Splash 2023
Course Catalog

Interested in making bracelets for yourself, friends, or family? In this course I will teach you how to read friendship bracelet patterns and ultimately equip you with both the skills and resources you need to successfully make your own! Students with experience in bracelet making will be given the opportunity to express their creativity by following a pattern of their choice while those looking to learn something new will follow along with me.

Learn the basics of watercolor by painting birds with me! We'll learn about North American birds and how to draw and create art!

Join me in learning how to do some ballroom dance! I will lead a very beginner friendly workshop on one of my favorite styles, the cha-cha! Participants are not required to have any experience or bring a partner; just come with the intention to have fun and learn!

Learn the basics of using a DAW (software) to produce electronic music in all its forms! Experimental, trap, EDM, dubstep, etc. Basic principles and techniques, plus more advanced artistry and techniques (e.g. sound design and mixing/mastering) if time and interest permits. No experience necessary! Will cover Garageband/Logic, possibly Ableton.

"Boots and Cats" is not where it ends. In fact, the art of beatboxing originally focused on the replication of the entire Roland TR-808 drum machine which enabled the distinct sound of 1980s electronic and hip-hop music.

In this one-hour workshop, we will explore the basic sounds (kick drum, pf-snare, outward k-snare, open and closed hi-hats) and put them together in different ways to create simple beats and funky grooves. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is necessary!

This class gives an overview of online literary magazines. We’ll start by looking at some of the freshest poetry out there, stuff that’s just been released into the world earlier that week or even that day. I will also specifically go over teen lit mags—places for you to submit your work if that’s something you’re interested in, along with some tips about submitting. But also just places to read the work that your peers are writing. Then there will be some writing prompts to try in class, or not it’ll depend on what everyone in the room is most interested in doing. We’ll also just talk about poetry!

Wanna learn how to dance??? How bout breakdance?

Having led Sympoh, Princeton's no-cut, truly no experience necessary, breakdance crew, you can be confident in me to expose you to how to dance and get you closer to being able to express yourself through the art form.

All you gotta do is pull up with clothes you can move in and an eagerness to learn!

(I specialize in breakdance, but can teach a bit of other hip hop stuff too if there is interest)

Do you want to learn how to sketch? Are you a beginner? Then come join our class as we learn how we can approach sketching!

Interested in trying stand-up comedy? Do you make your friends and family laugh, and wonder how you can make total strangers laugh instead (or just like, how to get better at writing and performing jokes)? Come to Basement!

Learn how to embroider! Take a crash course on the basic embroidery stitches. Customize your own clothes or work on a new piece!

Learn how to analyze environmental science sources to create emotionally motivated art. This overview workshop culminates in creating a visual piece that responds to a climate crisis topic of your choosing. No experience in either field necessary! All are welcome.

Have you ever stared at your Spotify, Apple Music, CD or vinyl collection and thought, "I need some NEW music?" Do you not know where to start, or want to figure out new methods of building the perfect playlist? If yes, then this course is for you! In this 50 minute session, you'll learn some super cool music research methods. You'll find music you love, I promise!


Prerequisites
Interest in music.

From “Marguerite Gachet at the Piano” to “The Lute Player,” paintings bear silent witness to many of the greatest moments in the history of music. Embark on a journey investigating the secrets of both worlds, led by two homegirls who’re very much in love with both media of creative expression, and learn how to find your own voice through art.

From La Sagrada Familia to Parc Güell, and Casa Milà to Casa Batlló, we'll take a brief tour of Antoni Gaudí's most famous works. We'll explore the inspirations behind his style, the goals and visions of his projects, and the general context behind this great architect of Catalan Modernism.

Basic crash-course in knitting; will cover all the essentials to make a basic scarf.

Recall the moments that music overwhelmed you with emotion. It could be how your heart throbbed with the beat, or how your eyes welled with tears, or how your pump-up song instantly lifted your mood. Music is a uniquely powerful medium of self expression and – a valuable instrument for civic engagement. Join us for a seminar on music’s intersection with democracy. By analyzing protest music, we can investigate how music engenders empathy and understanding. Students may even get to create short music segments of their own about causes they are passionate about.


Prerequisites
None

Democracy and civic engagement may be found in some of the most unlikely places. For example, have you ever considered the intersection of dance and democracy? Dancers, on Princeton’s campus and beyond, have been known to utilize the striking artform to execute acts of social change, service, and political activism. Join our class to engage in movement-based activities, that require no prior experience in dance, and hear about the way you may be able to get involved in the democracy sphere through dance or other artforms.


Prerequisites
None

Ever wonder how your phone actually sees stuff? How does light go into a plastic and metal rectangle and produce Instagram posts? What *are* pixels?

Well, look no further than this class, where we'll delve into the wide wonderful world of "how cameras camera".

We'll start with the geometric model of a box with a hole in it, and end with problems that modern research hasn't even solved yet (but which you might if you study hard enough).


Prerequisites
You have a healthy interest in math/engineering and are not afraid of triangles. You'll probably find this class more fun if you know some optics, linear algebra, or calculus, but I'll try to teach this at an approachable-for-everyone level.

Do you have an obsession with Hanayama puzzles? Have an interest in the process of how 3D puzzles are designed? Want to make your own puzzle? In this class I'll teach you guys the basics of puzzle design and help you brainstorm, design, and 3D print your very own puzzle!


Prerequisites
A strong interest in puzzles! Some familiarity with CAD and 3D printing is useful but not necessary.

Seventy years ago, computing was sitting in an overheating room with walls of vacuum tubes and reams of punch cards. How did we get to our current computers?


Prerequisites
Should be accessible to non-STEM people

From the steam trains that united America's two great oceans, to the cars that transport millions of people every day, combustion engines are everywhere in the modern world. A single tank of gasoline can move you hundreds of miles from home, placing the world at your fingertips. Moral of the story: engines are cool. And, even cooler, they are quite simple to understand on a fundamental level. I will take us through time, beginning with the Newcomen and Watt steam engines that drove the Industrial Revolution to the Otto Cycle and modern thermodynamic processes that drive efficiency and power in engines. Goal is to have a fun time and gain an appreciation for the engines that propel society forward.

This is a crash course into the exciting new developments in efforts to develop and settle space with the opportunity to think in-depth about the range of scenarios for the future of space exploration! We'll explore the current state of the space industry not just from a technological perspective but also a political and economic one, and consider what possibilities could emerge in the future using a number of brainstorming and organizational tools. The goal is to approach the future of spaceflight from fresh perspectives together and learn new tools to better anticipate possibilities for the future in any range of situations.


Prerequisites
just an interest in space and the future!

Come learn what it takes to be a Formula Driver! Learn about the mental and physical demands that Formula drivers face and participate in training sessions hosted by Princeton Racing Electric (for more info about us, see princetonracingelectric.com)! Our event will introduce you to basic driving concepts like apexing and passing, which you will get to apply first-hand with a recreation of the Princeton Racing Electric vehicle in Forza Horizon 5 on a PC racing sim setup. There will also be an optional training portion that includes exercises F1 drivers use to prepare for their races, with a focus on reflexes. Come and become the next Lewis Hamilton!

Look no further than the fact that the Simpsons is the longest-running television series in American history to understand that cartoons are important to our cultural conversation. In this class, we'll look across the spectrum of animated TV, including The Simpsons, The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, and Bob's Burgers, to ask one simple question: what can cartoons tell us? Using the techniques of literary criticism and media studies, we'll unpack cartoons and think about what makes them so great and why that greatness is important. We'll ask why comedy is funny, and, hopefully, learn to expand our definition of what "literature" is worth studying.

The term "modern art" can often bring up scary ideas of ridiculous objects in museums that one has to pretend to like to seem smart. In this class, we'll try and dispel that image and find out why someone might actually like modern art. We'll look at a variety of works, such as Marcel Duchamp's infamous 1917 display of a urinal, and get into the weeds of what makes modern art tick and how these objects can change how we think about the world.

How have classical mythology and literature been reimagined in our current times? With a close examination and play-through of the video game Hades, this course seeks to illustrate points of similarity and tension between the classics and modernity. After looking at literature and art in antiquity as a comparison to Hades' mythological figures, students will be able to play through Hades to view changes and continuity in reception of classical mythology.

Did you ever wonder what school was like in Ancient Greece? Learn all about how ancient civilizations perceived the concept of creativity within their school systems, and how the concept of creativity is still being applied in many ways today to improve educational access and innovatively teach children in the U.S. and around the world.

Jesus is an important figure in both Christianity and Islam, although his depiction and role differ across the two religions. This class will provide a simple overview and comparison of the figure of Jesus in both religious traditions by examining a small number of readings from the Bible and the Quran. No specific religious background is required and the class will not argue about the "correctness" of any particular religion.

Basic Japanese alphabets and useful(??) phrases to satisfy your curiosity about the culture

Suppose you’re standing on a bridge over a set of train tracks. Below, five people are tied down to the tracks, and to your horror, a train is fast approaching. You are sure the train would run them all over. Luckily, on the bridge in front of you is a very, very large man. He is already leaning over the railing – it would be easy for you to push the large man off the bridge. The train would then run him over, but his size would grind the train to a stop, preventing the five people tied down to the tracks from being killed. Would you push the large man? In this course, we will explore some philosophical dilemmas, hear arguments for and against various courses of action, and then attempt to justify those arguments through broader philosophical theories, such as utilitarianism and Kantianism, and contractualism. By the end of the course, students might even be better at making moral decisions!

Need a place to rant about your favorite movie or the most aggravating problem in the world? Love to talk to other people and hear their perspectives? Have you ever wanted to learn what goes on behind the scenes of a podcast? In one hour, you'll learn to create your own podcast in this project-based class, covering everything from writing and interviewing to recording and publishing.

Did you know that the first Asian-Americans were brought to the Americas as indentured workers in the 1600s? Or that Asian-Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United States today?
Asian American stories are often untold in the broader historical narrative of the United States. In this one hour class, we will explore and discuss these overlooked, yet powerful, crucial stories of Asian-Americana based on the book The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee. All are welcome!

This course explores the nature and implications of the Chinese paleography system, discovering the principles and compositions of the ancient characters on oracle bones, bronze inscriptions, and bamboo/silk manuscripts. Issues will include: the origin of Chinese writing, methodologies of decipherment, chronological changes of graphs, material conditions of writing, and finally, how should we connect the modern Chinese writing system with its ancient ancestor?


Prerequisites
While basic Chinese proficiency would help with understanding the materials, this class welcomes anyone, even those who aren't familiar with Chinese.

Are you interested in the intersections between democracy and poetry? Have you ever wondered how poems have been used to enact democracy? Do poems such as Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb stick out to you? Join us for a seminar on how historically poetry has been used as a powerful tool to further democratic goals and champion democracy within America! At the end of the seminar, students will get the chance to write their own poem and apply what they have learned to use language as a form of resistance, communication, and community building.


Prerequisites
None

Course Description: Are you interested in learning about how Journalism operates as the cornerstone of democracy, especially in an age of widespread disinformation? Then this is the course for you! We’ll learn about different forms of journalism and how we can work to uphold democracy through effective journalism.


Prerequisites
None

We will take a look at the major ideas and historical figures of a philosophical epoch that remains immensely influential in today's world, as reflected in the structure of governmental & legal institutions, scientific practices, and the rise of individualism. We will also examine the problematic legacy of the age of enlightenment, and how its ideas were crucial to the development of imperialist and totalitarian ideologies of the 19th and 20th century. Authors to be discussed will include Kant, Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu & Adorno

Delve deep in to the fascinating quantum realm of very small particles that seem to defy intuition, and learn about their use in doing exponentially fast computations, provably secure cryptography, and much more!

This class will give you a great and accurate starting intuition for quantum particles, quantum computers, and what a future quantum internet may look like.

Find out what the "quantum multiverse" really is, why you can't just look at quantum particles under a microscope, and how Einstein was wrong about the nature of quantum information!


Prerequisites
Familiarity with vectors and matrices is useful for getting the most out of the class.

In this course, I will show you how to solve a problem that evaded human minds for well over two thousand years: can any angle be trisected with compass and straight edge? Along the way, I will introduce the beautiful framework of ideas known as "Galois theory" that finally dissolved this problem.


Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites, although having some level of mathematical maturity will help.

As L. E. J. Brouwer was stirring his coffee one day, he noticed one point seemed to remain motionless. Indeed, after stirring a cup of coffee, on bit of liquid must be in exactly the same place that it started in. This a result known as the Brouwer Fixed-Point Theorem, which I will prove in this class. Along the way, I will introduce some of the basic ideas of the beautiful subject known as Algebraic Topology, including the concepts of homotopy and the fundamental group.


Prerequisites
Some acquaintance with the notion of continuity (doesn't have to be a formal definition). This could come from a calculus class, or simply an algebra two class or precalculus.

A introduction to game theory, and its applications in economics. We'll take about the classic prisoner's dilemma, and expand to more applications and real life examples. We will also play games in class to illustrate key concepts!

The functions that we have seen so far in math classes are very nice, or made of nice functions. In this class, we will see some not-so-nice functions and so-not-nice functions hiding behind otherwise nice properties.


Prerequisites
Comfort with algebra. Knowledge of mathematical induction would be helpful, but is not required.

Much of contemporary mathematics is indebted to techniques developed in the 1940s affectionately dubbed "abstract nonsense" by their practitioners, due to their great generality. However, despite the esoteric terminology and notation, these subjects such as category theory and homological algebra are extremely affable and gorgeous when one takes the time to befriend them; and have lead to the development of entirely new fields such as homotopy theory. In this course we will introduce the basic notions of categories, functors, and natural transformations through elementary examples; culminating with a proof of Yoneda's Lemma. The content will be based off of previous experiences teaching this subject at the high school level.


Prerequisites
Must be ok with unmotivated abstraction, and with a great many new definitions and notations.

If you're interested in math, you might have heard that a type of mathematician called a topologist thinks that a coffee cup and a donut are the same, because we can stretch and squish one into another and back. But how do we know that we can't deform anything into anything else? Are a coffee cup and a donut really the same in some special way, or are they no more similar than a circle and a sphere, or a line and a plane? In this talk we will answer these questions and more by giving a quick and dirty introduction to a powerful tool called homology, which is used in almost all fields of modern mathematics to tell objects apart and prove deep theorems about them.


Prerequisites
Having some math experience outside the classroom would help (e.g. competitive math, knowing modular arithmetic, etc). However you can probably manage without any if you want.

Are you tired of being surrounded with hype around ChatGPT without knowing how it works? In this class we will explore language models, the amazing algorithms that form the basis of the incredible chatbots and translation systems that have been invented in the past few years. We will gain intuition with basic models that don't require any previous background to understand, but we will also explore some of the more advanced technologies that make software like ChatGPT work.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of coding and math will be helpful.

What exactly are programming languages? How do computers understand them? What are the differences between languages? Why is C the best language? Find out all of this and more at this session: beginning with binary and ending with a survey of modern programming languages. No programming experience required.

a quick survey of probability and what it takes to win certain card games


Prerequisites
just some curiosity about maths and probability!

We'll introduce the P vs NP problem from theoretical computer science. To help us understand the idea of complexity classes, we will discuss Super Mario Bros and the paper "Classic Nintendo Games are (Computationally) Hard."


Prerequisites
Have some experience with programming and algorithms (e.g., know what bubble sort is). It would be helpful if you have played the original Super Mario Bros or know how the about game mechanics. Here is a good approximation of Super Mario Bros: https://www.gatobros.com/syobon.html

In this class, we'll study and play of one of the greatest bluffing and strategy games of all time. We'll go over the rules of poker and some basic strategies, play many games, introduce various concepts in poker theory such as opening ranges, bet sizing, continuation betting and more, and hold a mini-tournament with prizes at the end. No experience required – you'll leave with everything you need to take on the pros!

How do social networks like Twitter and Facebook function? Or Google Maps' route navigation?
Underlying all these technologies are graphs, a useful data structure representing objects and the relationships between them.

In this short "course", we'll explore graphs through hands-on coding, covering how to implement them and travel through them. As a fun application of graphs, we'll code our own version of the algorithm used by The Oracle of Bacon to find how 2 people are connected to each other through mutual friends/relationships. (You can play around with the Oracle of Bacon here: https://oracleofbacon.org).
We'll also briefly touch on other problems in graph theory (like shortest path) and algorithms for solving them which build off what you will learn in this "course".

Absolutely no prior knowledge of graphs is assumed. Get ready to learn about something cool and exciting!

In addition, for those interested in competitive programming and/or software engineering careers, sometimes competitions and interviews have graph problems. This "course" would serve as a useful intro to graphs and point out useful algorithms in the field for further exploration.


Prerequisites
A Laptop. Experience with Java and/or C++.

Do you play chess? Do you play infinite chess? Maybe not, but playing chess on an infinite chess board creates a lot of chaotic fun very quickly, especially when you are allowed infinite pieces! A fun question to ask is, can we create forced-mate positions that take any arbitrary amount of time to mate the king? Join me as we investigate the crazy world of infinite chess.


Prerequisites
Only basic knowledge of the rules of chess is required - no real theory

In this course, we will investigate
Fermat's Last Theorem in the special case of $$n = 3$$. First, we will give a (relatively) elementary proof, based on factorization in number fields. Later, we will develop the basic theory of elliptic curves to study the more general problem of finding rational points on elliptic curves, which may be applied to prove Fermat's Last Theorem in the case $$n = 3$$.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of algebra (groups, rings, fields) may be useful. I will try to assume as little as possible.

Have you ever wondered how computers get hacked? We all hear on the news about large companies suffering cyberattacks, but rarely does the media explain exactly how these attacks happen or how companies respond to them. In this talk, we'll cover some of the famous cyberattacks and software bugs from computing history, and talk about some exploit techniques that allow hackers to break the boundaries of what software is intended to do, along with some live exploit demos. We'll also discuss how these techniques can be applied to attack web browsers, system software, and even your gaming consoles.


Prerequisites
No programming experience is expected, but some familiarity with computers will be helpful. I will be showing code examples in this talk, but I will explain them thoroughly enough that those without programming experience should not have trouble following. I hope that everyone will be able to get something from this talk, from technology acolytes to experienced programmers.

Ever wanted to understand how computer understand the visual world? How computers are able to process RGB numerical values from a photo and translate that into words what is in the image?
We are going to explore exciting concepts in Computer Vision starting from the basics and ending on a high level overview of bleeding edge Generative AI topics such as DALL-E. Also will be open to discuss applications of computer vision in the industry!

Math in college can be intimidating and a little different than math you may be familiar with, but it doesn't have to be scary! It takes some getting used to, but in this class you'll get an introduction to what it means to prove something mathematically, and even get a better understanding of what it means to prove something in your every day life. Math is all about thinking things through, and anyone can be good at it, no matter what your background is. Let me prove it!

An exploration of how to define sound in the physical and digital world using mathematical and sonic models and vocabulary.

Making electronica music with probability! We will be utilizing Poisson processes and Markov chains to create songs that are realizations of random processes.

Our course will focus on randomizing note/rest lengths using Poisson, and then randomizing pitches/chord progressions using a Markov Process.

Students should have a basic understanding of probability.


Prerequisites
A love for instrumental electronic music (especially video game music!)

This course will be a (very) quick introduction to organic chemistry principles. We'll cover structure, intra/intermolecular effects, acid/base chemistry, basic reactivity, and some applications like drug design!


Prerequisites
Basic general chemistry (honors, AP, etc.)

Particles, waves, cats, and boxes? The beauty of quantum is hard to realize without learning how we came to the conclusions we have and why we think they’re true. This course will cover the basics of quantum mechanics and our current philosophy about particles, delving into a bit of history to do so. While the concepts we are covering will be tough to grasp, there is no math background required (though I’m happy to go more in depth)! If you’re interested in hearing about some of the cool things physics has to offer without having to take advanced math courses, then this course is for you!

We will be discussing how black holes affect the spacetime around them, starting from Einstein's equations. We will discuss metrics, geodesics, Minkowski diagrams, Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes, Penrose diagrams, and some interesting consequences (gravitational redshifting, time dilation, frame dragging). No knowledge of relativity is required.


Prerequisites
Calculus

In this class, we will uncover basic optics principles, discuss different types of telescopes, mounts, and lenses, and learn to effectively observe the vast night sky! While we will be covering a lot of material during this class, I will not be assuming any background knowledge of the topics and there will be no prerequisites to participate. Join me to learn how best to appreciate our vast, beautiful universe and to step into the shoes of an astronomer!

We will talk about different types of binary stars, how they form, and how mass exchange in close contact binaries affect their evolution.


Prerequisites
Familiar with high school physics

How can animal models like the Drosophila Melanogaster fruit fly help us understand neuroscience and behavior in humans? In this workshop, students will gain hands-on experience working with wildtype fruit flies and analyzing their nervous system under the microscope to study neurobiological injuries. Students will also learn to employ statistical models and basic computer programming to study experimental results.

How your gastrointestinal system and microbiome works


Prerequisites
None!

Time isn't what you think it is. Space isn't what you think it is. Gravity isn't what you think it is. Matter isn't what you think it is (but that's out of the scope of this course go take quantum mechanics).

In 1905, Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity, explaining effects between observers moving at different velocities and phenomena of space and time. In 1915 he published his theory of general relativity, incorporating acceleration and forming a geometric theory of gravity. In 2023, I will attempt to explain both theories intuitively in 90 minutes with no mathematics beyond basic algebra.

Particle physics is a rich, but sometimes intimidating, branch of physics. You may have heard about a very common pictorial representation of particle interactions: Feynman diagrams. I aim to teach the following:
1. what is a quantum field
2. how a lagrangian describes a given quantum system
3. the Feynman ABCs
4. how to calculate Feynman amplitudes in the ABC theory.
By the end, you will know how to evaluate and more importantly have an understanding behind equations like $$\int \int \int (-iq)^3 \frac{i}{q_4^2-m_B^2c^2} \frac{i}{q_5^2-m_A^2c^2} \frac{i}{q_6^2-m_C^2c^2} \cdot (2\pi)^4 \delta^4 (P_1 -q_4-P_3) (2\pi)^4 \delta^4 (q_4 -q_6-q_5) (2\pi)^4 \delta^4 (q_5 + q_6 -P_2) \cdot \frac{d^4 q_4}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{d^4 q_5}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{d^4 q_6}{(2\pi)^4}$$


Prerequisites
Calculus, Vectors, and very basic Special Relativity

What did the beginning of the Universe look like you may ask? Good question -- most of leading cosmologists today are also asking this! There are however, many theories and ideas surrounding the beginning and evolution. In order to understand the begging, there are many puzzle pieces in cosmology that have to come together in order to see the big picture, and it is these pieces I will introduce in this course.

We will first cover concepts like the CMB, Robertson Walker Metric, the Friedman equation, red shift and the Hubble constant, dark matter, and then see how these concepts come together to our current model(s) of the Big Bang (see big bang nucleosynthesis to get excited!).

May I attempt to convince you to sign up with this picture that showed first signs of Dark Matter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_Cluster

Physics teachers hate this one weird trick!

Take this class to learn about Lagrangian mechanics, a different approach to mechanics that makes solving physics problems so much easier! We will cover important concepts including the Euler-Lagrange equation, the Hamiltonian, and Noether's theorem. Then, we'll work through some practice problems that demonstrate how the Lagrangian approach can turn grossly difficult problems into beautifully simple ones.

Warning: If you take this course, you will break the curve and your classmates may hate you.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of physics and calculus recommended

Have you ever wondered what makes the natural world so diverse, dynamic, and complex? Come hang out with graduate students from Princeton’s Molecular Biology Outreach Program (https://mbop.princeton.edu) to learn about evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo-devo.” This field of biology studies how organisms evolve in response to their environments and how changes in their genetic programs create varied body plans. In this class, we will use hands-on activities and interactive discussions to learn how evo-devo builds on fundamental concepts in biology to give us new insights into what makes life - in all of its forms - so beautiful.

Have you ever heard of a gene gun? Want to know how to make mice glow in the dark? Come learn about unique biological techniques with graduate students in Molecular Biology! We'll talk about worm sorters, gene guns, X-ray crystallography, optogenetics (controlling cells using light), and other exciting research methods that are used to expand our knowledge of the world around us. If you are curious about the natural world, interested in research, or just enjoy learning new things, this class is for you! This event is sponsored by Princeton’s Molecular Biology Outreach Program (MBOP).

This introductory course is designed to provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of cancer biology. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying tumor formation and progression, including the genetic and epigenetic changes that contribute to the development of cancer.

Through lectures, interactive discussions, and case studies, students will explore the key hallmarks of cancer, such as uncontrolled growth and invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. They will also learn about the various factors that influence cancer development, including environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as the role of the immune system in cancer surveillance and control.

By the end of the course, students will have developed a solid foundation in cancer biology and be equipped with the knowledge necessary to explore more advanced topics in the field within academia. They will also have gained an appreciation for the complex nature of cancer and the ongoing research efforts in academic research aimed at understanding and treating this disease.

This class will go over basic mechanisms that antibiotics confer resistance to bacteria. It will also discuss the public health implications of antibiotic resistance.


Prerequisites
High school biology

Can new scientific techniques overturn our most basic understandings of the past? In this course, we will examine several new tools that form the basis of archaeological science and their relative contributions to the archaeologist’s toolkit. We will then apply our new understandings to a flashpoint in Biblical Archaeology - the transformation from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in the Kingdom of Israel. Does new data from recent Archaeometry research change the course of human history? We will decide!

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to a pause, and is still effecting how we live our lives today. Many of the heroes at the front of the lines, such as doctors and nurses, risked their lives to treat millions of people affected by this virus with different medical techniques. In this class, we are going to go into the chemistry of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and tests that many of us have taken, but understand so little about. While it is important to stay safe and healthy, it is also important to know what is going into your body and that of your loved ones. This class will give you a clear understanding of what was going on when you got the vaccine and insight into how chemistry and biology were used to restart the world!

The Sun is one of the most prominent solar system objects but is relatively difficult to observe. This class will cover the structure and activity of the Sun, focusing on how observations are made. Depending on the weather, we may be able to observe the Sun using specialized solar telescopes and a spectrograph.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of the physics of light, including wavelength and frequency.

Insights into basic materials science and its role in solving global energy and water challenges.


Prerequisites
none

In 1938, Swiss chemist, Albert Hoffman, accidentally developed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). In subsequent years, LSD, in addition to psilocybin (magic mushrooms), became central in pop-culture and medical research, before being banned in 1968. 50 years later, psychedelic research is making a comeback, particularly in regard to treating various psychopathologies. During this lecture, we'll explore the properties of psychedelics, various psychological disorders, current research, and psychedelic assisted therapy.


Prerequisites
None

Have you ever wondered how you are able to read these words on a screen? Or maybe you’re someone who wears glasses but doesn’t really know why? Join us as we explore the anatomy of the eye, why people need glasses with different prescriptions, rare pathologies, and more! We welcome everyone from glass-wearers to future ophthalmologist to people with 20/20 vision.


Prerequisites
none!

The field of genomics has exploded in the past decade, and is a hot field regardless of whether you're interested in curing cancer, predicting the next global pandemic, addressing climate change, learning more about homo sapiens' ancient ancestors (or your own not-so-ancient ancestors!), or even making better cheese. This is designed to be a crash course, introducing you to the fundamentals of genomics and giving you a taste of the many applications of it. All are welcome, regardless of your background in biology or computer science.

Looking for a great job that you can start THIS summer? Lifeguarding is a rewarding and impactful summer job that will make you stand out from your peers, and this course will cover what it's all about. Come learn some basic rescue techniques and find out how you can get lifeguard certified before the summer begins. We'll also discuss some great career paths in aquatics and how working in the field can strengthen your college applications.

Learn about user experience design and the design thinking process! In this class, students will begin the process of designing their own app on Figma, and no prior design experience needed.

Learn the different types of bread you can make at home, taste some bread, and make your own loaf to be baked at home later!

Learn to play the game of Mahjongg, no experience necessary! First, we will learn the suits by playing "Trip to Shanghai", a simple but exciting game of chance. Then, we will play Mahjongg, a game of strategy that gets more enjoyable as you learn. Come in asking "What is Mahjongg?"; leave after a culturally and mentally enriching experience with some new skills you can share!


Prerequisites
None

Brief overview of historical examples of cryptography and a hand on code breaking activity

Have you ever wondered what the names of all those types of pasta mean (or how you actually pronounce them?) Would you like to know what Don Corleone is saying in those parts of the Godfather without subtitles? Look no further. In this class we will try to learn as much basic Italian as possible in two hours. This class will cover basic Italian grammar and words with an emphasis on simple speaking and reading.

What do Apple, Google, and Snapchat all have in common? They all raised venture capital! This introductory course explores the fundamental aspects of venture capital, sheds light on the stages required to secure funding, and provides an overview of the career path as an investor. Participants will gain insight into key terms and concepts that underpin the world of venture capital and develop skills to navigate this complex industry.


Prerequisites
Join us for an exhilarating introductory course that explores the fundamentals of startups and venture capital. Whether you're a complete newcomer to the world of venture capital or already have some experience working at a startup, this course is designed to provide you with essential knowledge and insights.

Ever wanted to take a stab at writing your own New York Times-style crossword? Now's your chance! Bring a laptop and we'll walk you through all the basic software to get started, along with the process of coming up with themes, filling the grid, and clueing the answers. By the end, you'll be able to make and share your own mini crosswords!


Prerequisites
None

I'm an education researcher, so I've travelled to high schools in 15 states sitting in on classes, eating um... lunches, and asking students what's broken about school.

Turns out there's a way to change school. Today.

If an FBI hostage negotiator had your worst teacher, or Gandhi had to fight your school's most toxic policy, or that hot dog eating contest guy had to eat your school lunch... okay he probably would, that's not the point:

If sharp, capable people were in your shoes, would they feel trapped? Stressed? Anxious?

Would they do anything differently?

My job is to convince you the answers are no, no, no, and yes, then to show you how to change your school.

We'll talk about what sucks in class, in hallways, and in the cafeteria, then design an activity together that'll show you how to change that. We might run an escape room with a twist, start a food fight, or get every Princeton student in our building to wear a unicorn horn, but it'll be super productive I promise.

Cookies are everywhere... from your pantry to the school cafeteria to even the airplane! In this class, we will explore all things cookies, spanning the history of their origins and rise across cultures, the chemistry and science behind how they are made, and modern applications of cookie art. Best of all, we're big fans of hands-on learning. This means that as we go through these learning topics, we'll put cookies in the oven to bake, decorate them when they come out, and most importantly, eat them!

How to play Euchre, the better version of Bridge! Euchre is a card game popular in the Midwest, especially Michigan, that is played in groups of four. It’s really fun, unique, and requires some strategy as well!

A guide to self-guided tours, with a brief overview of how to plan the trip to some tips when you arrive at your destination.


Prerequisites
Interest in travelling

Teaching the basics of coffee: types of drinks, latte art, and more!

Barcelona is known for having delicious food that is easy to cook. One of the landmarks is "Truita de patates i ceba", an omlette cooked with egg, potato and onion. If you want to learn how to cook this amazing dish (and eat it afterwards!) to impress family and friends at home or to just explore another gastronomy and have fun, this is the course for you! No cooking experience needed.

want to get addicted to a new game?? whether you're a complete gaming noob or a tetris veteran, come learn about cool techniques and some brain spinning block dropping jaw dropping fun


Prerequisites
interest in tetris :o

Brazilian Jiu jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and effective form of self-defense based on ground-fighting. Learning BJJ will teach you how to effectively defend yourself from an attacker using submissions, such as chokes and joint locks.

Want to learn how to play traditional or unique card games? This course will focus primary on learning how to play various card games like Speed, Double Speed, Bubbles, etc. The course will be structured by learning the basics of one game and playing multiple rounds.

Learn some of the physics behind how frisbee's work. Then we apply it with fun games practiced by Princeton's very own Women's div ultimate team!


Prerequisites
None, Just wear active clothing!

Running tour of the beautiful Princeton campus!


Prerequisites
Wear active clothing!

Want a really cool party trick? Want to try something new?? Want to be a juggler??? If you can already juggle or can barely hold a pencil: come learn some new skills!

Laugh and learn with Fuzzy Dice, Princeton's most attractive improv comedy group! Meet other fun-loving people and get the basics on how to make people laugh. ABSOLUTELY NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Do you like tabletop games? Have you ever been curious about games beyond the same old household names? Come to this class with the Princeton Tabletop Society, where we will teach you to play fun and quick board games such as Trails, Kingdomino, and Coup!

Do you like tabletop games? Have you ever been curious about games beyond the same old household names? Come to this class hosted by the Princeton Tabletop Society, where we will teach you to play some classic games, which might include Dominion, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, or 7 Wonders!

Get out of your comfort zone! This class, filled with games and public speaking activities, will teach you how to speak in front of crowds and to be bold.

Want to learn how to speak about a variety of topics confidently? Join some of the leaders of Princeton's public speaking team to learn how to give substantive speeches about different topics. We'll be practicing speeches and public speaking strategies that you can use in any context!

Want to learn how to write a resolution in the same format as the United Nations? This class can help teach the valuable skills needed to delegate and collaborate to create solutions to many world issues that the UN tackles daily.

Do you go bonkers for banana bread? Do you want to give baking a go? Or maybe you want some free food? We welcome baking experts and kitchen-disasters-in-the-making to join us in baking banana bread (in muffin form! more crust! and portable!). We'll cover everything from prep work to the (rough) science behind the ingredients and steps!


Prerequisites
Nothing but an appetite! But please let us know about allergies (contains eggs, chocolate, gluten, dairy, refined sugar, possibly nuts)

Interested in politics? Want to advocate for an issue you are passionate about? Ever wanted to know how to write a bill? Come join us and learn how to write a legislative bill!


Prerequisites
N/A