Splash Spring 2023
Course Catalog

Computer vision is an exciting field that is changing the world we live in. It has numerous applications, from self-driving cars to facial recognition systems. In this course, we will explore non-machine learning forms of computer vision that are still widely used today.

We will start by introducing the basics of image processing, including image transforms, image enhancements, and template matching. We will then move on to non-machine learning approaches to computer vision, such as edge detection using the Canny algorithm, and image filtering using techniques like Gaussian blur and median filtering. We will also cover image segmentation techniques, including thresholding and region growing.

By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of non-machine learning forms of computer vision and will have developed the skills to apply these techniques to real-world problems.

This course is ideal for students who have some programming experience, particularly in Python, but no prior knowledge of computer vision is required. Students should be comfortable with basic linear algebra and calculus concepts.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
Basic calculus (AP Calc AB), some knowledge of Python.

Why is it that machine learning models can beat chess grandmasters, and yet not a single robot can reliably pour water between two arbitrary cups? The challenges behind machine learning can be pretty counterintuitive. As it turns out, we can learn a lot from what animal trainers struggle with!
In this interactive class, you will become the trainer and try to train your classmates (and the instructor)! We will use these exercises, as well as stories from the wet n’ wild world of orca trainers, to formulate the key challenges of machine learning. Some examples include exploitation vs. exploration, distribution shift, and causality. These challenges continue to influence cutting-edge robotics research at Stanford.
Ultimately, after this class, my hope is that you will have a newfound appreciation for the bidirectionality of engineering. Nature inspires new designs, but these new designs can also lead to a better understanding of nature.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Simple algebra

Fashion and engineering may seem like two different worlds, but they are closely connected in many ways. Engineers use their knowledge to help fashion designers create new fabrics and clothing that are both functional and fashionable, while fashion can inspire engineers to create new technologies and devices that enhance the functionality and aesthetics of clothing. By exploring the intersection of these two fields, we can discover exciting new ways to create sustainable and innovative clothing that meets the needs of people and the planet. No previous knowledge of either fashion or engineering is assumed.


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever wondered what gives popping boba such a fun texture? Now you have the chance to learn the science behind the delicious spheres at the bottom of your tea! We will conduct hands-on activities exploring how to make popping boba from polymers (large molecules), with the chance to eat your creations at the end. Come learn how polymers in solution can link together to form surprisingly spherical gels!


Class Style
Activity

Do you want to learn how architects, engineers, and contractors work together to build the structures that surround us today? Take this course! We'll work together to design and build models of structures, mimicking the traditional design process. Each student will have the opportunity to take on the role of an owner, architect, engineer, and construction manager while working together with other students to define and complete an infrastructure design project.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
none

In this class, you will learn about electricity and sound! We will discuss how electric signals get magically converted into sound waves in a speaker. And the best part, we will build our own speaker!


Class Style
Activity

In this course, we will get the chance to explore a new and interesting scientific field in which you can not only combine the brain with your surrounding world but can also control it. Just imagine controlling the robot or car or drone only with your imagination. Isn't it cool? So come and join this course to see how it’s possible. Also, together we will discuss how can we use this technology for the betterment of our society. Who knows, maybe you will be the next future leading scientist in this field. So let's meet and delve into the brain-computer interface technology.


Class Style
Discussion

This course will explore Materials Science Engineering and Nanotechnology concepts using one of the coolest chemicals on campus- liquid nitrogen! Students should come prepared for several interactive science demos as we explore what it means to be a Materials Scientist, how engineers design and create new materials atom by atom, and what happens when you freeze materials to very, very, very cold temperatures.


Class Style
Activity

Come learn some basic origami!


Class Style
Activity

Feeling blue? Well then do I have the class for you! Come explore the intersection between art and science in this fun workshop where we will channel the powers of chemistry and physics to create exciting photograms. Each student will have the opportunity to make two to four art prints. Come prepared to be under the sun and have some very blue fun.


Class Style
Activity

Amigurumi, as defined by Wikipedia, is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. Come learn how to crochet a small plushie! No experience needed!


Class Style
Activity

Want to take photos like NASA? You've come to the right place! In this class, you will learn the basics of astrophotography – the art of taking pictures of space objects like galaxies, nebulae, and planets.

We will discuss the entire process, from picking a target to processing the final image. Topics covered include telescopes, general astronomy, manual camera settings, tips for taking night-time photos, image processing, and more!


Class Style
Lecture

In this course, you'll learn the basics of crochet and will be taught to make a simple granny square!


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever felt unheard or ignored on the basis of who you are? More subtly, have you ever felt like you didn't have the words to express yourself or describe your experiences. In this class, we'll discuss how philosophy, specifically feminism and the field of "epistemology", can help us understand why these issues arise, the issues of justice related to them, and how to fight them. In this class we'll learn about the concept of epistemic injustice, especially testimonial and hermeneutical injustice.


Class Style
Discussion

Are you fascinated by the way we make decisions, both as individuals and as a society? Are you curious about how voting works in the US and beyond? In this engaging and interactive class, you'll discover the secrets of voting theory and how it can help you become a better decision-maker.

Next, we'll delve into the basics of Voting Theory, including the different voting methods and criteria that are used to evaluate them.

We'll explore these topics interactively, both through in-person and coding simulations to dive into how these systems work - and what could go wrong.


Class Style
Seminar

Taught by experienced, licensed therapists, this class was designed for those looking to make personal development a priority and take a proactive stance to get mentally strong – and by strong, we mean, healthier, calmer, and in more control over one’s own life. Anxiety, depression and stress are on the rise. Therefore, it is our duty to develop the mindset and skills necessary to manage our mental health and cultivate resilience.

Just as we go to the gym and exercise to get stronger, mental strength involves developing daily habits that builds on mental muscles. Much like seeing physical gains from lifting weights and eating healthier, we develop healthy mental habits, like practicing delayed gratification, gratitude, and patience, some of which we will touch on in this class.

Mental strength involves developing daily habits that build a stronger mind. It also involves giving up habits that no longer serve us or are holding us back.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
None

Workshop/ political education training around building collective radical imagination and visions for the future through the lens of housing justice


Class Style
Activity

Justice, as we use the term in this class, is a question about social cooperation. People can produce much more cooperatively than the sum of what they could produce as individuals, and these gains from cooperation are what makes civilization possible. But on what terms should we cooperate? How should we divide, as the philosopher John Rawls puts it, "the benefits and burdens of social cooperation"? Working primarily within the Anglo-American philosophical tradition, we'll discuss different answers to this big question as a way to bring together some of the most prominent debates in modern political philosophy. No experience with political science or philosophy is required or assumed, and we will spend time on the strategy of philosophy as well: understanding how our authors make their arguments to better respond to them and make our own.


Class Style
Lecture

What is nationalism? From white nationalism in the United States to anti-immigrant nationalism in France and civic nationalism in Singapore– nationalist parties have increased in popularity worldwide in recent years. A range of social, economic, and political factors influences these trends in nationalism. While nationalism can provide a sense of unity and pride for members of a particular nation or ethnic group, it can also lead to conflict and division, particularly when different national or ethnic groups are in competition for resources or political power. This course explores the origins and consequences of nationalism– using case studies from various regions of the world.


Class Style
Discussion

A structural engineer and screenwriter team up to explore world building creatively and practically.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
None

If you know a language well, great! If you know two or more languages, even better! Explore how translation goes beyond throwing words in Google Translate. How do we preserve meaning, length, style and even rhythm and culture in the original language? What are the different school of thoughts and techniques people use regards to translation?
I will give some lectures at the beginning to give some context, then we would do some activities together in class! Examples and demos will be given in languages I know the best: English, Mandarin, Vietnamese and a tiny bit of Japanese. Therefore, I'm excited to hear how you apply and incorporate different translation techniques for different languages too!


Class Style
Seminar

t's easy to get caught up in perfectionism in art, constantly erasing and redrawing until you're not quite sure what you started with. In this class we're letting go of that! Here, you will practice drawing for fun with no erasers allowed. You will also learn why doodling not only helps you relax, but also has many positive effects on the brain!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Some drawing experience or interest would be helpful but not necessary

Antisemitism, defined as hatred towards Jewish people, has been a form of hatred for millennia. In 2022 alone, antisemitic incidents in America have raised by a shocking thirty-six percent. Even closer to home -- on Stanford's campus -- over fifty percent of the school year's identity-based crimes were antisemitic. Where is this hatred coming from? Why is it rising? And how can we be more informed to stop it? Learn the roots of misinformation and stereotypes, modern examples you have certainly seen, and tools to combat antisemitism in the future. This class welcomes students of all backgrounds looking to be more informed on this issue!


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever had the opportunity to design your own digital exhibit? In this class, you will have the opportunity to showcase yourself through a museum experience in virtual reality (VR). Join this class to learn about the affordances and challenges of using VR as a vehicle for social connection.


Class Style
Activity

We are mortal beings, and this experience of being mortal is a central part of what it is to be human. In this course, we'll discuss various ways human beings have thought about living and dying using literary and philosophical texts. This course is an opportunity to explore serious topics like the loss of our loved ones and the meaning of life in a warm and open space. As we discuss these important and often difficult topics, we will make sure the classroom space is welcoming and respectful to all students.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Please send a (short) paragraph to zlanter@stanford.edu describing your interest in the course and any books, poems, music, or other media that you have found meaningful in your experience of mortality and loss. We will use these paragraphs to prepare a more meaningful experience for the students.

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.

If $$f$$ is a polynomial over the complex numbers, then a root of $$f$$ is a complex number $$z$$ such that $$f(z) = 0$$. We prove that every non-constant polynomial over the complex numbers has at least one root.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Calculus

In this class, we'll cover clever arguments in the field of combinatorics: that is, the math of counting. Mathematics can often seem like a subject whose focus is equations and symbolic manipulation, but in truth the most powerful tools are intuitive ones: visual representations, symmetry, and turning our problems into stories. To illustrate this idea, we'll spend our time together learning about the Catalan numbers, a famous sequence which appears everywhere there are things to be counted!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Knowledge of combinations and permutations.

In most economic settings, prices are what determine who gets what. Yet in other settings, it is difficult for prices to come into play. For instance, consider the problem of matching high school students to universities or people to marriage partners. Yet in both these settings, individuals have preferences over outcomes. This course will analyze the economics of matching and introduce students to the theory behind the deferred acceptance matching algorithm.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Some familiarity with rigorous, logical reasoning. Experience with mathematical proofs will help, but is not required.

Don't you wish you were an early investor in Apple, Nike, or Tesla? What would be your net worth now? This intro class will explore how to use mathematics and probability of using the stock market to your advantage!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
None! Just be excited!

In the U.S., we pay a lot for healthcare: in fact, we have the highest healthcare spending in the world, but arguably worse outcomes than our developed partners. Given resource constraints, governments must decide what sicknesses and populations to prioritize when designing their healthcare systems. In this class, we’ll dive into the mechanics of creating a healthcare system and investigate who pays for healthcare, where money is invested, and how health policy intersects with innovation in the medtech space.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
None! Recommended: basic understanding of economics (like supply and demand), but it's not necessary.

Do you have trouble fitting yourself into categories? Or just curious how other kinds of thinkers approach problems? In this class, we'll learn how different disciplines tackle the same problem (climate change). How would a physicist, political scientist, creative writer(ist), computer scientist, etc. think about this?


Class Style
Lecture

A collection of my own and my friends' experience in getting to and through higher education from... humble neighborhoods.

General stories, life advice, survey of resources.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
Intended for students who are unsure of how to succeed beyond doing homework and not getting suspended.

Everyday on the evening news, you hear about rising crime. How do we approach this issue? Should we increase police controls citywide or should we explore alternative justice models? Work with your peers to design policies to address rising crime locally.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
None; Content warning: we will be talking about violence and drugs.

As an educator, I want to teach students important and appropriate knowledge about sexual health so they can make the best decisions for themselves.

ALL genders and sexual identities are welcomed and will be respected.

The learning outcomes for this course would be: By the end of this course, students will be able to...
- fact-check/debunk common misconceptions and myths about sexual health.
- recognize the importance of consent, both in sexual and non-sexual social contexts, and how to confirm whether consent is given and when it is not.
- Protective measures for sexual health, including the pros and cons of different birth controls (abstinence, hormonal birth control, condoms, etc.).
- Anonymous Q&A to address students' questions in a respectful, safe, and appropriate format.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Signed parental consent that their student/child may attend the class and understand that different topics about sexual health/education (as listed above) will be discussed.

Discover the secrets to creative thinking and innovation in our interactive course on idea generation tools. Learn how to use various techniques, like the Six Thinking Hats method to generate innovative business ideas.


Class Style
Discussion

We all love listening to music, but how closely are you listening?

If you've ever wondered why you can't get Pharrell's "Happy" out of your head, why Rodrigo's "Driver's License" feels so visceral, or why Bieber's music gets on your nerves, this is the class for you.

By the end of the class, you'll know how to apply the fundamentals of music theory to uncover the musical secrets of the songs that you know and love (or don't).


Class Style
Lecture

Everyone has heard of (or seen) optical illusions, but did you know there are illusions for all your other senses as well? In this class we'll experience illusions that target sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell while explaining the psychological phenomena behind them. Be prepared to have your realities warped as we explore illusions for the 5 senses in this interactive class.


Class Style
Lecture

How does global warming actually work? Do rattlesnakes have a seventh sense? Thermal radiation has origins in quantum mechanics, underpins the greenhouse effect, and allows motion sensors, satellites, and even some snakes to “see” temperature.
Come join us to find out how cool thermal radiation really is!


Class Style
Seminar

Nature produces energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. How can we engineer artificial systems to produce energy sustainably in a similar way?

After briefly describing how photosynthesis naturally occurs, we will present a few artificial systems showing possible solutions.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Having some background in chemistry (what is an electron, atom, molecule)

What is the nature of light? How and where does light go? We will explore how we can control light to achieve fascinating phenomena, using only a simple concept: refractive index. There will be videos and demonstrations. After this class, you will begin to see how everyday objects can manipulate light!


Class Style
Lecture

Black holes are so elusive and powerful, not even light can escape them. But if they're such mysterious objects, how do we even know they exist? How can we learn about their secret inner lives? Take this class to learn about Albert Einstein's universe, gravity fields, exploding dying stars, and anything you ever wanted to know about black holes :)


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
N/A

Have you ever wondered what you can do to activate change to make your community a healthier place for everyone? In this class, you will learn about citizen science and the community-level factors that impact health. You will also become a citizen scientist yourself using a cool app! Be part of a larger conversation of how technology can be used to make healthier, more engaged communities.


Class Style
Discussion

Science is seldom correct at first but has the remarkable ability to course-correct and reorient itself over time. We’ll take a look at a few examples to see how science has been led astray in the past and how the work of diligent scientists works to seal these cracks. In each case study, we’ll ask the question of why it occurred - from limited tools to individual deception to broader social forces. Some of the topics we will cover are the death of alchemy and the Schön scandal. You should hopefully walk away with an appreciation for the scientific community and a few good historical stories.


Class Style
Lecture

In this course, we will teach the basic biology of the Hepatitis B virus, discuss its significance as a public health disparity, and inspire participants to take action and raise awareness about this disease in their own communities!


Class Style
Lecture

Stop by to learn about issues in Asian-Pacific Islander health ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

Presented by members of Stanford Pre-Med APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association).


Class Style
Seminar

We will be discussing hard-hitting questions at the intersection of healthcare and ethics. Delving into various case studies in media, popular culture, and biomedical research, we will explore the importance of patient advocacy and autonomy in ensuring high-quality medical care. Come and learn what we owe to each other and why ethics is a key element in any discipline.

Disclaimer: We will be discussing heavy topics in healthcare, including potentially terminal illness and death.


Class Style
Seminar

Romance and relationships involve many factors: emotions, personalities, communication styles, and more. Using background from different psychology studies, we’ll examine how attraction develops, if it changes over time, and the key characteristics of healthy long-term relationships! No prior experience required, let’s dive into the world of romantic psychology!


Class Style
Lecture

Come learn chemical reactions by playing with molecules in our real-time interactive computer simulations using virtual reality headsets!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Have taken or enrolled in a high-school chemistry course. Basic understanding of atoms and bonds

What is quantum mechanics anyway, and do we think of it, and use it? This course goes over the fundamentals of quantum mechanics including the derivation of wave-particle duality for light and matter through the photoelectric effect, discussion of spin, and an introduction to the rules of quantum mechanics.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
A basic understanding of wave behaviour of light including interference effects.

How does the immune system recognize self vs. non-self? What is cancer immunotherapy? How do vaccines work? Why do some people have allergies or autoimmune disease? These are just some of the questions we will cover in this introduction to immunology course!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Basic understanding of biology is recommended (DNA, types of cells)

Have you ever watched a medical TV show and wondered just how the doctors figured out these super rare illnesses? Have you ever wanted to try and find them out yourself?
Well, now you can!
In House MD: Diagnosis of Rare Diseases on TV, we will be talking about the process of diagnosis of rare diseases. Students will be presented with different patient symptoms and use real world diagnostic skills to solve them, and learn the difference between the diagnostics on TV versus in the doctor's office.


Class Style
Seminar

How does your skin repair itself after a cut? How do immune cells crawl through your body to reach an infection? How does the increased stiffness of tumors contribute to cancer spreading?

These are just some of the questions that the growing field of mechanobiology tries to answer!

Come learn how cells push and pull on the soft and squishy tissues in our bodies, and how physical forces and material properties shape and influence our biology in important ways.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but previous classes in biology will be helpful

How can a cat be both dead and alive at the same time?

Though Schrodinger's cat-in-the-box experiment is seemingly unfounded, it is rooted in the fascinating field of quantum mechanics, which explores the universe at both atomic and subatomic levels.

Come learn about the intricacies of quantum measurement, the probabilistic nature of particles, and more as we take a deeper dive into the macroscopic (and freaky!) physics encapsulated by Schrodinger's cat, which also has incredibly enriching ties to chemistry. Be prepared to have your mind blown!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but knowledge of introductory physics and calculus will be helpful!

Basically everything around us is made up of the same things: protons, neutrons, electrons, and a whole lot of empty space. The only thing that can make things different is where they are and how many of each there are. We will look at how the arrangement and number of these fundamental particles leads to an astonishing range of properties. Why are iron and copper metals, but only iron a magnetic one? How do we predict what an unfamiliar material’s properties might be? By thinking through these questions together, we’ll take a peek into the thought processes that physicists and chemists use to explore solids.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Chemistry (non-AP totally fine) would be helpful, but all relevant concepts will be reviewed.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) searches the skies for the ghostly echos of black hole mergers and other cosmic cataclysms. The whispers from these events are so weak that LIGO has to use the quantum nature of light in order to have any hope of detecting them.

In this class we'll use a quantum computer to explore the quantum effects that make up the backbone of the LIGO laser interferometer. By understanding the universality of quantum behavior at the world's smallest length scales, we open windows into phenomena at the universe's largest scales.


Class Style
Seminar