Sprout Spring 2025
Course Catalog

In this class we will explore what makes quantum computing so special and how it can be used to beat normal computers at certain tasks. We will examine physical foundations including some information theory, qubits, superposition, quantum entanglement, and some simple example of quantum advantage.

In the first class, we will introduce core concepts and notation used to describe quantum information and the ways that we can use it. We will cover quantum states, Bra-ket notation, superposition, the Bloch sphere, and entanglement.

In the second class, we will shift to a more practical approach, looking at how quantum information is encoded and processed in real systems and how errors prevent us from scaling to the holy grail of 'practical' quantum computers. This class will introduce several different hardware configurations including, cold atom, trapped ion, and superconducting circuit architectures. The methods of application, and pros/cons will be discussed on a fundamental level for each system.


Prerequisites
Knowledge of algebra and geometry is helpful but not necessary.

The immune system lies in a delicate balance between the Light and the Dark, mediated by the Force: inflammation. Like in Star Wars, the mediators of inflammation work together and against each other to ensure our bodies are capable of fighting disease, toxicity, and cancer. Inflammation seems to play a role in almost every major disease (including a major role in the progression of COVID), but there's so much we still don't know about it. Do the keys to curing diseases like Alzheimer's, pulmonary fibrosis, and heart disease lie in controlling our body's inflammatory response to them?

In this course, we'll use Star Wars as an analogy to take a closer look at your immune system and the inflammatory response, especially how macrophages -- the white blood cell commanders of your disease-fighting army -- are the "chosen ones" destined to bring balance to the Forces of inflammation, and how inflammation plays a larger role in disease than you might have ever imagined.


Prerequisites
Basic biology knowledge, no knowledge of Star Wars required!

Ever wonder how doctors are able to figure out what's wrong with their patients with just a few questions and tests? In the first session of this class, we'll use an example to talk about how doctors approach a patient's chief concern and ask smart questions to develop a potential diagnosis and guide treatments. In the second (interactive) session, we'll try our hand at diagnosing a fictional patient based on questions we come up with together and information you'll learn in class and in assigned readings.


Prerequisites
Biology knowledge preferred

Read comics? Interested in making them? In this hands-on class, we'll read a few short comics, and then make our own. In the process, we'll think about what a comic is, and go over some basic techniques for drawing, planning, and producing traditional mini comics (even if you have limited or no experience). Expect to draw throughout the class, come up with and work on an idea for a short comic, and do a "gallery walk" in the end where other students in the class will read your comic and leave their (positive) thoughts. Paper will be provided, but please bring pencils and a ruler.


Prerequisites
(1) An interest in comics, storytelling, graphic novels, and/or manga, (2) You don't have to be good at drawing! All levels of experience are welcome., (3) You can bring/work with digital drawing tools if you like, but the class will be taught primarily through pen/paper.

Hippocrates is known as the "Father of Medicine" yet we actually know almost nothing about him. In fact, the collection of texts associated with him know as the "Hippocratic Corpus" were not written by him. Galen of Pergamon, a physician in Alexandria, claimed his own work to be an extension of Hippocrates' as a way to enhance the credibility of his own ideas. Following this tradition, the Anti-Vaccine movement makes use of Hippocrates and his associated Hippocratic texts to further their own agendas. In this class, we will look at selections of these texts as well as some anti-vaccine claims on X (formerly Twitter) to examine the misuse and abuse of Hippocrates.

This course will focus on the Oedipus Plays -- a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by the playwright Sophocles. The plays remain widely studied today, namely for their themes regarding authority, justice, morality, and the complexity of human relationships. This course requires no prerequisites, and is meant to be an introductory survey of the Classics.

The class will be taught in a seminar/discussion format, and students are expected to have read the assigned texts prior to our scheduled meetings. The readings will be distributed via email in PDF format. Participation is highly encouraged and will make the class more fun for everyone.

This course will focus on Bioenergetics -- the study of energy generation and flow through living systems. Students will become familiarized with ATP -- the molecule of life -- and the various mechanisms in which it is produced by multicellular organisms (i.e. humans, plants) and bacteria, and the ways it is used to drive everyday processes (i.e. breathing, muscle contraction).

This course requires no prerequisites and is meant to give students a brief introduction to a field that lies at the heart of biochemistry.

The word “quantum” is thrown around with “AI” and “machine learning” in everything from movies to TV shows. You may even have heard about Google’s or Microsoft’s quantum computing announcements in the news recently; but what is a quantum computer? Why should you care anyway? This two-part core class will answer these questions and more by introducing students to the fundamental ideas that make quantum computers so unique. In the first session of the course, we will discuss the ways that quantum computing is portrayed in popular culture. In particular we will focus on the potentially groundbreaking applications of quantum computing including optimization, cryptography, and scientific simulations. Our discussion of these applications leads seamlessly into a conversation about the fundamental difference between quantum and classical computers that may, over time, allow more of these applications to be realized. At this point, we introduce the building blocks of a quantum computer: namely qubits.
In the second half of the course, we will delve further into our discussion of what a qubit is. Using simple thought experiments and some basic linear algebra (which we do not expect as a prerequisite) we will introduce the fundamental quantum mechanical phenomenon of superposition: the idea that something can be in two states at once! We hope that students will leave the course with a deeper understanding of what quantum computing is and a greater ability to engage critically with the nuances of technological and scientific communication wherever they may encounter it.

Please note that this two hour course is adapted from a larger 5-day program called Yale Summer Introduction to Quantum (YSIQ) which we will be holding for free in August, with the help of a number of volunteers. With that in mind, we hope that the larger YSIQ program can serve as an avenue for interested Yale Sprout students to continue learning about this emerging field.

Do you want to become a wizard of words, a master of the English language? Do you want to craft gemlike prose that reaches into the depths of your reader's consciousness and illuminates their very soul? If so, you shouldn't take this class, because your instructors don't know how to do those things. But if you want to spend a few hours freewriting, playing writing games, and generally having fun with the creative process, then this class is for you!

Maybe you've heard about Einstein's strange and beautiful theory of special relativity: the way that time warps, space contorts, and some of our most fundamental assumptions about reality break down at high velocities. Maybe you haven't. Either way, this class will discuss where all of these mind-bending ideas come from and why you should care about them. Following in the footsteps of Einstein, we will use a series of simple "thought experiments" to gradually unravel the complexity of this theory.


Prerequisites
Students should have some exposure to physics and basic geometry.

A first look into the world of art history, visual analysis, and visual & material culture through how animals are represented and what those representations tell us about wider histories and cultures. Topics we will look at and discuss include dogs in Mary Oliver’s poetry, how dogs and cats appear in portrait paintings, beasts and the medieval Bestiary, the myths of the unicorn including horses and their respective relations to both masculinity and femininity, and the collecting of animals (menageries, zoos, cabinets of curiosity, taxidermy) and its relation to imperialism, masculinity, expansion, and science.

This course aims to explore the ethical challenges and implications of artificial intelligence, including privacy, copyright, algorithmic bias, and environmental concerns. The class will focus on current case studies and explore what future consequences may look like.

Have you dreamed of making a movie but lacked the budget or resources to pull it off? With stop-motion animation, you can create entire worlds on any scale. This technique has been used in iconic films like Star Wars, Shaun the Sheep, Wallace and Gromit, and the 1956 Godzilla movie. This class includes a lecture introducing the fundamentals of stop-motion animation and a hands-on workshop. Students will learn some essential techniques including storytelling, framing, animation principles, lighting, and editing using professional and personal examples. The workshop will then allow students get a feel for the medium on their own!


Prerequisites
A smartphone with the "stop motion studio" app downloaded (free on the app store)

In today's world, information is everywhere—but not all of it is accurate or reliable. This class will help students develop critical thinking skills to evaluate news, social media, and online content with a more discerning eye. Through real-world examples students will learn how to recognize bias, misinformation, and manipulation tactics while strengthening their ability to think independently. By the end of the session, students will have practical strategies for analyzing sources, questioning narratives, and making informed decisions in an increasingly complex information environment.

Each year, the US Mint produces 10 billion coins. Since 1792, coins have been a cornerstone in our economy, but with the advent of new payment technologies, coins risk becoming remnants of the past. In this class, we will explore the story behind the cents, examine rare coins, and learn about the evolution of United States (and international) coinage throughout the years. A cool coin souvenir will be provided too!

What comes after calculus? Math, as it turns out, largely branches off into two general approaches: Analysis, studying the smooth and continuous (like calculus), and Algebra, studying structure and symmetry. The broader field of Algebra is quite different from the Algebra I & II you might have taken in school-- Algebraists unfortunately don't spend their lives studying y=mx+b.

Group theory studies symmetry, and is one of the first areas of Abstract Algebra students encounter, and it's like starting math from the beginning again. This course will focus on the visual intuitions of group theory and build toward using rigorous mathematical argument to prove theorems about groups.


Prerequisites
No hard prerequisites, but basic familiarity with sets, set builder notation, basic number theory, and proof will be very useful. Please take if you are interest in abstract mathematics!

What if storytelling could shape the future? This course explores how speculative fiction connects science, government, and ethics, using storytelling to imagine new possibilities and engage with real-world dilemmas. Students will learn the mechanics of great storytelling—plot, structure, and world-building—while analyzing how fiction can communicate scientific ideas, challenge political systems, and spark meaningful conversations about the world we live in and the futures we might create.

From the Manhattan Project to MKUltra, from DARPA’s futuristic technologies to the classified world of aerospace research, government-funded science has shaped history in ways most of us will never know—because much of it is classified. This course explores the intersection of science, government, and national security, analyzing how scientific breakthroughs have been driven, controlled, and sometimes hidden by state power.

Through analysis of real-world examples, discussions on government documents, and ethical debates, students will gain insight into how science both enables and is constrained by political and security concerns. Whether you're interested in physics, espionage, or policy, this class will uncover the hidden world where science and secrecy collide!

Did you know that startups less than 3.5 years old create nearly 85% of new jobs worldwide? Join the next generation of young innovators as you master the entrepreneurial journey. This hands-on class equips you with immediately applicable skills in customer discovery, company & board formation, equity structuring, incubation models, designing for scale, and fundraising strategies—from venture capital to grants and alternative financing. You'll explore thriving startup ecosystems across industries like healthtech, climate innovation, AI, consumer products, and social enterprises through case studies. Whether you're already running a small business or nurturing a groundbreaking idea, you'll develop a practical toolkit to transform your vision into reality while learning how diverse perspectives drive innovation. By the end of the hour, you'll walk away with valuable resources to immediately advance your entrepreneurial journey, whether you're launching your first company or planning to join a startup while still in high school.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites! Please come with an open mind, creativity, and an interest in business and solving real-world problems.

The most influential band in history. The most successful musical act of all time. What else is to be said about the Beatles? In this course, we will journey on a Magical Mystery Tour of the Beatles’ history and impact, tracking the band’s musical evolution by listening to their music and analyzing their lyrics. We will also position the Beatles in their historical context as a band that broke the American mainstream at the right time and became the figureheads of a socio-cultural rebellion against the Western status quo. Class discussions about the broader impact of their music to the major socio-cultural and political shift of the 1960s hope to shed a critical understanding of this era of Western world history. We will zoom out and look at the Beatles in the modern era. Could there be another Beatles, a musical act revered critically by the masses with monumental commercial success? What does it mean to be the most commercially successful band AND considered “the greatest” band in history? This course hopes to introduce students to mid-20th century England and the United States, and instill further exploration into the Beatles’ extensive discography.


Prerequisites
Basic interest in music history. All are welcome, from first time listeners to lifelong Beatlemaniacs!

Identity is an unwieldy concept. How do we know something is the thing we believe it to be? How do we categorize things, places, and especially, people? And are these categories produced from individual and/or collective action? By examining cultural artifacts from the 21st century, we will consider how representation has benefitted and harmed populations, especially Black communities in the United States. Key texts include Beyoncé's album, "Lemonade," TIME Magazine's articles on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential victory, and artifacts from the Black Lives Matter movement. This class will provide essential frameworks to express and interpret this problem of representation and how we may intervene upon it.

Overview of research methods in astronomy, exoplanet detection methods, exoplanet demographics, exoplanet characteristics

Dragons, cyborgs, and mermaids, oh my!

Speculative fiction is the umbrella term for stories that take place in settings different from reality. Speculative fiction subgenres include: fantasy, science fiction, horror, superhero fiction, dystopia, apocalyptic, and more!

We will learn about the history of speculative fiction, different branches of the genre, and tips on how to craft your own speculative fiction stories and worlds! Whether you’re an aspiring fantasy author, avid science fiction reader, or a curious adventurer, all who are interested in exploring the wild, weird, and wonderful world of speculative fiction are welcome!

"Freedom is nothing but the distance between the hunter and the hunted."
—Bei Dao, "Accomplices"

Why do we study history? What is our historical responsibility? In today's world, governments teeter towards authoritarianism, democracies towards far-right populism, and truth is constant reinvented through censorship and the rewriting of historical memory. What is the role of an individual in face of these alarming societal currents -- the role of the philosopher, the poet, or the artist?

We will take a brief look through the lives and read works of two thinkers and their interlocutors: Czech dissident-playwright-philosopher Vaclav Havel, and Chinese dissident-poet Bei Dao. We will seek to understand how they come together - how Bei Dao's poetry came to be the one chanted by student protestors on Tiananmen Square in 1989 before tanks rolled over their bodies, how Vaclav Havel and his colleagues went to prison for signing a document that reaffirmed truth and civil rights against the then-Communist government, and set the dominos in motion for Czechnoslovakia's famous Velvet Revolution. We will also be engaging briefly with their contemporary and future interlocutors, including Marx, Heidegger, and Ocean Vuong.


Prerequisites
None, except for a willingness to think deeply and engage with philosophy and poetry.

Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is one of the easiest languages to learn as an English speaker — there are no tenses, the grammar is extremely simple, and it's written in the Latin alphabet. Come learn some simple words and phrases from one of the world's 200 million Indonesian speakers! Students will leave being able to carry very basic conversation in Bahasa Indonesia and knowing a bit more about Indonesian culture.

Learn how to read and write poetry, twist english into its highest form of being, play with the concept of time, and elevate your voice and vision when writing. Learn about competitions for creative writing and my opinion on them.

Did you know that the oldest cookbook ever found is at Yale? Well, it's not quite a book. It's more of a clay tablet, an almost 4000 year old clay tablet, that is. In this course, we'll explore some of the surviving recipes that have been written down by the Mesopotamians, Ancient Greeks, and Romans. We'll talk about how we know what ingredients they used, take a look at some examples of ancient kitchen utensils, examine ancient food culture, and more! Hopefully, you'll go home with some new (I mean, ancient) recipe ideas!

Unmasking the mechanics behind modern history's most prolific propaganda machines: their narratives, their aesthetics, and their dissemination tactics. How can we deceive others and how do we ensure that we are not deceived?

An introductory class to hand-built ceramics! Learn to pinch pot and coil.

This course introduces students to the art of card magic, focusing on foundational techniques and performance skills. Students will learn essential sleight-of-hand techniques, including the double lift, false shuffles and cuts, and various card forces. Emphasis will be placed on misdirection, presentation, and building confidence in performance. By the end of the course, students will be able to execute a series of professional-level card tricks and develop an understanding of the psychological principles behind effective magic. No prior experience is required—just a deck of cards and a passion for learning.

Welcome (back) birders! After a quick review of how to identify birds by both sight AND sound, we'll discuss the importance of birds in the environment and the steps we can take to protect them. Plus, you'll get to make your own take-home birdfeeder! Fly on in—no prior experience needed!

Have you ever wished you could step inside your favorite book? In this class, we’ll explore how to create art inspired by literature, translating scenes, characters and themes into creative visual expression.

All are welcome! No prior drawing experience required.

What is hope? How can we hold onto hope when the world seems to be falling apart—and should we? How have poets thought and written about hope across centuries?

This class will explore poetry as a medium for thinking about hope. We will read, contemplate, and discuss poems by authors including Langston Hughes, Jane Hirshfield, Muriel Rukeyser, Wang Ping, and Pablo Neruda in conversation with one another. Then, we will write our own poems to reflect on how we each engage with hope.

This class will explore cycloids, a super cool type of curve created by a point on the edge of a rolling circle. We'll learn about mathematical properties of cycloids and the equations that describe them. We’ll also look at how cycloids are relevant in engineering and physics, and create some cycloids of our own.


Prerequisites
Recommended algebra and geometry, familiarity with trig functions sin and cos

Go, also known as weiqi, is a 2500-year-old game of skill and strategy originating in China. Despite its simple rules, Go is believed to be one of the most strategically complex games in the world. In fact, it took 20 years after AI had already mastered chess before it was able to beat top humans in Go. In this class, we'll learn the rules of Go and play a few starting matches with each other!

The four fundamental forces—gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force—govern everything in the universe. From the formation of galaxies to the behavior of subatomic particles, these forces shape reality at every scale. This course explores the nature of the four fundamental forces, probing the origin of these forces, interesting properties associated with each one, and how they come into play in physics and engineering.


Prerequisites
Some background in physics and math may be helpful, but not required.

Diamonds, gold, emeralds, and rubies are among the most well known examples of minerals, which form the building block of our society. From glittery makeup to the copper wiring used in electronics, minerals can be found everywhere in our daily lives. That being said, what exactly are minerals? What are their properties? Where do they come from? What can we do with them? In this interactive course, we will survey a variety of minerals and their unique properties, as well as how these minerals are formed, and how they are used in everyday life.


Prerequisites
General chemistry is recommended, but not required.

Are you an aspiring scientist interested in viruses? This seminar-style class will cover the foundational molecular biology discoveries during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the novel mRNA vaccine. This class will involve several pieces of scientific literature, the history of coronavirus diseases, the progression of the pandemic, and scientific methods that led to the modern mRNA vaccine. Topics include: SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, antibodies, mRNA Vaccine, and Paxlovid.

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of cardiac physiology! In this fascinating course, you'll discover how the heart works as an incredible pump, powering your entire body. We'll explore the intricate electrical system that keeps your heart beating rhythmically, utilizing the specialized pacemaker cells to the complex network of conduction pathways. You'll learn about the unique action potentials of cardiac cells and how they create the familiar ECG waveform doctors use to check your heart health. We'll dive into the mechanics of the heart, understanding how it contracts and relaxes to push blood through your body efficiently. Furthermore, you'll see how the heart adapts to different demands, like exercise or stress, through amazing mechanisms like the Frank-Starling law and touch on how the body regulates blood pressure to keep everything running smoothly. By the end of this course, you'll have a newfound appreciation for the incredible organ that keeps you alive every second of every day.
Topics: Cardiac Anatomy, Cardiac Output, Regulation, Frank-Starling, Baroreceptor Reflex, Bainbridge Reflex, Microcirculation, EKG.

Ever watched a NileRed video and had absolutely no clue what he was doing? Yeah, same here. This class is a hands-on crash course on basic laboratory skills for organic chemistry lab (as well as general lab safety and protocols). Topics include: safety, waste disposal, glassware and equipment maintenance and usage, synthetic techniques, transferring methods, purification techniques, characterization and analytical techniques, and an introduction to green chemistry principles. While we will not be performing real labs (since I would prefer not to be sued), we will be working with some real pieces of glassware commonly used in laboratories and learning how to properly use and maintain them.


Prerequisites
Knowledge of general chemistry is recommended (no organic chemistry experience required).