Splash Fall 2020
Course Catalog

When the general public thinks of yeast, fungi, and bacteria, there is a general feeling of unease. They are dirty; they are gross. Or, people associate these organisms with food. However, while unsettling to some and tasty to others, yeast, fungi, and bacteria have been a rich source of medicinally important natural products for the past century. There have been numerous U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs derived from these organisms, helping patients treat infections, lower cholesterol, and more. Can we discover more natural products that fight cancers, delay Alzheimer’s, or prevent heart disease? Additionally, these organisms have recently been utilized as “green factories.” Can these organisms be used to create fuels, biodegradable products, or alternative forms of meat? This course will provide an overview of current research using biology and chemistry to not only discover and develop new medicines but also to find alternative ways to create products we use every day. Join me as we go treasure hunting in some of the underappreciated parts of the natural world!


Class Style
Seminar

Workshop based class in which students learn the basics of HTML/CSS and create a website using the skills that they have learned. Chromebooks will be provided.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Bring a laptop if you are able to

Come learn how to do Rocket Science™, then build and launch your own bottle rocket with the Stanford Student Space Initiative!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
None!

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 exciting demonstrations and Q&A with Materials Science Graduate Students. Emphasis on exciting demonstrations, not a boring lecture! We'll experience first-hand how liquid metals can catastrophically destroy structural materials in applications like space exploration and aerospace. We'll explore how many materials can change dramatically with changes in structure, temperature, and other conditions. We’re happy to bring our demonstrations to you virtually! You'll walk away from this class with greater knowledge of the atomic structure of materials and a deeper appreciation for the diverse properties of the materials that surround our everyday life.


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever wondered about why Americans celebrate Halloween? Do you spend your time watching episode after episode of Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural? Then this is the course for you! In this class, we will learn about the history of ghosts in American culture. Be ready to be spooked!


Class Style
Lecture

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.

What's the longest sentence you can come up with? What if that sentence only had one word? How do you know the sentence is grammatically correct?

And what does all this have to do with fractals?

In our class, you'll learn the one simple concept that explains how our minds represent language, how computers solve complex problems, and how you can draw realistic trees that will blow away your artistic friends. No experience required -- if you enjoy friendly mathematical banter and aesthetically pleasing diagrams, this class is for you!


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
None!

In this class, we'll explore the field of UX/ UI design. What is UX/ UI? Why does it matter? What can you do with it? You'll also learn to design a mobile application yourself!


Class Style
Activity

Take a dive into one of the most exciting subfields of computer science, the Theory of Computation! In this class, you'll be introduced to the tip of the iceberg of theory--that is, regular languages and their computational models. What's a regular language? What are its computational models? Come on over to class to find out!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
An open mind, a penchant for cool and interesting theories

Ever tried working out in your bedroom? Did you hit yourself on the wall or crash into your bed? Did your parents complain about the thumping when you tried to do jumping jacks? Quarantine workouts aren't ideal when you don't have the space or the motivation. But wait, there's a solution. Enter Pilates, a chill, bedroom-friendly way for you to keep active and take a break from the stress of online school. All you need is a yoga mat (or yoga mat sized space), a water bottle and a small towel, and you're ready to start on your Pilates journey!


Class Style
Activity

A monologue workshop for anyone interested in acting for theatre or film! Ideal for grades 10-12 and for serious actors. If you are in grades 8 or 9 and would like to join the class please email me at skya@stanford.edu.
Actors must prepare a 1 minute monologue which we will break down and work on together. Memorization is optional.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Please prepare a 1 minute monologue!

Will be held via Zoom. For advanced classical pianists, any standard classical repertoire acceptable. If you are interested in performing, please email ophirh10@stanford.edu with your repertoire choice. If you would like to sit in to listen, just sign up for the class here!


Class Style
Seminar