ESP Biography

The people and events that are emphasized, the news left out of the broadcast, the particular vocabulary used – all of this crafts a story. It tells us what to think who and what is worthy of attention in the world, it paints the mental picture when the words criminal or poor are uttered. In this class we’ll be carefully examining the media we consume daily to find these hidden narratives and determine what they tell us about ourselves and others in society. We will find that these stories are not timeless, nor are they random and chaotic. Together we will trace the history and events that have shaped these media messages and we will explore the forces that guide the media, from our personal subscriptions for the New York Times to the people who plan and fund Fox News. Through this class we hope to become more critically aware of the way the media alters our understanding of the world.

There’s nothing more picturesque than blowing bubbles on the porch during a warm summer’s day. But have you ever thought about how strange and wonderful bubbles are? In this class we will be take the mundane and discover a multitude of complexity, hidden beneath the surface. Bubbles appear simple and plain, but the physics behind these translucent orbs is anything but. We will try to understand a number of these complexities, such as why they and oil slicks take on their rainbow-like appearance. We will then move on to the mechanism through which we appreciate them – our sight, something else often taken for granted but actually fascinatingly intricate. How do we perceive light and color, and how does the retina work? These are the questions we will try to answer together. We will blow some bubbles ourselves at the end, and hopefully by then a few minds will be blown as well! The class will largely be conceptual and not too math-y. We will write a few equations, but students with all levels of science and math backgrounds are welcome to join!

Have you ever wondered why your food tastes the way it does? Why does salt make your food taste better, and why does milk help cool you down after eating a spicy pepper? In this class we will discuss the chemistry and psychology of taste, taste-testing included! We'll talk about the types of taste, discuss how they differ from each other chemically, and chat about how the brain perceives different flavors. In the end we'll talk about ways in which you can trick your sense of taste, allowing you the opportunity to try a miracle berry, which makes sour foods suddenly taste sweet!