How did we come to be? This question resonates throughout history and touches every discipline. Herein, we explore both competing historical perspectives and cutting-edge theories/research from a chemical perspective. Focus will be given to many supposed paradoxes and controversies (i.e. Faint Sun, Levinthal's, ...). The culmination of our work will knock down the wall between kinetics and thermodynamics-- breaking the cardinal rule of chemistry.

Why can’t I divide by zero? Why can’t I cancel “x” from both sides of a polynomial equation. Why can’t I have more than two operations (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division) on a set? Frequently, these questions are dismissed in early math classes. However, the answer most certainly is not: “It just is that way.” This course will give an introduction to the fundamental structures that underlie all of math and answer some of these simple, but deep questions. While not comparable to a full semester course in abstract algebra, expect to gain a working familiarity with extremely powerful concepts. Examples and applications will be accessible to all levels of prior math experience. Key Words: Group, Ring, Vector Space, Module, Field, Algebra

With an energy crisis on the horizon, solar energy storage has become a hot topic in modern science. What is the best way to capture solar energy? Once we have that energy, how to we store it? However, there are so many different types of solar cells being used that reading even popular science articles can be confusing. We will systematically clarify the major categories of solar cells, including the system used by nature, and explain how they work from a physics, biology, or chemistry perspective. Topics will include solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, dye-sensitized solar cells, photosynthesis, solar electrolysis, and solar thermal cells.

Why are electrical conductors always thermal conductors? What determines the properties of one material over another? While much of modern materials science appears like trial and error from the outset, this course will motivate the deep physical differences (using extremely simple models) between metals, insulators, etc. that determine a large variety of properties in the world around us.

This course will cover matrices from start to finish. The basic underpinnings of matrix operations and multiplication will be motivated (as well as their relation to abstract mathematical structure and spaces). Further, the course will attempt to give a strong understanding of the "right" way to think about matrices, such that generalization to tensors is easy.

Why can’t I divide by zero? Why can’t I cancel “x” from both sides of a polynomial equation. Why can’t I have more than two operations (addition/subtraction, multiplication/division) on a set? Frequently, these questions are dismissed in early math classes. However, the answer most certainly is not: “It just is that way.” This course will give an introduction to the fundamental structures that underlie all of math and answer some of these simple, but deep questions. While not comparable to a full semester course in abstract algebra, expect to gain a working familiarity with extremely powerful concepts. Examples and applications will be accessible to all levels of prior math experience. Key Words: Group, Ring, Vector Space, Module, Field, Algebra

How did we come to be? This question resonates throughout history and touches every discipline. Herein, we explore both competing historical perspectives and cutting-edge theories/research from a chemical perspective. Focus will be given to many supposed paradoxes and controversies (i.e. Faint Sun, Levinthal's, ...). The culmination of our work will knock down the wall between kinetics and thermodynamics-- breaking the cardinal rule of chemistry.