ESP Biography

Chinese can be a hard language to learn compared to others, in large part because its writing system has very little phonetic basis (does not look like it sounds). But, if we just take a step back, and focus on the characters visually without a concern for their pronunciation, we begin to see some interesting patterns. In this class, we will be looking at the origins of Chinese characters and writing some! NO knowledge of Chinese required, just some imagination for visualizing the characters. :)

At the Trinity test, Enrico Fermi dropped some pieces of paper into the air and estimated the strength of the atomic bomb to be 10 kilotons of TNT. The measured value was 18.6 kilotons of TNT. That's incredible! However, you do not need a PhD or Nobel Prize on hand to do these back-of-the-envelope calculations! We'll be covering some concepts in estimation/approximation, scientific notation, dimensional analysis, and then proceed to problem solving! There will also be a competition among teams of students, with the prizes TBD. :)

Come learn about sports and recreation in college! Whether it's Varsity, club, intramural or just pick-up games, there's something for everyone, from basketball to sailing to rock climbing. We will have a panel of 4-5 student athletes share their experiences and take questions from you all!

We will be taking a stroll through the streets of Florence, from the time of the Medici to the present. Along the way, we'll be looking at art, architecture, and food. We may also discuss historical and social issues, whether it be World War II or the recent refugee crisis. Andiamo tutti!

Come hear from current Stanford students what it's like to study engineering in college! A variety of disciplines and interests will be represented.

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!

如果你读这个感觉糊里糊涂，乱七八糟, then you've come to the right place. Chinese characters (汉字 hànzì) might appear very complicated at first, but once dissected, they also become very beautiful. In this class, we will go through simple characters and how they're constructed, whether through pictographic origins or phonetics. Come with curiosity, a little imagination, and you might just leave with some new Chinese in your vocabulary. :)

Nanomachines are arguably the coolest sci-fi gadgets of the future. Yet, their creation may be more imminent then you think! In fact, we already know that we ourselves, (and all other living things) are composed of tiny nanomachines called "proteins." And it is our very own bodies that we will find the pieces necessary to create the nanomachines! In this class, we will explore interesting discoveries and insights from molecular biology and nanotechnology in finding the right pieces for the nanomachines.

An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of materials science and engineering. The students will use marshmallows and toothpicks to construct crystal models and explore their physical and chemical properties.

The rise of China has been a hot topic in recent times, especially with the setting up of institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the One Road, One Belt initiative. Going forward, how the U.S. reacts to China and the relationship of the two powers will determine the course of world history. Ever struggled to understand the complex social, political, and economic issues surrounding China and the U.S. you see in the news? Join the class! No previous knowledge is needed, just a curious mind.

An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of materials science. You will use marshmallows and toothpicks to construct crystal models and explore its physical and chemical properties.

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.

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