status.


Prerequisites
Curiosity

The human genome is comprised of three billion base pairs, of which, 99% are identical across the entire human population. Only a very small fraction of the genome harbors any variation. It is this small, variable fraction that plays an important role in natural selection and can inform us about events such as demography.

With genomic sequencing technology becoming increasingly cheap and accessible to the public, we are now entering an exciting era of personalized genomics and medicine. In this course, we will learn about the signatures of genetic variation that can help us understand our susceptibility to diseases and our human demographic history.


Prerequisites
the material may be hard to follow without some intro biology

Learn about life in the ocean through interactive, hands on activities. The first section of the class will involve an experiment on animal behavior in a touch tank. The second section of the class will cover adaptation and natural selection, allowing students to participate in a creative activity and once again utilize the touch tank.

You know what the word "memory" means… but, did you know that there are actually many different types of memory, and that they rely on different areas of the brain? Come learn about how the brain supports memory, and what happens to our memories when different areas of the brain are damaged!


Prerequisites
No specific coursework is required for this class -- just an interest in psychology, biology, and neuroscience!

In this course, we will unravel the misconceptions and mysteries surrounding the human brain. Through the exploration of illusions and famous case studies, we will understand more about how our brain creates our reality and defines us.

Bacteria are everywhere and similar to humans they communicate with each other and reside within “small houses”. Enroll for this course to learn about the exciting features of a bacterial village and how it is produced during diseases.


Prerequisites
A keen Interest in microbial world!

Anatomy & Physiology


Prerequisites
We all know what the heart is, what it does, and why it’s important. But why does it perform the tasks in the way that it does? Why does it have multiple chambers? Why not just one? Or none? Why does the blood flow up, down, around and through it again? Why not straight through? Learn the answers to all of these questions and learn about the new technologies that are available! After taking a look at technology in cardiology, we’ll dissect and take a peak at cow and goat hearts and follow their blood flows and learn the similarities and differences between goat and cow hearts when compared to those of humans. [Note: We will be looking at fresh organs of animals, please keep this in mind before coming to class.]

We’ll be taking apart my Honda Dream motorcycle and exploring how it works.

Students will get hands on experience taking things apart and putting them back together.

Here’s a picture of a motorcycle similar to mine: http://www.rcycle.com/Ken_Fisher_Honda_305_Dream_068_cropped_op_800x512.jpg


Prerequisites
Be hands-on

It's a bad day if your phone screen cracks, but it's something else entirely if your airplane falls out of the sky. Learn about the science and engineering behind materials failures in history through demonstrations and hands-on experiments. We'll explore the enormous demands we place on materials in applications like space exploration, as well as how they work. We'll also show how many materials can change dramatically with changes in temperature and other conditions.

Have you ever wondered how cars really work? How an gasoline engine works? a diesel engine? a transmission? How breaks work? How a turbocharger or NOS give the car a performance boost? How electric cars work, and what makes a car fuel efficient? If so, this class is for you!


Prerequisites
Basic chemistry, basic physics

Each student will build a simple styrofoam cup speaker. We will learn about sound, how speakers work, and basic circuits.


Prerequisites
Please bring a portable music player such as an MP3 player or smartphone if you have one. A few extras will be available to use if you do not have one.

Overview of rocket propulsion, staging, orbital mechanics and reentry. Concepts will be demonstrated in a computer simulation.


Prerequisites
High school physics (Newton's laws, conservation of momentum)

What does it take to design an airplane? We'll take a closer look at how aircraft go from the blackboard to the sky. Then we'll break into teams and design our own aircraft! No prior experience needed.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with algebra and some physics.

What makes semiconductors so exciting and important in Silicon Valley? What is the difference between a laser and an LED? Why are electrons, holes, and photons useful? The class will introduce fundamental concepts of semiconductor physics including material structure, electronic and optical properties, as well as the application of semiconductor physics in everyday devices such as LEDs and lasers. At the end of the class, students will go on a tour of the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility where new and innovative research is being conducted on semiconductor devices. This course is especially suitable to students interested in pursing careers in Materials Science and Engineering, Applied Physics, and Electrical Engineering.


Prerequisites
High school level physics and chemistry

"The important thing about security systems isn't how they work, it's how they fail" (Cory Doctorow). Are we really secure? What does security mean - putting something behind a lock, encrypting it? Is it all of these things? Is it none of them? In this class, we will discover how things work to make them fail in just the right way.

Do you like maps? Do you like buses and trains? Do you like figuring out all the ways you can get from 'here' to 'there'? Have you ever played SimCity?

In this class, I'll give you a fictional city, with some dense parts, some rural parts, some rich parts, some poor parts, and you'll come up with some ideas for how you might plan out a transportation network.

You'll learn about some issues in real-life planning, some of the trade-offs planners have to make, and you'll get to draw out your very own transportation network.

The course is aimed at increasing understanding for how to approach the systematic engineering of living systems to advance human health and promote environmental sustainability. Creating a fusion of engineering fundamentals and the irreducible complexity of biological systems, and the perception of biology as a substrate is emphasized within the context of biomechanics, systems and synthetic biology, physical biology, biomolecular engineering, tissue engineering, and devices.

Snap together LightUp's magnetic blocks to build a working electronic circuit in seconds, even if you've never built one before. Take a photo of your circuit with the LightUp Learning iPad app to get some immediate guidance or see an enlightening animation. Finally, program your circuit to do something cool with our Arduino-compatible microcontroller block.

Feel free to bring a MacBook if you have one handy, but we'll be bringing a few that you can use as well.

Earthquakes are one of Earth's most devastating phenomena. Come learn about earthquake mechanisms and design of structures in earthquake prone areas (like California) and experience shaking first hand!
The class will cover the basic physics behind structural earthquake engineering design; the focus will be on explaining concepts through demonstrations.

From the discovery of electron in 1897, to the invention of transistor in 1947, followed by the birth of Silicon Valley in the 1970's, and the arrival iPhone in 2007. 110 years in the making, the teenage electrons have finally arrived in your friendly neighborhood. Come and find out how these teenagers are shaping everything you do in your life, and what lies ahead when these electrons grow up to become adults!


Prerequisites
Ability to stay awake during the class

"You're good at math and science - you should be an engineer!" That was about the extent of my career counseling when I was in high school. If you're in a similar position, then this class is for you!

This will be a short, broad lecture on what engineers actually do, drawing on case studies from mechanical, electrical, and product design viewpoints.


Prerequisites
A slight-to-severe confusion about what engineering is, and a desire to disabuse oneself of that notion

Are you excited about Google Glass, Apple Watch and many more wearable technologies introduced in daily life?

Have you ever thought of programming devices and sensors? One estimation is that there will be 50 billion devices and objects connected to the Internet by 2020.

This is a very hands-on class, targeted for inventors, designers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in creating wearable or IoT products. By the end of the class you will learn how to: create use-cases for your products; validate them with your customers and find a market fit; 3D print your product enclosure; write the firmware; build the electronics; develop the backend; and the mobile app to configure and interface with your product prototype.

Come and Learn art and science of Rapid Prototyping


Prerequisites
Bring tons of questions...

How can you sneak coffee past TSA? How can you make recycling fun? How do we make every experience better?

These are just a few questions that we will try to answer in class. Students will be introduced to the design process- problem finding, brainstorming and prototyping. We will also work on a hands on, fun project in class!

Polymers are fascinating materials that can be found almost everywhere in our daily lives. These macromolecules have many repeating subunits that form long chains and networks. From the skin on our bones to the plastics we buy at the store, polymers come in all shapes and sizes. In this short course, we'll learn about polymers through fun hands-on activities that highlight some of their most important properties.

We will teach the students the different applications and basic concepts of polymer science.


Prerequisites
None...

You will:
1. Build things.
2. Break things.
3. Make lights flash, buzzers buzz, and teach electronics to move, blink, and spin at your beck and call (and code.)
4. Have the time of your life.
5. Repeat.


Prerequisites
Ability to solve Fermat's Last Theorem, clear knowledge of quantum chromodynamics, and a basic understanding of rocket science. Alternatively: bring nothing, learn everything, and come prepared to have a blast.

Electricity comes from the outlet in the wall! You know that's not really true, but you might not know what the complete answer is. We'll talk about different kinds of power plants -- how each of them work, what their advantages are over other kinds, and what some of their issues are. We'll talk a little about how it gets to your wall once the electricity has been made, but the main focus will be on power plants.


Prerequisites
If you've heard the words "generator" and/or "motor" in your science class, you should be all set.

Ever wonder what was actually going on when Splash registration opened? Find out how the Splash website (or any website) works behind the scenes.

We’ll cover, very briefly, the basics of all the major concepts of web design, including HTML, CSS, client-side scripting, and server-side scripting. Time permitting, we'll also talk about databases, version controlling, and caching. All examples will be taken from the Splash website.

If time allows, we’ll take a look at some of the administrative portions of the website - the pages that help the Splash directors administer the program.

This class will be an overview of many different concepts of web design, and how they interact. It will not be an in-depth look at any one concept, though links to resources for additional learning will be provided.

No computer experience is required. In fact, if you have a lot of computer experience, you’ll probably be bored. But if you don’t already know most of the terms listed in the description, then you’re encouraged to register for this class!

Today's mobile phones can take pictures, access the internet, and even track our sleep quality.

What hardware is involved in enabling the modern smartphone? We'll learn about the components controlling mobile phone reception, power, information gathering and processing, and consider exciting developments to expect in the future.


Prerequisites
Interest in technology

Come and experience 3D printing hands on in a workshop sponsored by r-Labs and our friends.

Learn what it takes to go from an idea to a completed 3D print you can take home.

Talk with student experts who have run successful Kickstarters, landed internships and who are pushing the boundaries.


Prerequisites
None

You and I gaze at several piles of Goldfish and decide to play a game! When it's your turn, you pick a nonempty pile and eat a positive number of Goldfish from that pile. If you eat the last Goldfish in the entire game, you win!

For instance, if we start with three piles that have 3, 4, and 5 Goldfish, a game might go like this:
--You eat 3 from pile 3
--I eat 3 from pile 2
--You eat 2 from pile 1
--I eat 2 from pile 3
--You eat 1 from pile 1
--I eat 1 from pile 2. This is the last Goldfish, so I win! (Would you rather go first or second in this game?)

Discover how to beat your friends at this game, learn why this game is mathematically important, and eat lots of Goldfish in the process!


Prerequisites
You'll enjoy this class a lot more if you like Goldfish.

Question: What do Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have in common?

Answer: They're both billionaires and they both love the card game bridge.

If you too aspire to become a bridge-playing billionaire, then the first step is to learn how to play bridge! (Sadly, the second step is not covered in this class.)

Bridge is a fun and brainy card game somewhat like hearts and spades. It's played 2 vs 2, so good communication and teamwork are key to victory. (Another benefit of bridge being played 2 vs 2 is that if you ever lose - hypothetically, of course - you've got someone other than yourself to blame!)

This class is for anyone and everyone who wants to learn bridge. No experience necessary!

***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT***

A FORMER WORLD CHAMPION and team of bridge-loving Stanford students will be teaching this year! Come rub shoulders with greatness and hope that greatness rubs off on you!

Ever folded water balloons or cranes? Want to try something different? Come learn modular origami! Modular origami involves folding many, many small units and assembling them into larger 3D geometric structures (without glue or tape). In this class, you'll be working with colorful post-it notes and/or origami paper to make some sort of polyhedral form, which you get to keep.


Prerequisites
No folding experience necessary! If you have prior experience with modular origami (Sonobe, PhiZZ units), you might be bored.

Let's adjust gears, brakes, and the way a bike fits so your ride improves. We even patch tires, and fix klunky, squeky things. Bring your bike if you can.

Beads are pretty, but polyhedra are prettier. We'll learn to make buckyballs (a.k.a. truncated icosahedra for math folks or C60 for chem folks) out of beads and string. By the end of the class, you'll have your own shiny geometric trinket to keep!

Depending on time and interest, we might learn to make other geometric things...A fractal dodecahedron? Polyhedral carbon nanotori? The possibilities are (almost) endless.

For an idea of what we'll be making, see here: https://db.tt/NPha2NOi.


Prerequisites
We'll be working with seed beads (which are pretty small), so a little finger dexterity and a lot of patience will go a long way!

Let's adjust gears, brakes, and the way a bike fits so your ride improves. We even patch tires, and fix klunky, squeky things. Bring your bike if you can.

The classic board game Monopoly has a rich history, dating back to 1903, when Elizabeth Magie self-published a property trading game called The Landlord's Game. It was further refined by Charles Darrow and published by Parker Brothers to become one of the world's most popular games, with over 200,000,000 games sold, and the phrases "Go directly to jail" and "Do not pass Go" have become embedded in American culture. But Monopoly is also a deeply strategic game, requiring complex valuations of property and skilled negotiation. In this class, for the first hour, we will examine the basic strategies of Monopoly: most importantly, how to evaluate property and trades effectively, and how to protect value for the long-term. While we won't have time to complete full games of Monopoly in class, during the second hour, you will have an opportunity to test out your new skills by playing out an unfinished game of Monopoly, and at the end of class, we will compare the various strategies your classmates use, and their overall effectiveness.

We'll go over the basics of quidditch as it is played by high schools, colleges, and community teams throughout the world, and play some scrimmages. We'll provide the brooms!

Wear shoes you can run in (e.g. sneakers).
Bring a water bottle so you can keep hydrated.
Sunscreen is recommended.

The local name for calligraphy is Shūfǎ 書法 in China, literally "the way/method/law of writing"

Chinese calligraphy is a form of calligraphy widely practiced in China and revered in the Chinese cultural sphere, which often includes Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam.

Motivated to learn a new and interesting hobby?

All materials would be provided for you, just bring yourself and an open mind to learn.

Learn this new hobby to impress your friends and family.


Prerequisites
- Interest in learning a new style of art - Learning a new and basic Chinese language

Just in time for cooler weather! Stop spending your cash on hats, gloves and scarves...make your own! In this class you will learn the three basic things you need to know to get started. You will cast on, knit and bind off. Each student will leave with a basic knit bracelet and instructions for your next project.


Prerequisites
None

This class will discuss sports analytics of baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. Some statistics are involved, but no serious math, just sports!

Games are incredible cultural artifacts. Like music, they transcend language. Like art, they can be appreciated across cultural boundaries. The best games survive for hundreds or thousands of years virtually unchanged--and are still being played.

Among games in general, abstract board games occupy a special place. Abstract board games include chess, checkers, go, and Mancala--games with simple rules (usually without luck), which nonetheless create strategic depth which exceed the ability of any human to master the game within their lifetime.

The best way to understand these games is to play them. In this class, you will learn how to play the following games: Connect Four, Hex, Dots and Boxes, Yavalath, Mini-chess, Mini-Mancala and Hippos and Crocodiles. The class will be split into two teams: each time we start a new game, a new leader will be selected for each team. The leader has one minute to decide what move to make, but should consult the other team members.

After playing a game, I will discuss some cool facts about the game (or related games). Then as a class, we will discuss what we like or dislike about the game.


Prerequisites
No previous playing experience necessary! Play as a team to learn together.

Salsa dancing originated in Cuba and is lively, fun and easy to learn! This beginners Salsa lessons will teach you the basic steps you need to become a professional Salsa dancer!! We will be doing some partner work, but don't worry! You don't need a partner to come!


Prerequisites
No experience necessary! No partner necessary.

Go is an ancient board game that has survived in its original form for more than two thousand years! Still widely popular today, Go is both easy to learn and incredibly deep. Even the strongest computers have little chance against human experts. If you are intrigued but know absolutely nothing about the game, come to this class! You will hear some very interesting history, learn about the rules and etiquette, and of course play the game!

Much of historical European politics would have made more sense if you were there at the time. This class will give you a chance to recreate those politics. Take command of countries in a simple war game and learn about the balance of power by seeing it play out in action.

Learn memory and study techniques that will give you the important edge you will need to help find success in all aspects of your life.
Find out about simple ways to memorize any amount of information without repetition. Remember names; remember important facts. Learn how to memorize hundreds of definitions in time to ace the next exam.

Create a powerful brain.
Create a powerful life!


Prerequisites
A sincere desire to improve your memory!

Bank bailouts. Stealing to feed your hungry kid. Lying to save Jews in your basement. Waterboarding. What’s right and what’s wrong? And how do we know?

This will be a crash course in Ethics, the rigorous discipline of determining what’s right. This lost science will be critical for anyone who will have to make decisions in their life.

Why should you volunteer local or abroad? How and Where? During this class we will answer these questions and also touch on how to use volunteer experience on college applications and job resumes. We'll provide personal examples of volunteering as co-organizers of our own volunteer group and unique experiences such as volunteering in prisons and various countries abroad.

Are you interested in learning some lifelong skills that could help you become a better friend, build trust, and improve your overall relationships? In this 45-minute workshop, two Stanford undergrads from the Bridge Peer Counseling Center on campus will teach you how to gain these valuable skills through becoming a better listener. These skills and practices are used daily by peer counselors to support the Stanford community.


Prerequisites
none!

This class will give you a good sense of what to expect from college and how to have a successful college career. There are many pathways one can take in college and hopefully this class will help you discover what it will be.

Discuss different leadership and managerial skills you will need not only in your professional career but in many aspects of your life. Talk about how to bring these aspects out of you. We'll go over the difference between leadership and management, discuss these skills, what it will take to develop and refine them, and how to apply them to your daily life.

How do you interact with locals and get the most genuine cultural experience while traveling abroad?

How do I get the best deals on airfare, transportation, and lodging?

How do you identity avoid tourist traps?

How on earth do you avoid that dreaded $5-$10 ATM per transaction surcharge while abroad?

How do you stay connected while you're on your trip?

Find out from Yongjian, an experienced amateur backpacker who traveled alone through Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico for 33 days without staying for a single night in a hostel/hotel. He has also traveled from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, Canada using only city buses and has spent time living/traveling in China, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Catalunya. Find out how he managed to get invited to a wedding in Guadalajara, Mexico or how he managed to get invited to a homemade family dinner in the mountains of rural Catalunya without knowing anyone in those places beforehand!


Prerequisites
A passion for traveling and a curious mind!

The average American household is thousands of dollars in debt. Learning about finance can help you avoid a bad money situation. Come find out little steps that you can take now to practice and build better money habits.


Prerequisites
This class is geared towards complete beginners. If you don’t know understand credit scores, budgeting, or interest rates, then this is the class for you.

Come learn from Stanford students about how to effectively articulate and listen to opinions. Through an intellectual roundtable discussion, you will practice these skills to start forming your own beliefs about complex issues.

Back for a third time by popular demand, Hacking Your Life is bigger and better than ever! GET READY TO HAVE YOUR MIND BLOWN. SERIOUSLY.


Prerequisites
A big big smile!

Do you like telling stories? Do you wish you were better at expressing your thoughts and ideas in front of an audience? Whether you're talking to a group of 2 or 200, whether you're a scientist, an engineer, or a politician, getting your audience to quickly understand your ideas and be convinced by your arguments is a very useful superpower to have.

We'll cover a broad range of tips and tricks, from how to engage and hold your audience's attention, to how to organize your thoughts and express your ideas clearly.

Our class philosophy is: this is a safe environment, with no grades or judgment. We are here to practice and learn something. So, whether you've never spoken in public before or you're looking to hone your skills, come by and let's talk.

Almost without exception, today’s business professionals attribute their success largely to their ability to write well, to speak dynamically, and to cultivate business relationships. In this class you will learn basic theories on communicating strategically in a business setting. We will start with an exploration of social styles and how to develop communication strategies to fit those styles, and end with a discussion on establishing credibility and influence through communication.

Do you love sushi? Do you wish you could make it at home?

Then this class is for you!

We will teach you the simple art of rolling sushi, and provide recipes for making your sushi delicious! And, of course, everyone will get to eat their sushi creations at the end of the class.


Prerequisites
Must love raw fish and sushi! (No gluten or fish allergies)

Do you want to change the world, but don't know where to start? Are you passionate about an issue, but unsure of how to take action? Whether you want to convince your local politician to raise the minimum wage, fight for federal marriage equality, end air pollution in your neighborhood, or make ANY type of meaningful change-- this course is for you!

This session will lead you through the steps of running a successful grassroots campaign for change. Topics include:

- identifying campaign goals and targets
- building coalitions
- outreach and awareness strategies
- fundraising "beyond the bake sale"
- social media engagement
- talking to decision-makers
- leadership development

While learning these skills, you will have the chance to plan a real-world campaign on an issue of your choosing, against a problem that you have identified in your community. If you want to make a difference in the world, this session will help you get started!


Prerequisites
Please come with a local or global issue in mind that you would like to solve!

Being different is a blessing. Here's another lesson: as long as you are yourself you'll be happy. My attempt with this class will be to help you understand the importance and value of your personal self. Most importantly, I'll help you to learn how to create your own path and to listen to your inner voice. It'll be a fun and inspirational experience.
-Self changes, and you follow-

This class is going to teach kids:

a) how to research scholarships

b) how to get a savings account

c) how to get a credit card

d) how to maintain a good credit score

e) how to pick the right major

We can get more focused later

While college is an important experience for many students, what comes after college is equally important. You spend 4 years in college, but probably 40 years after that in a career. It's never too early to plan for something you will spend a life time doing!


Prerequisites
A positive attitude and a big smile

Are you nervous about college applications? Sure you are. Isn't everyone? But we've been through them already, and we think we did alright, so if you'd like to pick our brains for advice or simply listen to us talk about what we think will help you, come talk to us.

What makes humans happy? Don't we all do whatever we think makes us happy? Yes, and we're often wrong. So then how do we get this most important of questions right?

We will explore the big ideas on how to be awesome at life, from ancient Greece to the latest neuroscience. Hear about the best things thought and said about how to flourish as a person and live the Happy life.


Prerequisites
This class draws from many of my other lectures. You will have a better foundation if you've taken them, but can still attend if you haven't.

You will learn to use mindfulness and empathy to communicate honestly and non-violently.

Whether you’re a special agent, a president, a student, or a new driver trying to remember to turn off the car lights *cough* ‘me’ *cough*, a powerful memory is critical for success. Come learn what memory is and how to train yourself to become better at memorizing.

WARNING: Class includes epic memory games and extreme mental strain. Come at your own risk.


Prerequisites
You are required to have failed to effectively memorize something in the past.

Thinking with your feet. How is that possible? Come have fun solving challenges with your new skills.


Prerequisites
Open mind, big smile and your thinking feet

The world needs great leaders to tackle its biggest problems… and that starts with YOU! Although women are underrepresented in today's leadership ranks, this class will inspire and teach you how to position yourself as a leader in high school, college, and beyond. Come learn about relevant leadership skills such as effective negotiation and clear communication that will help you excel in a variety of academic, personal, and professional situations. More importantly you will also learn how to put these skills into practice starting today --including securing dream mentors, finding internships, navigating the college application process, and getting on the right trajectory for career achievement early on. The instructors for this class feature women from the Stanford community who have extensive experience leading and making innovative contributions to their fields. They also have a passion for helping students achieve their leadership potential, which you can learn more about at www.missceo.org.

An introduction to basic design principles through preparing pizza and creating an experience around enjoying it.

Do you struggle with tests that require lots of memorization? Wish you could remember lots of vocabulary for English and other languages? Want to wow your peers with incredible feats of memory?
Come to this class to start learning some basic yet useful memory techniques that I wish I had known about in grade school.


Prerequisites
A desire to learn something new and a willingness to believe you have a good memory.

You will learn how to handle upsetting or overwhelming conversations by communicating for collaboration.

Let’s brainstorm to design a satisfying and sustainable life. We'll have group discussion of values, choices and results. We'll explore the intersection of satisfaction, sustainability, consumption and community. People increasingly view themselves as "consumers". What other roles can we take in meeting our needs? Let's explore the balance of many possible roles in our lives and how they can add satisfaction and promote sustainability

Have you ever asked yourself, “What does it mean to be happy? What is compassion? How do I lead a meaningful life? How can I stress less?" If you answered yes to one or all of those questions, this class is just for you!

I know, I know, it sounds like one of those TV advertisements about a new product, but fear not, in this course, we will explore the good, the bad and the ugly sides of stress from a scientific standpoint, we will learn about what compassion and self-compassion are and how we can practice it in our daily lives, and finally, we will look at other aspects of well-being, from gratitude to mindfulness. By the time class is over, you will have a quiver full of strategies to increase your happiness and decrease cortisol levels.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites, just an open mind and a willingness to really participate (hugs included):) Note: This course is meant to be interactive, and partner to partner participation will enhance the course dynamic.

Nutrition Label reading + Introduction to Chi Quong exercise
Come and learn what you are eating!!
We will explore label reading on packaged foods - fresh, frozen, canned, as a meal, desserts, cereals and more.
There will be samples and hands on practice. At the end, let’s have some fun and strength a little. There will be a short but fun session on introduction to Chi Quong for health and everyday exercise. It is simple and easy to do.


Prerequisites
None

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.

In this class, students will learn from an Attorney, about modern computer security, privacy and relevant legal issues.

Some key tools used to secure our use of computers, mobile devices and modern media connected to the internet will be shared along with privacy tools for social media in the era of the internet of things.

Cybersecurity is a key topic in the news and will be discussed from a users perspective.

Use of websites and social media is common. Not so common is a users understanding of terms and conditions, privacy and security policies. Key examples will be provided.

Students will take away implementable methods and education about key legal issues presenting themselves in this growing field of information technology.

No legal advice is provided in this class. No confidential information should be provided in class as nothing will be treated as confidential. Very basic knowledge of computers/internet is required and no prior knowledge of the law of this area is assumed.


Prerequisites
None

How do computers talk together? How do they do it efficiently? How do you do it when it becomes really hard? How about when you're talking to something that's out of our Solar System?

We will analyse how we can encode and decode binary information, transmit it over a channel, and detect and correct for errors.

Ever wondered what is the biggest number? That's easy! There's no biggest number! But the notion of infinity is more than meets the eye.

In this course, we will attempt to answer questions such as: What do we really mean when we say there are infinitely many natural numbers? How did we arrive at our present understanding of infinity? Are there different kinds of infinities?

The infinite has preoccupied mathematicians and philosophers of centuries past. Come learn more about this fascinating topic!


Prerequisites
Familiarity with algebra, comfort with basic mathematical proofs.

Bzip2 uses state-of-the-art algorithms to compress files. Empirically it does a better job than almost any other compression scheme out there. How does it work?

The answer is surprisingly simple and awesomely cool.


Prerequisites
Enthusiasm for algorithms

How did we come up with the modern number systems? What are the important characteristics of the modern numbers that make them different from pre-historic ideas about numbers? Join us for a fascinating tour of the modern number system beginning from the pre-historic tally counting to the modern decimal systems. We will look at Mesopotamian, Egyptian,Greek, Roman, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and Mayan number systems and the emergence of the current system that we use.

Solving real life problems using probabilities.


Prerequisites
Basic algebra and fractions

In this course, you'll explore (and hack!) combinations of codes used by ancient and modern military forces during wars.

Send secure messages to your friends, in such a way that I can't possibly figure out the message you are sending.

We will do some exercises to demonstrate various real-life cryptographic systems. Though these concepts are heavily used in modern day security, they are also very simple to implement, and can be done with paper, pen, and calculator, as we shall do.

We will cover:
- One Time Pads
- Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
- ElGamel Public Key Encryption
- RSA Public Key Encryption

Everyone knows that soap bubbles are spherical, but have you ever wondered why? Come explore the exciting and beautiful connections between soap bubbles and mathematical optimization! Turns out, bubbles assume the shape of least surface area possible to contain a given volume. We will take advantage of this property and apply it to ideas such as the traveling salesman problem and finding the minimal surface area required to span vertices of polyhedra. Come ready to get your hands wet as we build a variety of 3D shapes and observe the surprising results when we dip them in bubble solution.


Prerequisites
Willingness to engage in mathematical play! Some knowledge of high school geometry is helpful, but not required.

Ever wanted to build your own website? Ever wanted to easily advertise for something? Ever wanted to create a business? Ever wanted to show off? You're going to need to build a website to do all that!

Come learn about the exciting math we can do with origami, folding, unfolding, cutting, and taping. Even learn about some problems mathematicians and computer scientists can't answer!

Suppose you have billions of books, and someone asks you for all the pages containing the word “eggplant”, sorted by the quality of the books according to the world’s eggplant experts. How long would it take you to deliver the results? If you answered longer than 300 milliseconds, then you have something to learn from Google. It takes a human longer than that to even read—let alone to answer—such a question. In that time, Google actually fulfills thousands of such requests.

Their process is brilliant: conceptually simple but technically complex, and in this fast paced tour, we’ll zoom through the basics of both, covering:
- PageRank
- Inverted Indices
- TFIDF
- Text alignment
- Language modeling
and more…

We’ll end by discussing some limitations of the Google approach to Search and Translation and hinting at next steps in both fields…

Mathematics is incredibly consistent -- there are often many different ways to prove the same mathematical idea, each being equally valid. Yet when we reach contradictory results, such as "1 = 0", this consistency seems to break down. (But does it really?)

In this class we will explore various "proofs" of mathematical absurdities, challenging the consistency of mathematics and logic. Instead of dismissing the entire field of mathematics, we resolve apparent inconsistencies by identifying the hidden fallacies in these "proofs."


Prerequisites
Enthusiasm in mathematics; basic understanding of complex numbers, differentiation, integration, and (if time permits) proof by induction.

Anyone who’s seen an episode of Madmen knows that marketing is about tailored suits, clever slogans, and the manipulation of masses. The reality is a little less glamorous but tons more interesting: we modern marketers are just a bunch of data geeks, and Marketing is at the heart of every business.

Come learn about how this unique function blends science and innovation to create differentiated products, predictive market modeling, and digital campaigns. We’ll discuss key concept and real-world examples in a highly interactive session — so come armed with questions!

We will cover basic principles of game AI before designing an AI as a class! The discussion will not cover mathematical/implementation details, so don't worry if you feel that your math is a bit shaky or if you don't have programming experience yet!

An introduction to the mathematical analysis of baseball. Find out how people evaluate players, predict outcomes, and come up with statistics like BABIP, wRC+, and WAR while learning important principles in statistics and probability theory.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with the rules of baseball and basic baseball terminology required. Basic probability and statistics knowledge is helpful, but not required.

The probabilistic method is one of the most powerful and popular techniques in combinatorics. This is in part because of the big role that randomness is playing in statistical physics and theoretical computer science. But, the probabilistic method has also been successful at proving results that mathematicians have had a lot of trouble proving by other means.

Come learn about a clever and powerful mathematical idea!


Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with high school algebra, and the basics of combinatorics (e.g. what a binomial coefficient is) and probability (e.g. what expected value means).

We'll spend the class solving the following logic puzzle:

You have a balance with two sides; it can determine which of the two sides is heavier.

You also have some coins, and one of them is slightly lighter or heavier than the rest.

How many times do you need to use the balance to find the defective coin?


Prerequisites
You like solving logic puzzles

The pigeonhole principle, in its namesake form, states that if you have $n$ pigeons trying to fit into $m < n$ holes, then at least two pigeons must be put into the same hole. While this is a simple idea, the pigeonhole principle is actually a very powerful mathematical tool that we can use to find surprisingly simple solutions to seemingly complex problems. We will go over a few examples of the pigeonhole principle together, and then we will spend the rest of the time in groups working on progressively harder problems. This class should be fun as long as you are interested in math, puzzles, and logic. This class is a must for those interested in math contests!


Prerequisites
While we won't be relying on a lot of standard school math, having good problem solving / critical thinking skills will make this class more enjoyable. As long as you are curious, though, most of this class should be accessible to you.

Living in a time when mathematics, science and philosophy were not separate disciplines, Thales of Miletus is reputed to be the earliest philosopher in the Western intellectual tradition. From creatively determining the distance of a ship from the seashore, to calculating the height of the Great Pyramid using a simple stick; from predicting a solar eclipse to arguing that water is the origin of everything; from being an absent-minded stargazer who fell into a well, to being a practical-minded merchant who made a good profit, we will look at the limited and uncertain historical sources that we have about this earliest philosopher who is reputed to have introduced the notion of 'proof' in mathematics.

Ever wondered how red and yellow makes orange, and what happens when you put Instagram filters on your photos?

This class will be focused on color theory and how photo filters such as color tinting and vignetting are mathematically constructed. We will first explore how color can be represented and created both in the physical and the digital world, and then talk about how we can construct simple mathematical models to make image filters!


Prerequisites
Interest in hands-on exploration, no mathematical background required (and encouraged!)

Pretty much anything important in life—the stability of the Golden Gate bridge, the quality of a compressed image, the edibility of a vegan ice cream, your happiness, or the likelihood of winning the lottery on your birthday—can be modeled as a mathematical function of one (or many more!) variables. Say we want to optimize of one of these functions. Easy, you say—set the derivative to zero! Duh. But what if we don't even have an formula for the function? What if our function lives in multi-dimensional space and checking every single point where the derivative is zero would take eons? What if all you have to guess what the function is, is a pile of super noisy data? What if the derivative isn't even computable?

What your calculus teachers have been hiding from you is that there exists an elegant framework for minimizing or maximizing functions, even when we can't describe what the function or its derivative looks like (or if it even has a derivative). In the age of big data, that's all you need to solve problems from 3D protein folding and predicting the next stock-market crash, to filling in a damaged image or audio clip and designing a machine learning model for identifying faces. We'll show you the secrets of this magical optimization framework, and peer into the world of how to apply them to these awesome problems.

Core ideas: theory of mathematical optimization, optimization algorithms, machine learning, big data, and applications to science and engineering.


Prerequisites
Derivatives. Matrices are a plus, but so are you, so don't sweat it if you don't know them.

Meteor makes building reactive and data rich web apps simple and quick. It is a full stack JavaScript framework, so learn both the client and backend once.

Do not just take my word, watch some screencasts and see what I mean at Meteor.com


Prerequisites
Wants to learn how to build apps

Every wondered what exactly people mean by the "fourth dimension"? Have you ever been skeptical of those who say it's impossible to visualize anything beyond three dimensions? Bollox! I say it absolutely is possible for humans to visualize higher dimensions, and while I believe it takes longer than one short class to do so, I can at least explain how you might start.

We will first go over the basics of what the fourth dimensions is, then I will devote most of the class time to going through a series of visualizations for various four dimensional shapes and figures. If you enjoy any one of math, philosophy, pretty pictures, or having your mind twisted in a knot, this class is for you.


Prerequisites
None!

Ever wanted to learn to program but didn't know where to start? In this class we'll break down how to find the resources you need to become proficient at programming (as long as you have your willingness to learn!). We'll briefly introduce key languages such as R, Python, Java, and C, and also discuss the role of Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in delivering high quality instruction in a number of topics to boost the skills of programmers at any level.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites; however laptops are recommended if you want to follow along with the demos. Step by step instructions will be handed out to recreate the class at home.

From student loans and mortgages to the financial system, we see the use of interest rates everywhere. Wonder how the idea of charging interest started in the ancient world? Beginning from Hammurabi's code, we trace the evolution of interest rates in Greek, Roman and Christian world. How is the mysterious number e connected to something as practical as interest rates? You will learn about all this in this "interest"-ing class.

The sequel to the popular How To Make a Video Game class!

Want to take your video game design skills to the next level? Do you want to improve your coding skills? Do you dream of designing and building your own video game from the ground up? Then this is the class for you.

In this course you will build your own 3D video game using the Unity engine. Along the way, you will learn new programming techniques, level design, and game design.


Prerequisites
Must have some familiarity with a programming language. Familiarity with basic technical video game tools will be helpful (game engines, editors, IDEs, modeling, etc.) It's not necessary to have taken the beginner course first, but it may be helpful to have done so.

What is so special about a triangle? Are circles useful? Do proofs have to be so difficult and boring? And what does "power of a point" REALLY mean, anyway?

This class will address questions such as these by offering an interesting and easy-to-understand introduction to selected topics within plane geometry. It will emphasize basic principles and techniques of mathematical proof as a means of affirming visual intuition and uncovering surprising and beautiful truths.


Prerequisites
A little familiarity with the basic concepts of geometry and a healthy combination of curiosity and skepticism for the subject.

Ever wondered how animated films such as Pixar and Dreamworks movies were created?

This class will start with a brief exploration of ways to represent 3D models in computers. We will then look at a few different methods to color and shade these models, and delve briefly into the mathematics behind it.
We will then decompose still scenes from a Pixar movie to gain some insight into the intricate work that goes on in animation studios!

Other topics such as character animation, texturing, and water caustics can also be talked about in class depending on students' interests.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with trigonometry, as well as fundamental geometry and algebra

Data science has become a popular term in silicon valley. Come to learn how you can analyze large sets of data with tools you currently use (e.g., microsoft excel, microsoft access) and slightly more sophisticated tools (e.g., python, SQL). We will run through real world examples of data sets you can access and what you can do with these data sets - look for stock correlations in finance, review insurance transactions for fraudulent patterns, understand the spread of ebola.


Prerequisites
Please bring a laptop if possible to follow along.

Does your computer follow your instructions, or does it take orders from Apple or Microsoft?

The big software companies sell apps that are black boxes. You can't see the code, and you're not allowed to change it. They have the power to control what your computer does. That can lead to unwanted restrictions and invasions of privacy.

The alternative is free software, developed by people who share the source code for everyone to use. Free software is what powers most of the web, but most people run non-free code on their PCs and smartphones.

We'll talk about important free software projects like Linux, GNU, and Firefox, and we'll look at free alternatives to things like Microsoft Office, Gmail, Facebook, and the iPhone.

You'll see how much control the big tech companies have, and how to escape!

If you've never written a program before then Python is the place to start. We'll cover the fundamentals of Python programming, simple games like tic-tac-toe or hangman, and maybe even a simple website.

With the ever-increasing demand for programming in all professions, the skills and concepts we cover may beneficial you in the future.

This class is ideal for students who have never programmed before.

Beginning with the simple equation 1+1=2, we will build up Pascal's triangle and explore its unique properties. We will learn the basic methods of counting and have a lot of fun recognizing patterns with some clever thinking. Serves to introduce students to the field of combinatorics.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with exponents, factorials, and multiplying polynomials (think "FOIL"). General curiosity for learning a bit of math outside of the school curriculum.

Crypto isn't just for computers! In this class, we'll try to tell each other secrets while our classmate (and nemesis) Eve listens in.

We have all heard of the Pythagorean Theorem, named after the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. But the Pythagorean Theorem was not discovered by Pythagoras. And it would be more accurate to look at Pythagoras as the founder of a religious community than as a mathematician.

In this class, we will look at the life and times of Pythagoras, one of the most enigmatic figures in history. We will look at his travels, his struggle to find students, and his subsequent rise to fame as the divine founder of a secretive religious community, that embraced mathematics as a core part of its religion, along with music, reincarnation and abstention from meat-eating. We will look at the relationship between music and mathematics that Pythagoras supposedly uncovered, his creation myth in which everything arises from number, and his influence on the scientific revolution much later. We will see how the discovery of irrationals shattered the worldview of the Pythagoreans, and we'll look at a possible proof of the Pythagorean Theorem that Pythagoras (or one of his followers) might have originally come up with.

Note: Though not required, we would recommend that you also enroll for Great Mathematicians: Thales if you're taking this course.