Splash Spring 2024
Course Catalog

Dive into the cutting-edge world where art meets artificial intelligence in "Can GenAI Be the Next Vincent van Gogh?" This course is designed for students in grades 8-12 who are interested in exploring the intersections between technology, art, and humanity.

Throughout this course, students will engage with the basics of generative AI technologies and how they are used to create new forms of visual art. By applying these tools to their own artworks, participants will not only enhance their understanding of digital art creation but also explore the broader implications of AI in the art world.


Class Style
Activity

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.

R is a programming language commonly used to analyze biological data and perform statistical analyses. This interactive class will act as a crash course for students looking to learn the basics of R for data analysis. Students will work through a modular and flexible code notebook to analyze real data from a study of the human gut microbiome, along the way learning to handle common R tidyverse objects like dataframes and generate plots using ggplot2. The code notebook will also include more challenging exercises for students with prior R experience.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Basic experience with programming is preferred but not required, no experience with R necessary. Students should bring their own laptops capable of installing and running R. Students should install R and RStudio (https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/) before class.

Curious about how websites work and interested in learning how to keep them safe? Join us for an exciting web security workshop! In this session, we'll uncover the basics of web security in a fun and interactive way.

Discover real-world hacking stories as we delve into the fascinating world of web vulnerabilities. You'll even get the chance to become a hacker (the ethical kind!) by exploring and hacking into a cool, cat-themed website built just for this workshop.

No prior programming or hacking experience is required—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm to learn how to make the web a safer place for everyone!


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Students should bring a computer with a web browser (Chrome or Firefox) installed. Programming background is helpful but not required.

Have you ever played a game and wondered how the developer(s) created it? From the smooth move-and-jump physics of Cuphead to the animated slam of a card onto a table in Hearthstone—this class aims to demystify the gaming process that players (like you and I) typically take for granted.

Throughout this course, we will explore the Unity Engine, which has played a part in many signature titles (in addition to those mentioned above!), like Among Us, Hollow Knight, Genshin Impact, Pokemon Go, Beat Saber, and many more. We will break down Unity’s seemingly complicated user interface and get a taste of scripting in the C# programming language to interact with objects in our game. We will also work with pixel art, utilizing the Piskel website to create digital assets to import into these games!

NOTE: Enrolled students MUST download the Unity Hub (https://unity.com/download) and install a version of the Unity Engine within the Hub *before class* if they would like to participate in programming! (Otherwise, more time may be allocated to art/ideation.)


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
If a student wants to participate in Unity development/C# coding, they should have a computer that can download software (specifically, the Unity Hub and Unity Engine) with around 2GB of free storage to accommodate this. Previous background in any programming language (Scratch, Python, Lua, Java, C, etc.) is helpful but not required.

In this cutting-edge course on AI for Scientific Discovery, students will explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in accelerating scientific breakthroughs. The curriculum will delve into key topics such as active learning, a paradigm that enables AI systems to intelligently query and learn from strategically selected data points. Additionally, students will gain expertise in Bayesian optimization, a powerful technique for efficiently searching complex parameter spaces to identify optimal experimental conditions. The course will also cover the principles of design of experiments (DoE), empowering students to create efficient and informative experimental plans. Lastly, we will investigate the emerging role of large language models (LLMs) in scientific research, from automating literature reviews to generating hypotheses and aiding in data interpretation. Through hands-on projects and case studies, students will develop practical skills in applying these AI techniques to real-world scientific challenges, positioning themselves at the forefront of this transformative field.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Basic understanding of statistics and programming in python would be a plus, but don't worry if you don't have a background in these fields.

Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more integrated in our daily interaction with digital technology, such as face recognition and content recommendation, Do you wonder how they work? If so, this course is for you! In this course, we will go behind the scene and dive into the foundamental ideas behind the creation of intelligent systems. But instead of going through a bunch of algorithms that a typical university course would, we will start from scratch and derive “intelligence” ourselves.

There will be lots of hands-on components throughout the course where we tackle different challenges that involve building an intelligent system as the solution. We will start with simple problems and “level up” as we go. By the end of the course, you will have built your first image recognition model and understand how it works.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
To participate in the class, you should bring a laptop. We will be doing everything in the browser. No need to download or install anything. The course does not require any background in coding. However, some background in math, including probability, algebra and statistics would be helpful.

This course delves into the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and consciousness, exploring whether machines could achieve human-like sentience. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we analyze AI mechanisms, its history, then discuss the nature of consciousness, and navigate ethical implications. Students engage in discussions and evaluate the promises and perils of AI sentience, preparing them to contribute to the discourse on this evolving field.


Class Style
Discussion

A hot dog bun moves slightly, causing a robot chef to deliver an unfinished meal to a customer. A dolphin trainer wears boots with a different color, and suddenly all of his dolphins refuse to listen to him. These failures are actually two sides of the same coin: situations with unexpected circumstances. This is one example of how the core problems in robot-learning are more than technical challenges--they poke at something deeper in how we learn as humans and animals. If we want to make machines that learn like us, we must understand our own mechanisms.
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 robot learning and how we might solve them. 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

Ever wondered how your computer runs your code? Ultimately, all programs are lowered to assembly language. This course provides exposure to how computers operate at this very low level.


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Lecture

Prerequisites
Strong background in programming. Must know how to use the command-line. Must know: variables, if statements, loops, and functions.

What do we gain, and–perhaps more importantly–what can we lose from the use of AI in our daily lives? In this course, we will examine the technology behind popular AI tools like ChatGPT and discuss the ethical implications of their use. Through industry case studies, multimedia examples, and focused conversations and activities, you will be challenged to evaluate the role of AI in your life.


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Seminar

Use various materials to build the fastest, most stable, and most aesthetic design boat, while holding the most material. You'll work in teams, and compete against other boats at the end!


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Activity

Prerequisites
none

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.


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Activity

Buildings in highly seismic areas, such as California and Japan, need to be designed to protect people and give them a chance to get out. There is no way to design an earthquake proof building, but engineers figure out ways to reduce damage and keep people safe. In this course we will discuss the basics of earthquake engineering and students will learn how to design earthquake-resistant structures through an interactive activity.


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Activity

Fun fact: Did you know that there are approximately 171 trillion pieces of plastic floating at the ocean's surface right now? This fact is not fun. What is fun, you may ask? Turning this trash into toys, machines, sculptures, artworks, gadgets, and much more! Come and embrace frugal science to uncover the beauty and utility in waste, inspired by nature’s own designs. In this class, we will teach you the art of science with hands-on activities and then guide you in engineering your very own creation.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
None

In this class, students will learn about the fundamentals of circuits and create their own works of art! We will discuss basics like how batteries and resistors work. Then, students will get the opportunity to use their knowledge to create their own paper circuits and light sabers that light up!


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Activity

The number one contributor to climate change is fossil fuel energy consumption. Transitioning to renewable energy is necessary to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth. Take this class to learn more about the different technologies that can get us to a clean future.


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Lecture

In this course, students will learn how to extract DNA from a strawberry in a form that is visible to the human eye!


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Activity

Come learn the basics of crochet by joining us to make a granny square, which can be used as the basis for many crochet projects but also makes a fantastic potholder/coaster :)

No experience necessary!


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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!


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Lecture

A quick introduction to three ball juggling!


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Activity

Amazed by TikTok beatboxers like BeatboxJCOP, Marcus Perez, and Spencer X? Ever wonder about the range of sounds that the human voice can produce? In this class, you will not only learn how to beatbox but also about the different sounds and styles of beatboxing that have been popularized in recent years.


Class Style
Seminar

Come learn some basic origami! If you have taken this class before, we will be teaching you how to make new origami creations, so you're welcome to sign up again!


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Activity

Learn how to dance salsa like a professional! If you're interested in social dancing, look no further. Salsa is one of the most fun and groovy dances out there. Impress your friends and family when you bust out a salsa move at the next party!


Class Style
Activity

Want to learn how to write creative nonfiction in the style of The Atlantic or The New Yorker? Wondering how creative writing fits into journalism? Join The Grind section of The Stanford Daily in a hands-on workshop for writers of every skill level!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Must be enrolled in Journalism 101 with The Stanford Daily

Join us in a katabasis - or descent to the Underworld - as we follow in the footsteps of love-stricken Orpheus, grieving Aeneas, despairing Dante and other notable journeys into Hell. The bowels of the Earth are much more than ancient metaphysics in a vacuum: they are a political force, a literary tradition, an artistic muse, a scientific question, a philosophy, our common denominator and yet a comparison-based courtroom. Passports, optional; souls, required.


Class Style
Seminar

These past few years have showcased unprecedented challenges to our democracy and beloved institutions. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, where so many cherished democratic norms and institutions are under attack.

In light of these circumstances, it is of the utmost importance that our youth understand both the importance of America's institutions and how to make meaningful change within them.

The course will cover how activism interacts with the foundations of government and democracy.

Through a brief lecture and engaging activities, students will investigate social justice movement case studies (ex. March for Our Lives campaign) and explore its connection to citizenship, democracy, political processes, and more.

We hope the course will deepen students' understanding of civics, democracy, and activism, while empowering them to create change for themselves and their community.


Class Style
Activity

In this interactive workshop, students will learn the basics of cultural and community-engaged storytelling. As future members of civil society, it is important to reflect on how our identities, experiences, and relationships shape our unique perspective on the world. Sharing these personal stories broadens one’s ability to compose and express themselves – a skill essential for college applications, artistic expression, and more!

Through hands-on exercises, students will create and share their own personal stories. Additionally, the course will provide specific techniques on how best to structure and reflect on future writing. Contact Mark Allen Cu (mallencu@stanford.edu) for any questions!


Class Style
Activity

If putting pen to page isn’t for you but storytelling still is, register for our multimedia journalism workshop, where you’ll learn how to produce, film and edit news stories for television and social media. Create a mini broadcast segment right here using nothing more than your phone! Get acquainted with anchoring, filming and editing and be prepared to learn about the future of multimedia journalism. With no video/social media experience necessary, the only thing you do need is a love for stories and to promise you’ll laugh at our jokes.


Class Style
Seminar

Wanna learn how to express your opinions on issues you're passionate about? Wanna learn how to make your arguments persuasive and compelling? Wanna learn how to write like a Stanford Daily columnist? In this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of opinions writing! The entire workshop will be interactive -- you will try your hand at identifying an issue of interest, developing a position and laying out arguments while collaborating with your classmates.


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

The Stanford Daily invites you to our Intro to Journalism weekend workshops! In this first course, students will be given the opportunity to learn more about The Stanford Daily, the oldest independent news outlet serving our university community. This panel-style discussion will introduce students to different types of journalism, storytelling, and media creation.

Following the completion of this panel-style course, students will continue their immersion into journalism with an activity facilitated by one of our section editors. Activity sections will be hosted immediately after the panel and students can register for these sections beforehand or join them on the day of. Whether it be data, creative nonfiction, opinions, sports, news, or multimedia, these activities will give students hands-on journalism experience and more focused instruction from our editors.


Class Style
Panel

Have you ever been confused by the new slang used by Gen Alpha? Does it seem like they’re speaking a whole different language?

In this class, we explore how language and vernacular evolve, as well as how their evolution has been influenced by the digital age, including social media, video games, memes, and beyond.


Class Style
Lecture

We'll be writing poetry in this class, with a specific emphasis on feedback and understanding how others respond to and interpret our work. Come with poetry you want to share, or write your own during our time together! All levels of experience are welcome, whether you've never tried creative writing or you write a poem every day.


Class Style
Seminar

What happens in your mouth when you speak? Why is it hard to pronounce words in a new language? What does it mean to "have an accent"? In this lecture-based class, we'll explore phonetics, the study of speech sounds in languages around the world!


Class Style
Lecture

Data permeates the lived world. From the photos we take on our phones to the characters of our all-time favorite blockbusters, these everyday datasets are ripe with stories waiting to be told.

In this course, we will learn the basics of sourcing and interpreting data to craft impactful stories. This course is perfect for anyone interested in transforming numbers into narratives, with or without a background in data science.


Class Style
Activity

Breaking news: A student at your school was just suspended for posting an explicit TikTok making fun of a school administrator. Learn how your school paper can cover the news in a timely and reasonable manner.

After the "Intro to Journalism with The Stanford Daily" panel, students interested in news reporting can join this breaking news simulation where they will have the opportunity to write their own story. This will include getting quotes, research reporting, and learning to write ledes, nutgrafs, and headlines.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Intro to Journalism with The Stanford Daily

Proto-Indo-Europeans lived in the late Neolithic period and left very little archaeological evidence. But we do know very specific things about them—their patrilineal society, their focus on animal husbandry, their lack of understanding of silver smelting. How? Their words. No one speaks their language today, but we do have reconstructions of their words based on languages that descended from Proto-Indo-European—languages as diverse as Bengali, Armenian, and English. Archaeology’s not just digging in the dirt. Come explore how old words can be put together to make discoveries, and how regular sound changes can tell us what words people were using thousands of years ago. We will reconstruct ancient words and show how they can be adapted to fit other languages. You'll learn how different languages have different sets of sounds, and how we can use these sounds to plumb the depths of the past. We'll talk about the history of individual words and languages, as well as general patterns of change.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
An interest in linguistics/language/history would probably increase your enjoyment of this class!

Was being bisexual the norm in Ancient Greece? Was there a transgender Roman emperor? Can we and should we label historical figures as gay, bi, trans, etc. if they lived in a culture that didn't have those concepts? What kind of documents from the ancient Mediterranean world do we have about LGBTQ people?

In this class we'll read some primary sources together, ranging from lesbian love poems to transphobic tirades (in English translation!). We'll discuss what these texts can tell us about how people in the ancient Mediterranean thought about same-gender attraction and gender nonconformity. In the process we'll have opportunities to think about identity, the purposes of connecting the ancient to the modern, the relationship between texts and the societies they come from, and the interpretive biases of scholars.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
No preparation or prior knowledge necessary: just come in ready to read and talk! Please note that this class will include academic and mature discussion of sources that talk about sex.

Has Tiktok ever tried to tell you that you have ADHD? Have you ever watched a show and thought "Man, this depiction of depression doesn't seem quite right."

Over one in five adults live with a mental illness in the United States to varying degrees of severity. However, despite how common these conditions can be, the general population is not educated on what these conditions are, how they affect people's lives, and what treatment can look like. Especially with the internet, misconceptions and poor depictions about these experience fuel the amount of misinformation and stigma spread about mental illness.

In this class, we will be taking a look at some of the most common mental illnesses, and learning what experiences fit diagnostic criteria, how symptoms may manifest for different folks, and contextualizing these conditions in our living world. This class will be lecture-based with discussion elements, and folks who are interested in clinical psychology or psychology in general should apply! :)


Class Style
Lecture

¿Somos primos? Filipinos and Latinos have a long shared history that spans hundreds of years, from Spanish colonialism to the modern day. In this class, students will learn about the many ties that connect Latinos and Filipinos—beloved dishes, religious practices, historical events, and beyond. Tayo na!


Class Style
Lecture

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
Lecture

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 students. This is required. Please send said email at least a week before our meeting.

Learn about terminology often used in finance, how monetary policy impacts markets, the fundamentals of investing, and more!


Class Style
Lecture

In recent years, it seems that Americans are disagreeing with one and another more and more about a wide range of social and political issues. Some of these disagreements have caused conflicts and unrest, threatening the health of our democracy. In this workshop, the Stanford Political Union will teach your the importance of civil discourse in addressing disagreements.
You will learn how to disagree productively -- by discussing important issues with your classmate with whom you may disagree! This class will be entirely interactive. Come with an open mind and an appetite to talk!


Class Style
Discussion

What is modern fashion, really? The modern period of history (starting in the 1500s) has seen neck ruffs, pumpkin pants, giant petticoats, and much, much more. We may think of these trends as archaic relics of the past, but on a closer inspection we can see greater trends throughout history that still affect the fashion we wear today. Join us as we discover the continuities through fashion that merge together the seemingly great divides, starting in the 1500s and ending in the late 1900s. While we will touch on both men's and women's clothing, we will focus primarily on women's clothing. Intermission in the middle of class with snacks provided!


Class Style
Lecture

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.

An introduction into the beautiful mathematics of knot theory, starting with the "two extremes" of the alternating knot and the unknot. We'll use knot theory as a playground for learning about visual representations and topology, and also through tying and creating our own knots. No prerequisite knowledge required!


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
basic math familiarity

We live in the information age in which the world economy, and indeed our very lives, are dominated by information technology. But what exactly is information in the first place?

Information theory, pioneered by Claude Shannon nearly 80 years ago, answers this question and much more - it is the mathematical foundation underlying how computers store and communicate information. It has only become more relevant over time, finding applications in areas including artificial intelligence, physics, and biology.

We will provide a very brief introduction to information theory, focusing on its applications in digital communication, and build up to at least stating one of the most remarkable theorems of the past century: Shannon's noisy-channel coding theorem.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Know what a probability distribution is (e.g., flipping a coin or rolling a die). Know what a logarithm is. Familiarity with algebra.

Ever wondered how animal populations change over time? How a hurricane moves through a region? Or why heat dissipates over time? At the heart of all of these questions is Euler's number, $$e$$.

The aim of this class is to understand why $$e$$ is important, why it appears everywhere, and why it is 2.718....

We will start with finding the value of $$e$$, look at how it is applied in math, and move our way up to proving "the most beautiful equation in math," $$e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$$.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
Required Knowledge: Trigonometry, Algebra, Pre-Calculus I will introduce some calculus concepts (namely infinite series), but no calculus knowledge is required! Just be prepared to think critically and move fast!

Medical technologies like X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and CT scans are essential in healthcare, but how are these detailed images created from seemingly invisible data?

"The Mathematics of Medical Imaging," explores this complex process. The course focuses on mathematical principles based in inverse problems such as back projection, Fourier transforms, and convolution to demonstrate how raw data is transformed into clear, interpretable images.

Students will learn about these techniques and their application in medical imaging. As such the course highlights the critical role of mathematics in converting abstract data into valuable diagnostic tools.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Prerequisites: Algebra (familiarity with simple functions and matrices)

In addition to doing calculations, do you ever wonder why things are true? This class will cover making logical deductions, techniques of induction and contradiction, with applications to some problems from algebra and combinatorics (counting).


Class Style
Seminar

How would you measure the distance between two things? With a ruler, perhaps. But what if these two things are intangible, like 'cat' and 'rat'? Or the DNA of two humans on earth? Turns out, we can generalize the idea of a 'distance' and it can become super useful!

In this class, we'll attempt to motivate the mathematical notion of metric, and look at some interesting applications in information theory, machine learning and social science.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic algebra

In this interactive workshop, we will be teaching students how to master the life skill of passive aggression. No, not how to navigate it, not how to avoid it—but it’s fine that you thought that, totally fine, haha—but how to MASTER it. We will be analyzing experts of this fine art and putting their tactics into practice.


Class Style
Discussion

10 years ago, my parents signed me up for Stanford Splash. I didn't really want to go, but ended up taking one of the most thought-provoking classes that changed my life. Now that I'm a student here at Stanford, the lessons I learned from that class about intellectual vitality are prevalent in many of my classmates from all backgrounds, whether computer science like me, engineering, arts, humanities, business, or medicine. In this class, I'll share some of the things I've learned throughout my life about honing interests, developing passion projects, and creative thinking.

More about this class: A common cliche used all the time is "do a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." The thing is, if you ask most young people, most of us have no idea what our jobs should be, and it makes sense. It's super hard to think about what we want to do for the rest of their life when we barely know what we're going to do tomorrow. I want to try to dig into that premise a little bit and share that, if we all think creatively, there's a lot about ourselves that we don't give ourselves enough credit for, and this question about life's passion can be very simple to answer.


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever wondered how people take their academic and professional backgrounds and weave them into coherent stories? Do you have a unique set of experiences but don't always know how to frame them? Would you like to walk into an interview with some concrete tools in your back pocket? If so, then this is the class for you! In this course, we will go over the fundamentals of interviewing, do some mock interviews, and have lots of fun!


Class Style
Lecture

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.

For all skill levels: an explanation of basic portrait drawing techniques followed by a workshop with one-on-one assistance from instructor. You'll create your own self portrait to take home at the end of the class! You can bring your own sketchpad and drawing pencils if you have them (number two pencils are good too!), or use provided.


Class Style
Activity

From giant robots to slice of life stories, anime is an incredibly diverse medium. In this class, we will examine the expressive power of anime by looking at thematic and aesthetic elements present in many key examples. In particular, we'll see how anime differs from conventional Western media. The discussion will culminate in a case study of one of the most famous and genre-defining anime of all time: Neon Genesis Evangelion.


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever doodled a fox standing on two legs? Have you caught yourself enjoying movies like Zootopia and Sing? Maybe you’ve heard of the term “furry” before or even consider(ed) yourself one. No matter your experience, anybody interested is welcome to join and learn about the furry community!

In just 45 minutes, we'll dive into the heart of furry culture—exploring the vibrant community, its artistic expressions, and why dressing up isn't just for Halloween. Otherwise, it’s a creative space to celebrate anthropomorphic animal characters! We’ll play some games regarding popular terms in the community, and snacks will be provided. We’ll also discuss the art, costumes, and storytelling that bring these characters to life.

Additionally, despite any previous background in art, we'll do a bit of sketching and character development in this class. Pencils and paper will be provided. By the end of our session, you'll be able to bring your own furry character to life!

Who knows? You might just discover your inner animal spirit! (Bring any questions you have as well!)


Class Style
Panel

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

Interested in medicine and like helping people? Like to learn about new medical discoveries and initiatives?

Design your own initiative, as part of Stanford Cardinal Free Clinics' programs!

This crash course will guide you on how initiatives are started and give actionable steps on how to get involved!

This class is suitable for all grades with any amount of experience. Students who come from low income backgrounds are encouraged to come!


Class Style
Activity

Percy Jackson has taken bookshelves and screens by storm over the last two decades. Despite the fact that the series is the origin of many peoples' interests in myth, the books don't always consistently portray the gods-- or their interactions with mortals-- accurately. This class aims to teach about Greek mythology and history using Percy Jackson as its basis.


Class Style
Activity

College admissions are getting increasingly competitive every year, with many schools’ acceptance rates falling into the single digits. In this class, students will learn about effective strategies for approaching college applications, based on real-life case studies.

A Q&A will follow the lecture, as time allows.


Class Style
Lecture

How does the next photo, video, or ad get chosen in your social media feed? Is your phone really listening to you? Bring your phone* and be prepared to learn the secrets of social media! In this interactive course, we'll cover topics like the psychology and strategies driving advertising, how algorithms capture and keep your attention, and how to spot misinformation. Demystify how social media works and leave this course with the skills to critically evaluate the messages you see on these platforms every day. *If you do not have a phone and/or social media accounts, you can still participate and learn a lot in this class!


Class Style
Seminar

"Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature." (Hamlet III.ii.19.)

William Shakespeare wrote life in ten-syllable lines. However, reading the Bard's words can be daunting. This class will help any actor of any experience to understand and act a monologue and scene of choice.

Objectives:
Students will be able to:
Choose a monologue for memorization, act in a short scene, recognize scansion, change inflection, learn how to project/enunciate, and warm up for presentations.


Class Style
Activity

Are you curious about the universe's most extreme and mind-bending concepts, like black holes, the Big Bang, or even time travel? Come learn about the physics and mathematics behind the cosmos in this engaging astrophysics seminar.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
N/A

Examine the physiological changes occurring in the face over time, from skin elasticity to bone remodeling. Explore the impact of aging on facial structures, common disorders affecting facial health, and interventions in plastic surgery and dermatology.


Class Style
Lecture

How does a gloopy flour mixture turn into a soft and delicious angel food cake? What prevents your delicious guacamole from turning into a brown, gooey mess by the next day? Have you ever wanted to transform cream and sugar into mouth-watering ice cream? In this class we’ll be able to answer all of these questions and more! Join us to learn about the chemistry behind some of your favorite foods (and get a snack out of it)! [Please be advised that those with allergies to fruit or dairy may not be able to participate in all class activities.]


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Will discuss concepts generally covered in a high school chemistry class.

Want to find out what College Board took from you years ago when they got rid of MO theory from AP Chem? Molecular orbitals (MOs) sit at the core of modern chemistry and let us explain a surprising range of things. We'll build up the basics of MO theory and use it in a couple examples to show off its predictive power. Everyone with at least a little chemistry under their belt is welcome, whether you're interested in how a chemist actually thinks or if you just want a stress-free peek into college chem classes.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Any introductory chemistry class

Ever wondered about the seemingly infinite repeating patterns of fractals? River branches, tree roots, and lightning bolts are all examples of natural fractal patterns. In this class, we'll explore how random processes generate these patterns using large molecules called polymers.

Come make your own fractal patterns to take home during a hands-on activity with polymer-based paints! Learn how viscous polymer solutions can produce the same beautiful patterns we see in nature in our own hands.


Class Style
Activity

Ever heard of dopamine referred to as "the happy molecule"? Been told to do something to "increase the dopamine" in your brain? Heard dopamine mentioned in the news, in a song, in an ad for a weird supplement? Wondering what dopamine is *actually* doing in your brain? Come for a mini deep dive into neuroscience where we explore what dopamine is doing behind the scenes in some of our most fundamental behaviors - and think a little more about what pop science and media is telling us and not telling us!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
No hard prereqs but any basic neuro (high school bio level is fine) will be helpful!

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

Metal conducts electricity. Plastic does not. What if there were a material that was somewhere in between? You might have heard of semiconductors—the type of material that has taken over the modern world in the past 40 years, enabling revolutions in computation, lighting, and energy production. But what does it even mean for a material to be "semi-conducting"? And why would this even be useful? By the end of the class, we will have built up a theoretical framework to understand the behavior of semiconductors, and have walked through the principles behind their application in our daily lives. The class will include hands-on demos so we can actually see the physics in action!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Introductory physics or chemistry

There are approximately 100 billion neurons in your brain. But how do they make you feel pain? And what happens when these neurons are damaged? In this class, you will compete in teams to diagnose neurological disorders and experiment with diagnosing pain.

PS: this will get spicy!


Class Style
Activity

Many major advances in modern medicine have come from the development of many new life-saving drugs. But how do chemists develop these drugs? In this class, we explore the logic behind designing a synthesis for pharmaceuticals, starting with a lecture on the fundamentals of organic chemistry and transitioning into a discussion of key chemical transformations. We have an interactive lecture portion, concluding with a synthesis challenge in teams at the end of the class.

Note: There is no lab component to this class. Although we will talk about the synthesis of many high-profile pharmaceuticals, students will NOT learn how to actually make these drugs nor are they encouraged to do so. The synthesis pathways discussed in this course are devised by the instructor using knowledge accessible to first year undergraduates.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Any exposure to high school chemistry will be super helpful (at the very least, exposure to the periodic table) Specifically: Lewis Dot Structures, Electronegativity, Acid-Base, Redox, and Equilibrium (no need for mastery, but a familiarity with these topics will be very helpful). Also, there will be no math in this course (so no stoichiometry knowledge will be needed.)

Through this interactive course, we will explore the wonders of the human body, from the oxygen we breathe to the muscles that move us. This course makes learning about our bodily systems—nervous, respiratory, circulatory, and more—both fun and fascinating.
Let's find together what happens inside us every day


Class Style
Seminar

You might’ve carved surfing waves, heard of sound waves, and probably seen light waves, but what about waves we can't detect? Acoustic and electromagnetic waves play incredible roles in nature and technology, ranging from echolocation to global warming, but most of them are imperceptible to us. Come join us to uncover a world entirely invisible to us!


Class Style
Seminar

Interested in mental health? Psychiatric disease? Drugs - and the science behind them? There's a growing body of evidence that psychedelics can be used as medicine for some of our most untreatable illnesses. How? We're actually still figuring it out! Come for a close look at how we *think* psychedelics affect your brain, how they could be used for therapeutic purposes, and a broad review of how politics, history, and past science have set up the current state of the field. **psychedelics not provided**


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
No hard prereqs but any basic neuro (high school bio level is fine) will be helpful!

Have you ever wanted to learn about the most extreme objects in the universe? Look no further than neutron stars, which are the incredibly dense remains of collapsed stars. These objects are about the mass of the sun, but are only about the size of a city. A teaspoon of their matter weighs as much as Mount Everest, and if you stood on their surface you would melt into a puddle from the sheer force of their gravity! In this class you will learn about neutron stars, including pulsars (rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation from their poles) and magnetars (neutron stars with incredibly strong magnetic fields and sometimes produce bursts of energy called "giant flares"). By the end of this course, you will be familiar with how different types of neutron stars form, theories describing their interiors, gravitational wave detection methods using pulsars, and how collisions between neutron stars are responsible for creating many of the chemical elements in the universe.


Class Style
Lecture

Participate in an interactive, hands-on-learning experience to unpack this question using a real world problem, and learn about how to responsibly and sustainably consider future generations.


Class Style
Activity

In this class, we will learn pharmacology: the science of how drugs work. Through worked examples, we will analyze how popular drugs or poisons affect the body and learn how these compounds work at the molecular level. By the end, we will learn a number of biochemical principles and how they intersect with pharmacology.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Some exposure to high school biology

Let's think like molecules for 45 minutes. You've probably heard of many elements from the periodic table that react with each other in our bodies – for example, oxygen binding to iron in red blood cells for transportation. But some categories of molecules don't exist naturally, and reactions between them can create "flashlights" inside living organisms that tell us how the world's most devious diseases are at work.

You'll learn all about how researchers are using these methods to shed light on ways cancer cells sneak past our immune system by mass-producing "Don't eat me" molecules. In a fast-paced chalk talk connecting foundational ideas in chemistry and biology you've already learned in high school, you'll learn exactly how scientists and doctors are trying to outsmart cancer's molecular malfeasance.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Fundamental high school chemistry (reactions, stoichiometry) and basics of cell biology (proteins, organelles, membrane)

In each one of your cells is a copy of your genome – a 3.2 billion-letter-long DNA biomolecule which serves as the blueprint of your body. These letters - the language of life - can offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying normal biology and disease. However, the sheer size and complexity of the genome makes it impossible for physicians and scientists to manually analyze and interpret genomic datasets. In recent decades, the field of computational biology has emerged to address this challenge. By developing methods and algorithms to analyze genomic sequencing data, computational biologists have made new biological discoveries and are advancing the dream of precision medicine. In this course, you will dive into this exciting field at the intersection of computer science and biology. You will learn about the central dogma of biology (DNA --> RNA --> protein) and modern sequencing technologies which can measure molecules in each step of this process. Then, you will learn about algorithms which can use this sequencing data to solve important tasks, from identifying disease-associated genes to predicting treatment response/resistance to designing new antibodies for next-generation therapies. You will leave the course with a foundation to build upon so that you can one day shape the future of medicine.


Class Style
Lecture

What is quantum mechanics anyway, and how 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.

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
Activity

Energy -- making it, storing it, using it, and doing it all sustainably -- is one of the biggest challenges facing the world. Crystals are beautiful, intriguing, and claimed by many enthusiastic bloggers to have elusive properties for controlling and harnessing our inner energies. But in the world of real science, crystals are perhaps more exciting and powerful than any blogger imagined--including harnessing, storing, and controlling energy in the 21st century! We will talk about how the chemistry and physics of crystals leads to exciting properties and applications to solar cells for catching sunlight, batteries for storing energy, catalysts for clean fuels, and maybe even superconductors. In addition to materials already in use, we will explore future energy applications involving cutting edge nano- and quantum-materials. Along the way, we will learn about bonding, lattices, band structure, surfaces, and other fundamentals of material science underlying these critical applications.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Some basic chemistry knowledge may be helpful, but is not necessary.

Is that dress blue-black or white-gold? Is the dancing Ballerina spinning left or right? Is that picture an old or young lady? Duck or rabbit? Discover the mechanisms of how we perceive color, motion, depth... etc. through famous optical illusions. Why are we so good at assessing environment information? How our brains see things, or sometimes, don't?!


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

TV shows and movies often depict chemistry as an enigmatic and complex material that can produce seemingly magic potions and explosions. However, students can sometimes feel disappointed with their first chemistry class.

While we won't be using mercury fulminate, we'll explore the wonders of chemistry through a lecture-style magic show that explains chemical bonds, equilibrium, and many many chemical reactions. Join us and learn about the beautiful world of chemistry through science demos!


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
1 year of basic chemistry is preferred; curiosity for science is highly encouraged!

Science is rarely correct right away but has the remarkable ability to consistently course-correct. 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 seals these cracks. In each case study, we’ll ask the question of why it occurred - from innocent mistakes to malicious deception. We'll do this by focusing on two important but contentious areas of research: superconductivity and drug discovery. You should hopefully walk away with an appreciation for the scientific community, or at least some very niche gossip.


Class Style
Lecture

Do you know how many proteins are highly expressed in cancer cells and how do they affect the growth of a tumor? Let's be cancer fighters using a state of the art technology: Protein Degradation! The following questions will also be answered in this class: How do protein degradation work? What are the advantages of protein degradation therapies? What are the challenges? A case study: ARV-110 (first example in the clinic trial!)


Class Style
Lecture

You may have once thought your heart looks like this: ❤️. You might have later learned that it actually looks like this: 🫀. What other secrets are hiding within us?

In this class, you’ll gain a crash course on the basic anatomy of the thorax, which houses our heart and lungs.

Beware, this class is not for the faint of heart (ba-dum tss).


Class Style
Lecture

Where does the fungi kingdom end and where does human society begin? From yeast in bread to penicillin, fungi have become so intertwined with our human lives.

This class will be an introduction to fungi and their biology and will examine the many roles fungi play in human society.


Class Style
Lecture