How does music have the ability to alter a human’s perception of an event? That is, how does sound paint a picture in one’s mind, or elicit an emotional response? Through this course, students will be introduced to some basic concepts of Music Cognition, the study of the psychology and perception of music. These principles will be illustrated through the use of musical examples, and in class demonstration.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of music theory may be useful. However, all should be able to participate.

We'll discuss the top 10 tips to take better pictures in general, specific techniques for making the most of a camera phone, and –– by delving into photography history –– find out why clicking a snapshot may be more important than we think.


Prerequisites
Phone, or any digital camera, recommended but not required.

In this class, we will analyze how the literary devices used in various hip hop and trap songs convey meaning through lyrics or beats. Additionally, we will discuss how sampling has transformed both of these genres within the context of the modern music industry and draw parallels between an artist's influences and the music they make today.

Why do people love setting Shakespeare's stories to music? How did Romeo and Juliet become the musical West Side Story? How did The Taming of the Shrew become the musical Kiss Me, Kate? Why are there dozens of musicals, operas, and ballets based on Shakespeare's plays? In this class we'll read scenes from Shakespeare and then watch/listen to the musical adaptation and discuss! Students will also have a chance to try their hand at some adaptation ideas of their own!

If you want a chance to MOVE during Splash, take this class! Learn fun, classic dances such as "The Dinosaur", "The Electric Slide", and get down to some sweet disco beats. Impress friends and grandmothers alike with your cool new moves!


Prerequisites
A willingness to boogie (and to laugh at yourself)

Learn how to do common dances like "The Wobble", "The Jerk", "Cupid Shuffle", and "Gangnam Style". If you already know these and others, come dance with us anyway!

Love to sing? in this class, we'll cover the basics of vocal warm-ups and exercises, and sing a song together in three-part harmony! No prior vocal experience necessary.

A hands-on introduction to the greatest English playwright. All the ways an actor looks to Shakespeare's text for guidance: iambic pentameter, shared lines, and embedded stage directions. Students will get the chance to do some scene work from Macbeth and Twelfth Night.


Prerequisites
none

Ever wanted to dance like the pros on "Dancing with the Stars"? Join us as we go through the basic steps for dances like cha cha and rumba. Let us know what you are interested in and we will help you start your ballroom journey!


Prerequisites
None! This class is geared towards newcomers. Bring comfortable footwear. If you have ballroom shoes, bring them. Otherwise, sneakers, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, and character shoes work just fine.

An introduction for students on how to write and perform slam poetry.


Prerequisites
None

If you've ever wanted to practice drawing and then realized you have no idea what to draw, this is the class for you! We'll play surrealist drawing games to create strange, fabulous, and frequently hilarious drawing creations -- no prior art skills required.

A brief survey course of modern architecture through the lens of three influential architects/styles--Le Corbusier, Bauhaus (Walter Gropius), and California Modern (Eichler, Neutra, Schindler, and more).

Could understanding patterns of textiles help us understand the patterns and habits of our minds?

Discover how traditional Scottish textiles are made as a way to explore the relationship between tradition and habit, acceptance of our past and our on-going negotiations with the future. Make your own patterns after!

Some questions to inspire our conversations and hands-on pattern experiments:

Are patterns inherently rigid, or is a familiarity comforting, can pattern (or habit, tradition) be grounding, liberating? Can it still be surprising?

Is pattern (the uniformity of it, or its consistency) at odds with individuality?

What dictates a pattern’s staying power? Why is it hard to break free of habits? When does a habit begin to feel oppressive, restrictive? How do we break free of such feelings in our everyday life, and what does that feel like?

Could a person be part of someone else’s pattern? How do we invite others to join in a pattern (tradition, habit)? How do we adapt it or make it new for others?

In Musical Theatre Audition Workshop, each student will get a chance to perform an audition piece and receive feedback from peers. We'll discuss what makes a good audition, how to pick a great song cut, and what to focus on while performing your song! If you love performing in musicals, then this is the class for you! (Participating students must prepare 16-32 measures of a Musical Theatre song and bring sheet music in the correct key.)


Prerequisites
Please prepare a 16 or 32-bar cut of a Musical Theatre song. Please bring sheet music in the correct key.

Ever wondered how art for your favorite books, magazines, albums and videogames gets made? In this interactive class we will explore the process of illustration with a focus on the more technical aspects of creating fantastical art, although the methods covered can be applied to any genre. We’ll talk about what makes a good piece, go through some basic art fundamentals, ideation and reference, and look at the way professionals do it.

This course is linked with The Art of Illustration in Practice, where we’ll apply what we’ve learnt to creating our own illustrations of stories, scenes and characters contributed by you and your classmates. You don't have to take both classes to take this class.

Note for parents: Some images discussed may contain artistic nudity; students are expected to display an adult level of maturity.

Ever wondered how art for your favorite books, magazines, albums and videogames gets made? In this interactive class we will explore the process of illustration with a focus on the more technical aspects of creating fantastical art, although the methods covered can be applied to any genre.
We’ll focus on creating our own illustrations of stories, scenes and characters contributed by you and your classmates. All styles are welcome, from manga to realism!

This class is linked with The Art of Illustration: Theory, where we'll discuss more about how illustrations are created. You don't have to take the classes together, but you can if you'd like!
Note for parents: Some images discussed may contain artistic nudity; students are expected to display an adult level of maturity.


Prerequisites
You don’t have to be a great artist (because neither am I), but some ability to draw and visually represent ideas are essential. You're welcome to bring your own sketchbook if you wish; paper and pencils will be available. Portable digital tools are ok, e.g. drawing tablet with stylus. Please also bring: (1) a short excerpt from a story you like that involves character(s) doing something, and/or (2) a brief written description of a character or scene from your imagination or a book, video game, movie etc. If you have a smartphone, tablet or laptop, bring it along. (It's fine if you don't.)

This class is a broad introduction to the field of Neuromorphic Engineering. The human brain is an absolutely incredible piece of machinery capable of doing a staggering number of computations every second. Neuromorphic engineering aims at copying the structure of the brain both to build better technology and to at the same time better understand how the brain works.


Prerequisites
You should probably have a basic biology class under your belt.

Modern trains can travel at over 300mph, rivaling the speed of airplanes. How did we move from steam engines to bullet trains, and what impact does this have on society? After we examine these questions, we’ll cover the future of trains, including the proposed Hyperloop and a train traveling from New York to London in under an hour.

Many nanoscale materials are formed through a process of self-assembly - where molecules or nanoparticles arrange themselves into specific patterns or structures. In this interactive course we'll learn about common examples of self-assembly, such as how snowflakes form, why your cheerios clump together in a bowl of cereal, and how drug-delivery capsules are made.

Does "bae" really stand for "before all else?" Is the English language sexist? How do you really pronounce the word "pho?" What does a taser have to do with children's books? And is it offensive to call someone "retarded?"

If you are interested in any of these questions, then come learn about etymology!


Prerequisites
Fluent speaker of English.

William Blake is one of the most influential and widely-read poets in the English language. His words reveal questions we experience but cannot always articulate. Explore with us as we tackle his poetry, constantly asking ourselves what lessons we might glean from his work. The class will focus primarily on Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience.


Prerequisites
Strong background in English classes, preferably with exposure to literary analysis

The Chinese language uses a writing system that most of us are completely unfamiliar with: it is logographic. This means that each character has an intrinsic meaning; there are tens of thousands of these characters! This contrasts with the Latin alphabet system that characterizes most Western writing systems. In this class, we will dissect Chinese characters, looking at how the very earliest Chinese characters evolved into what they are today! By the end of this class, you should be able to accurately guess the meaning of a large number of Chinese characters, even if you have never learned Chinese.


Prerequisites
You do NOT have to be able to read, write, speak, or understand Chinese, or any other language that uses similar characters (i.e. Japanese). It would help, if before the class, you briefly had a look at what Chinese characters look like, but you do not need to study them at all.

What makes a "good" or "bad" poem, and who decides? Why are certain authors and texts widely read today, while others remain obscure? Our seminar will focus on works which haven't exactly stood the test of time--an epic poem about a sofa, a mentally ill poet's ode to his cat, the scandalous verses of a notoriously debauched aristocrat, and Shakespeare's most violent and indecorous play, among others. Join us for a tour of some poems you won't read in your high school English class!

In this class, we will discuss what a "good" academic essay is, read some examples of "good" academic writing, and discuss general strategies that we can incorporate into our own writing. The class will not cover personal narrative, fiction, or poetry.

After our discussion, we will do style exercises and offer constructive criticism on each other's works.

Come learn about the LGBTQ+ world history and culture that your AP World teacher will never tell you was queer–from ancient Rome to China's Han Dynasty to the the Wild West and more.

As a historian of the American Revolution, I am not only fascinated by the Revolution itself but the ways in which it is remembered. This class will begin with a 30-minute discussion about how the ways in which we remember the Revolution have changed throughout our history. We will also talk about how our cultural memories of the Revolution shape how we view the present (and vice versa). Following that discussion, we will all walk to the Yale University Art Gallery where I will give a personally-guided tour of the gallery's amazing collection of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from the Revolution and the eighteenth century, where we will see first-hand how our collective memory of the Revolution was initially formed.

How might the world as we know it come to an end? We will explore this question through an inter-disciplinary lens, from the perspectives of history, geography, science, literature, and religion.

A comprehensive survey of important political philosophers of modern Western thought, spanning the Enlightenment, the Anti-Enlightenment, the New Left, the Marxists, and others. Includes discussions of philosophers such as Locke, Hobbes, Marx, Rawls, Nozick, Arendt, Bentham, and Mill. For students who wish to gain a general overview of modern political thought, and who wish to explore political philosophy.

Some people's lives seem to be going quite well. Other people's lives are - unfortunately - going very badly. The notion of 'human welfare' captures the difference between these two sorts of lives. But what is welfare? What does it take for a life to be going well? In this class, we will examine several philosophical answers to this question, and consider the pros and cons of each.

Come join me in discussing the theories of famous philosophers such as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Mill on their concepts of morality and reality.


Prerequisites
An interest in learning philosophy!

Ever thought about what the mind and soul really are? Ever wonder about the philosophical roots of religion? It’s fine if you haven't, and even better if you have! Come explore the philosophies of Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Anselm, Descartes, Berkeley, Kant, Mill, Hume, Hegel, Parfit and more, tracing the debate on the existence of god and the soul across the centuries. Look forward to learning and analyzing how some two thousand years of philosophy have evolved on these topics!


Prerequisites
An interest in philosophy!

What MYTHconceptions do you have about some of the most famous Greek myths? Hercules might not have done what you think! We'll take a look at some clips from Disney's Hercules and examine the mythological inaccuracies, as well as learning a few lesser-known traditional stories about the famous gods and goddesses.


Prerequisites
None.

This course seeks to introduce students to the many countries and cultures of the Caribbean. We will begin by discussing the unique yet connected histories of several Caribbean countries (focusing on Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic); then we will look at maps, photographs, art, and other visual media; and we will end by listening to Caribbean music from artists such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, and eating food from the region. By the end of the session, students will develop a contextual understanding of the Caribbean Islands in terms of both time and place.

Senet was a popular board game throughout the span of Ancient Egyptian civilization that drew upon and closely paralleled many of the religious beliefs at the time. In this class, students will get a brief overview of the Ancient Egyptian state and their views on the afterlife through Senet play.


Prerequisites
None

This class will offer a quick introduction to the history of the Soviet Union, a nation which existed from 1917 to 1991. We will cover the October Revolution, the construction of industry in Russia, the Second World War, the nuclear arms race, and the fall of the USSR.

Let's face it: pretty much no one likes taking tests. At best, they're boring; at worst, they're stressful.

But recently, schools across the nation have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of tests administered, the amount of school time spent testing, and the range of subjects tested. A natural question from any student might be: why are we taking more tests? What do tests seek to measure? Why are they important? Are they important?

Discussion in this class will be centered around modern education reform, and the accountability movement—including things such as George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind", and Barack Obama's "Race to the Top".

In her characters, J.K. Rowling presents an incredible spectrum of feminist and anti-feminist attitudes. By discussing different characters and perspectives on feminist theory, we can hope to gain a better understanding of what feminism is.

This class is a short introduction to reading and writing the world's first written language- Sumerian! Dating to c.3200 BCE, Sumerian was the language of the world's first civilization. Learn about the history of cuneiform, ancient Iraq, and counting sheep in the sexagesimal system. Impress your friends by learning how to read clay tablets at museums!

In this course we'll delve into flashpoints throughout history, where soccer has played an important role characterizing the events. Events that will be assessed are the Troubles in North Ireland, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Spanish Kingdoms, and Latin American politics.


Prerequisites
Interest in soccer

Alfred Hitchcock once said that puns are the highest form of literature. This course will explore a form of language suited for both the erudite and the street-smart, from the various classifications of puns to the evolution of wordplay throughout history. Learn the difference between badinage, riposte, and dad jokes. If you are seeking to elicit admiration and groans from your peers, or to simply ruin lives, this course is for you.


Prerequisites
A sense of humor and an appreciation for language.

In this course we will look at fandoms and fan culture and explore what makes fandoms so popular. We will also look at the people who choose to be in fandoms to see if some people are more likely to become fans. We will watch video clips and the class is discussion based.

Students will learn the basics of beatboxing and vocal percussion, including kick, snare, hi-hat, breathing, how to combine sounds into a beat, as well as other mouth music techniques such as mouth trumpet (time permitting).

How should abortion be regulated, if at all? How does abortion, or lack thereof, affect women's lives? This class is a rare chance to talk about one of the most taboo topics in human history. Special attention will be given to the effect of criminalized abortion with case studies of Ceausescu's Romania (where all forms of birth control were illegal) and Latin America (where abortion is permitted only to save the mother's life).


Prerequisites
None

Although the historical narrative of World War I tends to emphasize winding trench lines across Europe and the desolate expanse of "No Man's Land", this conflict had tremendous impact far outside of the familiar French and German theaters. Between crippling the Ottoman Empire, introducing new borders, and fostering ideals of self-determination, many historians consider World War I to be the single most important political event in the history of the Modern Middle East. Secret agreements, imperial ambition, and rampant deception were all players in 20th century diplomacy, and by the War's end, these forces had fundamentally changed the face of the Middle East.


Prerequisites
There are no pre-requisites for this course, although a cursory knowledge of world history in the early 20th century is recommended as it will add context and meaning to the course material. Interest in the Middle East is also encouraged, as is any knowledge of current affairs in the region.

Are you fascinated by the world's multiple and diverse scripts? Want to know how Chinese characters work? What's up with the backwards letters in Russian? How do you read Arabic? In this compact but structured crash course, we will take a look at the world's various writing systems. This is a fast-paced tour of the globe and the diverse ways in which people write languages. By the end of this class, you'll understand how the following writing systems all work: European alphabets (Latin, extended/adapted Latin alphabets, Cyrillic, Greek, Caucasian alphabets), Arabic and Hebrew abjads, Indian and South Asian abugidas including Devanagari and Tamil, East Asian scripts (Chinese, Japanese, and the Korean alphabet), ancient/extinct scripts including Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and Mayan glyphs. Will briefly visit undecipherable scripts and the fascinating idea of the invention of writing. If time permits, you'll apply your knowledge and skills in the creation of your own script!


Prerequisites
Knowledge of a foreign language

Will go over different tips and tricks used by orators throughout history. The focus will be on extemporaneous speaking.

Will start with the basics of public speaking and of crafting a story.


Prerequisites
None

An overview of the causes of difficulties faced by many African nations to develop their governments and economies since independence with a focus on how colonialism and other international interference has affected those countries.

This class will offer a brief survey of the history of the Free State of Danzig, a city-state which existed between World War One and World War Two. We will discuss its formation in the Treaty of Versailles, the conditions of its independence, and its annexation by Germany during the Second World War.

In this class, we will engage critical theory methods to discuss identity formation in American society. Specifically, we will seek to engage American exceptionalism as a metric to gauge how immigrant populations navigate "selfhood" and the ways in which they perform authenticity.

Topology studies properties of objects preserved by "stretching" without tearing; hence, the famous joke that topologists cannot tell the difference between their coffee cups and doughnuts. This course will introduce the fundamental concepts of topology including open and closed sets, topological spaces, and continuous maps. A purely topological proof of the infinitude of primes will also be presented.


Prerequisites
2 years of high school algebra and 1 year of high school geometry are necessary to understand the material. An interest in pure mathematics would be helpful.

Ever wanted to impress some friends with magic? Well now's your chance! In this class, we will go over some easy yet amazing self-working card tricks and the math and algorithms behind how they work. Since these tricks are self-working, no knowledge of sleight of hand is required. Cards will be provided.


Prerequisites
Knowlege of basic algebra (Pre-algebra, Algebra I)

What is math? Have we invented math or is math a product of our natural world? Can infinity be grasped?

A brief philosophical and historical inquiry into topics of math, namely its ontology (how it can be represented as objects).


Prerequisites
Familiarity with algebra.

A basic introduction to what algorithms are, why we should care, and how to create them.

Aimed at students with very little to no exposure to computer science. Some math and quantitative skills are helpful.

In this class, we will learn the basics of how to encrypt and decrypt information using cryptography. We will look at various ciphers, how they are used, and how they are broken.

This class will be a blast from the past.

Okay, sure, we're traveling back in time to find out how things were done in Ancient Egypt. But that's not all. In this class, we'll also be traveling back in time -- to when you were in first grade.

Imagine that you are a young Ancient Egyptian scribe-to-be, going through the equivalent of Ancient Egyptian elementary school. You need to learn reading, writing, and ... arithmetic.

What happens when two separate cultures independently discover the ideas of mathematics? Are there other ways we can multiply numbers, other ways we can think about decimals? The answer is yes, and the details are strange and fascinating!

Through a variety of hands-on exercises, we will cover how the Ancient Egyptians wrote down their numbers, carried out addition and subtraction, represented multiplication and division, and manipulated fractions.

Inspired by the book "Count Like an Egyptian" by David Reimer.


Prerequisites
none

When you visit a website, what is actually happening? Learn about how websites are created, what goes on in the background, and how they ultimately end up on your computer.


Prerequisites
Must have used a web browser.

The board game Hex has been a favorite of mathematicians for decades. Players place tiles onto a hexagonal grid, trying to be the first to build a path from one side of the board to the other. It can be shown that the first player to move should win, if he or she plays perfectly - but no one knows what the winning strategy is!

In this course, we'll spend time trying to understand the reasons this simple fact is true, and exploring some of its consequences. On the way, we'll encounter exciting and diverse mathematical concepts, like graph theory, game theory, and topology.

No prior knowledge of Hex is required - we'll spend very little time discussing specific strategy, and instead focus on the deeper ideas behind the game.

The use of mathematics in sports is increasing at an exponential rate. Each game produces a wealth of data, but what exactly do the numbers tell us, and how can we use them to better understand our favorite players and teams? In this course, we'll take a look at some of the most pressing questions in sports. When should you go for it on 4th down? How much do different baseball stadiums affect performance? Is there such a thing as a "hot streak"? We'll analyze these questions and many more!


Prerequisites
Basic algebra, understanding of the rules and basic statistics in sports (batting average for baseball, shooting percentage for basketball, etc.)

Even our phones can perform calculations more rapidly and accurately than even the smartest human, yet we would not call these phones intelligent. In this course, we’ll cover how machines learn, with specific examples from medical technology and robotics. The specific focus will be on how natural intelligence informs the design of algorithms.

Programming contests are quite fun but there is a bit of a barrier to getting started. This course will go over the general structure of programming contests, general tips for how to approach problems, and some basic topics that contests test.


Prerequisites
Basic Algebra, Basic programming experience i.e. loops, arrays

How do we start to make sense of "big data"? Come learn about the tools and applications of data science to modern day problems ranging from social media to medical analysis.

We'll be going over interactive demos, so just you can sit back and relax - no programming required.

You, yes YOU, have many tumors inside of you right now. Find out why each and every one of us inevitably develops cancer. This class will explore what cancer is at the molecular, genetic, and cellular levels. Find out why cancer treatment has been such a failure, what it means to be a cancer researcher, and what cutting edge technology might play a future role in cancer treatment.


Prerequisites
A good understanding of biology and chemistry recommended.

How does energy create curvature in spacetime? We will go through the basic equations that will allow us to get a feel for Einstein's field equations. We will investigate several solutions to the field equations that have different consequences for the structure of our universe! If we have time, we will briefly discuss why it is so challenging to come up with a quantum theory of gravity, and what promising theories might look like!


Prerequisites
An interest in physics and the evolution of the universe we live in will be very helpful! Some calculus and linear algebra will be useful, but we will focus mainly on big ideas as opposed to the details of the equations.

Our species' closest living relatives are the chimpanzees and gorillas -- but that wasn't always true. Meet some of the prehistoric species that make up our own family, from ancestors like the Australopithecines to cousins like the Neanderthals. Basic understanding of evolution is expected; no knowledge of human evolution or paleontology required.

There are over a thousand species of sharks and rays -- and despite what Hollywood would have you believe, most of them are harmless to humans. Come learn the fascinating truth behind these famous deep-sea creatures as we separate fact from fiction and explore Jaws' family tree.

Throughout our history, mankind has always dreamed about what lies beyond the frontier. In our modern age, that frontier is space. In this class, we will discuss the challenges of colonization within our own solar system and what current efforts are being made towards achieving that goal. We will also touch briefly on the search for other habitable Earths and the philosophical dilemmas inherent to the ultimate question "Are we alone?".

Throughout our history, mankind has always dreamed about what lies beyond the frontier. In our modern age, that frontier is space. In this class, we will discuss the challenges of colonization within our own solar system and what current efforts are being made towards achieving that goal. We will also touch briefly on the search for other habitable Earths and the philosophical dilemmas inherent to the ultimate question "Are we alone?".

The most important questions in today’s world are political questions, even when they don't appear to be. For example, the question of "what cures cancer?" is biological, but the more impactful questions of "how much would it cost for cancer patients to receive this cure?" and "should we withhold such treatment from people of other countries, in order to protect America's global power?" are political.

These questions involve a great deal of money, time, and effort. So how do we answer questions like these? And how do we convince people that our answers are right? These are the challenges that political scientists must face. This class will look at how people have tried to answer these tough, but important, questions. By the end, you will have walked away with a better sense of how we describe the political world around us in understandable and persuasive ways.

Ever wonder what makes for a beautiful portrait shot? We will use the medium of photography to cover the physics of ray diagrams, lens optics, and quantum mechanics! Will include a live demonstration with a DSLR + high speed prime lens.


Prerequisites
none

Have you ever tried to wash your hands without soap? It’s nearly impossible to get the oily dirt off your hands using just water, if you don’t use soap. So how does soap work? Answering this question will take us on a fun journey zooming in on the soap molecules, all the way down to the level of quantum mechanics!

During this discussion we will learn about:
– basic electrostatic interactions (like charges repel, opposites attract) and polarity of molecules.
– basic molecular chemistry (H2O for water, ionic/covalent bonds) and concept of hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemical functional groups
– introduction to quantum mechanics (Pauli Exclusion principle)

*Basic Trigonometry (constant use of sine/cosine)*
This is an introduction to the techniques used to measure distances and angles in space. We will cover basic spherical coordinates and trigonometric identities. Ultimately, we will be able to understand how astronomical objects move in the sky and how their positions relate to the motion of Earth itself.


Prerequisites
Basic Trigonometry

Everyday scientists are discovering more and more about our most powerful muscle: the brain!

Throughout this course, various significant course studies in the field of neuroscience will be discussed, with the occasional optical illusions.

Be prepared to boggle your brain.


Prerequisites
None!

Want to harpoon an asteroid?

New advances in technology have allowed space exploration to become cheaper and easier, and governments and private industry have jumped on board! In this class you will learn about recent developments in space exploration, cool probes and rovers, neat new launch technology, and finally: can you harpoon an asteroid?


Prerequisites
None

If there are 500 quintillion stars (plenty of them older than our sun) and a quarter of those are surrounded by planets that could harbor life then WHERE IS EVERYBODY!? This is Fermi's paradox. Come learn about the possible answers to Fermi's question and how long it would take to seek out alien life ourselves.


Prerequisites
Unafraid of having your mind blown by the possibilities and able to handle reflecting on your very existence.

Have you ever imagined what a black hole looks like or wondered how to travel through wormholes? Did you love "Interstellar"? Come join us as we walk through the movie and demystify the physics behind it! We will explore topics from exoplanets to black holes, from relativity to four dimensionality. Don't fear the length of the class, because we will have a mid-flight fuel with space themed snacks!


Prerequisites
*SPOILER ALERT: if you haven't seen the movie, you probably want to watch it before coming to class. *Enthusiasm about physics AND Interstellar. *Very basic knowledge of classical mechanics recommended.

Do you drink coffee? How about tea? Have you ever taken a Tylenol for a headache? Then you (yes, you) have taken drugs. Drugs are such a big part of our society, but how do they actually work? We'll discuss the basic biology of neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain, and then we'll talk about how different kinds of drugs (focusing on alcohol and caffeine) can affect both your brain and your body.


Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of biology may be helpful, but isn't required.

Does health affect wealth or wealth affect health? If we had $100, how should we spend it to get the best return on health? Will Ebola kill us all?? Overview on the health of the poor in low and middle income countries. We will discuss the determinants of health, the Millennium Development Goals, who is most negatively affected by disasters and epidemics, and the ethical dilemmas in health distribution from the viewpoint of a humanitarian.

Throughout history the majority of new drugs have come from molecules that occur in nature. In this class we'll consider a variety of different 'Natural Products.' Students can expect to learn about organic chemistry, chemical biology, and synthetic biology. We'll sample a variety of herbal teas and discuss the bioactive compounds in them.


Prerequisites
High School Chemistry

An introduction to atomic theory, mechanics, and optics. The notion of a path integral and its relation to human experience of matter and light. The wave-particle duality of light and matter.


Prerequisites
none

Even if you know EVERYTHING about the present you still cannot, by the laws of physics, predict the future. By the "Uncertainty Principle," the better you know where a particle is located, the less you know about where it is going. In fact, particles never have a definite position; instead they are smeared out across space in a "Quantum State." Want to learn more about these statements and the crazy world we live in? Come learn Quantum!


Prerequisites
We will be using some Calculus and Complex Numbers, although you will be able to understand most key points without it.

In today's hectic world, people have begun to meditate now more than ever in order to manage their stress. But what exactly is mindful meditation, and what benefits does it bring? This course hopes to explain the science of meditation and teach the basic skills necessary in order to make meditation a part of your everyday life.

Why does fining late parents make even more parents late? Why is conventional wisdom usually not true? How do experts skew their data to serve their advocacy? How are our everyday choices swayed by factors beyond our free will? How does your name affect your destiny? Behind all these questions is the amazing, unrealized force of unconscious motivation that drives our behaviors everyday. We will run some mock experiments together, learn about the newest findings from psychology and economics in relation to everyday life, and learn about how to carry out basic experiments and surveys in experimental psychology!

Is that an orchid, or a mantis? What's the difference between a bug and a beetle? Why does EVERYTHING seem to want to pretend to be an ant? Why do bees cooperate with each other like that?

Come learn about insects, the fascinating animals with more than a million species on Earth and a majority of ALL the species we know about!

This class will present a whirlwind tour of insects of all sorts. You'll learn how each group is related and how to recognize each group's unique features, as well as some random cool things about camouflage and parasitism among insects.

At the end, you'll apply your newly-learned identification skills to identify some real insects!


Prerequisites
none

Ever wondered how forecasters can predict the weather weeks in advance? Or why sometimes their predictions are completely wrong? Think you could do a better job yourself? In this class, we'll talk about short-term weather patterns, the science of larger scale climate change, and learn how to read weather maps.

How fast does a goalkeeper have to dive to save a penalty? How quick does a batter have to react to hit the baseball? How fast does a quarterback throw the ball? In this fun class we'll take a look at the science and engineering (and physics) behind our favorite sports and answer all the above questions and more!

There are countless questions that power the curiosity of people, young and old alike. In this course, we will aim to use science to answer these questions in a way that reinforces the power of knowledge and the fact that science can be fun!

We will explain why the sky is blue, what is wind, and how airplanes are able to fly, among other phenomena. We hope to hold the attention of our students with relevant demonstrations and engaging lecture portions.

Explore recent developments in brain science, cool ideas from computer science, and mash them together! See how current computational approaches fail to model the brain, and some crazy new ideas for what comes next. Find out about the parallels between entropy and epilepsy, order and intelligence. One day we will be able to understand how the human brain thinks.


Prerequisites
Basic biology

Did you know that in about 25,000 years, Polaris will no longer be our North Star? The phenomenon responsible for this is called precession. This course will teach you about how precession works, along with examples of precession using gyroscopes, and information about what role gyroscopes play in every day life.


Prerequisites
None.

Optogenetics involves the genetic engineering of cells to respond to different wavelengths of light. It has been used as a tool in the biological sciences to trace nervous pathways, affect change in the behavior of organisms, and even mind control mice. We'll provide a review of the 2010 scientific "Method of the Year" starting from the molecular level upwards, and talk about some of the incredible discoveries that have been made using this fabulous tool.


Prerequisites
None. Some Biology will help. We'll do our best to cover everything from the basics to the advanced.

Through a series of chemical reactions, we will take a look at the fundamentals of chemistry. There will be fire.

In this course, we'll explore the exciting world of animal behavior. Students will learn some of the key theories of ethology and will apply them in a hands-on behavioral coding study.


Prerequisites
Some background in biology would be useful.

Every morning, you turn on lights, check your text messages, feel the warmth of your heater, toast your bread, take the bus/car to school. These are simple conveniences in our lives, thanks to the advent of coal or natural gas power plants, and oil processing. We know that these power plants lead to carbon emissions that contribute to climate change and negative health consequences. Yet, what are we doing about this? The convenience of electricity has become our way of life, even when the effects may be the next Hurricane Sandy. What then can we do to turn things around? What can big corporations do to change our path away from extreme climate? What is the government doing to ensure the survival of its people?

What is the value of nature? Why should we care if an animal across the world goes extinct, or if human development hurts a plant in the forest just a little bit, when these occurrences are of so little consequence to us? Across third world countries, how can we ethically protect an environment that humans need to exploit for their livelihoods? These questions and more will be explored through this multidisciplinary course, in an attempt to put a numerical value on an entity that goes far beyond any of our understanding.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of biology

Dinosaurs are really cool. There are a lot of other prehistoric creatures that are also really cool, however, and thus people mix dinosaurs and non-dinosaurs up all the time. We've also made a lot of new discoveries about dinosaurs that haven't seemed to reach pop culture yet, and movies like the upcoming Jurassic World only spit on the face of paleontology. So if you're interested in finding out what really makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, well, I guess this is the class for you. Bring all and any dinosaur questions you might've had since you were 5 years old but your parents couldn't answer, as well as a willingness to accept the fact that T. rex probably had feathers. You wouldn't believe the amount of literature--and public stubbornness--that attempts to disprove the idea of feathered dinosaurs.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of evolution, bones, and big numbers; I would recommend Googling 'phylogenetic tree' but I'll go over that in class anyway so no big deal.

Everyone loves penguins, but how much do you know about them? This course will cover the essentials of these fascinating birds, including geographic distribution, anatomy, feeding, and reproduction. Get ready to excite the inner ornithologist in you!

Ever wondered what is happening to you when you have the flu? Why do you get a fever? What makes your nose run? And how do you get better?

In this course we will learn about what infects us- from the mundane flu to deadly ebola- and what protects us- our immune system.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of biology may be helpful but is not required

This class provides a relatively brief overview of conversational French, France and Paris. It is geared towards providing some useful skills and knowledge for a potential trip to Paris/France.
The first part of the class is designed to teach you basic conversational French: from greetings and introductions to some frequent basic questions.
The second part of the class will provide some basic knowledge about France, including geographical, historical, economical and cultural information.
The last part of the class will focus on Paris -- its history, global significance, monuments and culture.
It will include games, the use of clips of movies and songs, and provide you with a summary handout.

The molluscan class of cephalopods includes some of nature's strangest and most interesting organisms. Come along as we learn about the cuttlefish, octopus, nautilus, and squid through science, literature, and film. In addition to the course material, you will have a chance to dissect a squid, explicate great poetry, and enjoy classic movies. No background in any of these fields is required.

Learn how to play one of the most popular card games of visual perception, SET. Take a break from lecture classes and challenge your mind to find new patterns. SET can be played alone or with as many people as you’d like! Once you take this class, you won’t have to be bored again.

Do you like music? Do you like laughing? Come out and watch the original music videos and then parodies of them, laugh and learn and be exposed to some new music and some new artists. Forget the Billboard Top 100 and dive into the Youtube Top 100. Prepare to laugh and question what makes a good music video, and what in the world those directors were thinking.

In a sense, the question of who will be the next President of the United States is one of the most important questions of the next few years. But in another sense, the answer to this question does not matter as much as we may expect. This class will highlight the political environment of the world today and show that while our next president will help shape the course of history as we know it, he or she will also be constrained by his or her surroundings. This president will inherit a nation with deep-seated social problems, an almost hopelessly divided government, and a number of strong global powers in the Eastern hemisphere who are looking to exert their own style of rule over the world. What sort of environment is our next President stepping into? And how can the candidates of the 2016 elections convince the American people that they are up to the challenge of governing in an increasingly uncontrollable world?

Keep your coins; I want CHANGE!

Are you interested in starting your own community service project? If you want to design and implement a project that maximizes impact for your school or community, attend World Changer's Think Tank (WCTT)! WCTT has been presented in leadership and service conventions throughout the United States and will cover the following topics: brainstorming ideas, budgeting, delegating, advertising, executing, and building on your results.

What are you waiting for? Be a World Changer!

An interactive introduction to phonology, the branch of linguistics concerned with the production of sounds and how they affect language

A fun, interactive introduction to the methods behind the art of cup stacking. Never heard of cup stacking before? Check out this video -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sa9cXHGZHc -- for a preview of what we'll be practicing in class. All levels of expertise are welcome, but this class will be geared towards those with minimal experience.

Do you want to know how to write in secret? Do you want to work for the CIA or the NSA? Do you want to explore how famous figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson communicated without revealing their secrets? What do you think of today's spies? Codes and ciphers have been around for thousands of years, throughout nearly every language and culture. These vital tools of secrecy helped America win independence from Britain and the Allies win WWII. American spies used ciphers during the Cold War; criminals like the Zodiac used them to taunt the police and newspapers. In fact, one 19th century man named Thomas J. Beale wrote a cipher that gives coordinates to a $63 million treasure he buried in Virginia (to this day, no one has been able to solve the cipher and find the treasure!). These are just a few examples of how codes and ciphers have affected the course of human history. We will learn the basics of how to write and decode secret messages and discuss the role of spying in our society. By the end of the class, you'll be able to encode your writing and keep your secrets safe, just like the most well-trained spies!


Prerequisites
None

Estimate show that over 30% of adults in the US are obese and over 60% are overweight. Unfortunately, these figures are only rising. What is it about the US that is so "unhealthy"? More importantly, what can we do about it? This course will provide a brief introduction to some of the major problems which plague in the American food system and discuss ways we can help rescue our nation's food landscape.


Prerequisites
None!

Learn in 1 hour what took me 365 days, 12 psychology books, 3 days without water and electricity, walking on fire, and traveling over 20,000 miles to find out about what REALLY makes people happy in life.

Focus will be on the philosophy of happiness, the psychology of happiness, and the practice of happiness from researchers and philosophers who asked, "what makes us happy?"


Prerequisites
An open-mind

When you imagine one person dying of some terrible illness, it feels so much more real than when you hear statistics about mortality rates in foreign countries. Yet today's most pressing issues do not involve single individuals, but rather global and systemic problems. We will discuss research in psychology that has attempted to explain this paradox, and explore possible methods for wrapping your mind around large scale injustices.

Why is your parody getting taken off YouTube? Don't you have the right to artistic expression? Why didn't that OTHER parody get taken down? What even is a copyright? Why did Glee get sued over it? Discuss memes, cat videos, and mash-ups in the framework of the law.

What is a pilgrimage? Why have people walked across Spain since the 11th century? Join us as we journey toward the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. We'll cover history, art and the perspective of a modern pilgrim. You'll also have the opportunity to start planning your own journey!


Prerequisites
N/A

A crash course on expressing thanks. Thoughts on gratitude from a multitude of disciplines; poetry, neuroscience, and religion. Students should be prepared to voice their opinions on why we say thank you and what gratitude means in their own lives.


Prerequisites
None

Look outside and you will undoubtedly see at least one tree. But can you identify that tree? Can you estimate how many logs are in the tree? This course will provide a short introduction to silviculture, the practice of maintaining a forest to meet diverse needs, and include the opportunity to test one's newly acquired skills on Yale's campus.


Prerequisites
None

Ever wonder why neutral Switzerland is one of the happiest countries? Or why Iceland, despite it's dark days, manages to be happier than tropical countries in the South? This course will explore different criteria for measuring and understanding happiness based on happiness models around the world. We will end the class by engaging in 'happiness-promoting' activities understanding how to achieve and maintain happiness for fuller, richer lives.

An examination of case studies of protest movements. What makes a successful protest movement? What strategies do activists pursue? How do governments respond? The class will examine the Occupy Movement, Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution, India's independence movement under Gandhi, and the Philippines People Power among others. Students should leave with a greater understanding of the strengths and limitations of protest, as well as its changing nature through history. The instructor, KJ Ong, brings a year and a half of protest organization and activism experience into the classroom to discuss protests as seen on the ground and from afar.

In Why School Matters, we'll talk about one of the biggest (maybe THE biggest) problem in the United States: the giant gap in K-12 education and in educational opportunities for American kids. Our discussion will be centered on YOUR experiences: come ready to talk about your own educational experiences and how you think they have influenced you and will continue to influence you. We won't solve any big problems in our 2 hours together, but we'll start talking about the questions that matter the most!

What did "gaming" entail before the era of video games? And why are educators and doctors starting to take play seriously? Come explore the principles of game design from before the era of computers, and learn why play is of paramount importance for the physical and mental wellness of people of all ages. Based on the work of game designer Bernie DeKoven and play leader Dr. Kwame Brown. The class will include a presentation and discussion, with demos if time permits!

This short course will focus on the very basics of financing certain assets (bonds with a brief foray into options) and simple ways of pricing these assets (binomial pricing for options, summations for bonds).


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of sums is helpful.

Here's the thing about cheese: it's delicious. But how did it get that way? And what's the difference between Gouda and Gruyere, anyway?

Via a combination of science and taste-testing, we'll try to find out!


Prerequisites
If you have any food allergies or dairy-related dietary restrictions, please let me know beforehand!

An examination of the uprising and protests in the Arab World in 2011. The course takes a look at the decisions made by protesters, the regimes, and the international community. No prior knowledge needed.

How natural resources affect developing economies, public policy, and international interest in regions. A focus on authoritarian governments in Africa and the Middle East.

This course looks at new Common Core standards and their implications. What does it mean for students, teachers, and administrators? How does politics change its implications? What are its goals and will it succeed? This class will examine these questions in exploring the most recent national push for reform in public education.

This class will cover double dutch basics, like turning and jumping technique, then we'll move on to learn some cool freestyle tricks. Wear your gym shoes and be ready to jump!

OBJECTION! Come and learn the art of navigating the courtroom. What makes a good opening Statement? Closing Statement? What can an attorney do to keep his witness under control? In this class, we will learn about every part of a trial and hone our critical thinking and public speaking skills by developing the art of argumentation and body language in the courtroom. DON'T MISS THIS CLASS!


Prerequisites
*Familiarity with Mock Trial helpful but by not required.

There are over 6,000 languages in the world. How do these languages communicate the same information in wildly different ways? What patterns exist across all languages? Learn the answers to these questions and more by solving fun language puzzles. In the process, discover surprising truths about unfamiliar languages and even about English itself.

No previous experience with linguistics is required!

Go over the principles of entrepreneurship and talk about what it is like to start and run a business. The class will be peppered with personal stories.


Prerequisites
None

A study of beautiful ways to solve problems. Studies from computer science, poetry, policy, satellite remote sensing, behavioral economics, public health, game theory, and genomics. A focus on elegant solutions to ugly social problems and social problem-solving as craft.