Splash Fall 2019
Course Catalog

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Miscellaneous Arts
Engineering Humanities
Lunch Math & Computer Sciences
Physical & Biological Sciences Social Sciences


Miscellaneous

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?651: Intro to Corporate Finance
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kyle Lai

Dive into the basics of corporate finance and learn about cash flows and some decision criteria.


Prerequisites
Basic algebra and maths

?656: Artificial Intelligence, Genetics, and Logistics: How to Code a Human!
Difficulty: **

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing field of computer science and engineering. AI has been displayed across the media in numerous movies, TV shows, and even in the news as more innovations and discoveries are made. However, AI presents the issue of human simulation. Simulations cannot be programmed to replicate humans precisely and perfectly. This class gives students the opportunity to examine the definition of AI through a program that simulates Mendelian genetic crosses, as well as the practical and ethical problems associated with human simulation. Ideals, assumptions, and laws will be discussed as an overarching theme.


Prerequisites
an interest in biology,computer science, and/or any STEM field; eager to discuss and provide personal opinions/perspectives


Arts

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A634: Introduction to Musical Theater
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Arin Sheehan

In this course, we will look at a brief history of musical theater. We will also consider specific shows (from "The Pajama Game" to "Hamilton") and notable individuals in the field (from Sondheim to Llyod Webber), and their impact on theatre as a whole. No experience necessary, only excitement to learn!

A636: Striking a Chord: The Joy of Singing Together
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Dana Luong

Meet the Cornell University Chorus, and learn about why we love to sing! Learn about the fundamentals about making music, including basic rhythm and note exercises, and even learning a short piece together.

A642: Design Your Own Character! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Connie Liu

Learn how to draw your own original character! We will go over how to draw a cartoon face in different styles in both the portrait and profile view. We will also go over the entire anatomy of a person and general body proportions to consider when drawing a person. Additionally we will go over how shape affects character design! No prior experience in drawing necessary- this is a workshop style class where I will demo and go around assisting everyone with their creation.


Prerequisites
please bring a pencil and paper

A657: Beginner Knitting Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily Yi

Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit? Now's your chance! Come and learn how to cast on, do the knit stitch, and bind off. Leave the class with a knit square and a foundation for future exploration! No prior experience required.


Engineering

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E654: Chemical Engineering: From Finding Alternative Fuels to Making Cosmetics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andreia Fenley

Chemical engineers use chemistry, physics, and math along with engineering tools to solve problems relating to the production and use of chemicals. This includes problems like refining gasoline, purifying drinking water, treating waste, processing food, and making medicines. In this class, you will get an introduction to the field of chemical engineering with fun connections to everyday things like sports gear, cooking, and more.


Prerequisites
Geometry Algebra Physics (not required)

E658: Introduction to Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephanie Pascual

Wondered what engineering is? Come learn the different fields in engineering with SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) ! With the diverse set of interests in engineering, you are bound to find one that best suits you. This course includes a fun team project and a tour of Cornell's engineering quad.

Everyone is welcome and underrepresented minorities are highly encouraged to attend.


Humanities

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H643: Revolution of the Heart Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Sakshi Vasiu

We can list the problems in our lives and in society. But how do we overcome them? This course looks at the historic revolutions led by inspired leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and analyzes how they created change through non-violence and appealed to the hearts of people. Given current scenarios, students will approach to overcome apathy and trigger change. This course will also bring forth some new ideas of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which address solutions to the deeper problems in modern times.

H645: How to Write An Essay & Research Paper!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kelly Stone

Are you about to start writing your college application essays? Want to write the best paper analyzing "The Great Gatsby" for your English class? Need some tips on how to craft a thesis statement for your research paper? This class will help clarify the basics for all kinds of essay- and paper-writing, in both the humanities and social sciences. Feel free to come prepared with some topic ideas that you would like to write about!

H646: Location Complication: Geography and Mapmaking
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lilia Fromm

Your classrooms are filled with maps and globes, but have you ever thought about the process that goes into illustrating our world? Geography is so much more than just countries, borders, and cities, it’s about knowing what’s out there and why it matters. Without geography you’re nowhere!

In this session, we will explore what makes an effective map, how mapmaking is inherently imperfect, and how maps influence the way we perceive the world and ourselves. We’ll even try our hand at creating projections from a globe!

By the end of this session, you’ll see that cartography is really cooltography!

H660: Mao, China, and the World Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: HsinHuei Chen

You might know Mao Zedong as the infamous communist leader of China in the 20th century, but have you ever wanted to do a deep dive in how he became the man that created the face of modern China?
We will be answering questions like: how was he perceived by others:(his comrades, closest advisers, followers, opposers, and even other rulers who wanted to be just like him), how did he get to his position? Who really was Mao and how did he change China, and to an extent, the world?


Lunch

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L665: Lunch Period
Difficulty: *
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.


Math & Computer Sciences

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M637: Calculus Made Easy
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Hartek Sabharwal

I'm going to teach you the entirety of Calculus I in just under 2 hours. We're going to skip over some of the ugly details and focus on what problems calculus solves, the intuition behind what we're doing, and why we're doing it. We'll go over just about every formula there is, and at the end of the course, you'll do some problems from past AP Calculus exams. It's really not that hard, I promise.

This course will be a bit faster-paced since I have a lot of ground to cover. I don't assume that you know anything more than $$y=x^$$ and possibly functions like $$f(x)=x^3$$ and $$f(x)=\sin x$$
.

M640: Computer Networks Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Edward Tremel

Computer networks are everywhere, from the server rooms at Google and Facebook to the Wi-Fi in your classroom; without networks, there would be no Internet. In this class we will learn some of the basics of how computers talk to each other over networks, including methods of naming computers on a network (IP addresses, URLs), how to send a message reliably (TCP), and how to route a message from its source to its destination.

M641: Scratch-a-thon: Learning Scratch + Coding Competition for Beginners
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Kunal Roy, Helen Yang

Learn about basic programming concepts using a newbie-friendly, drag-and-drop block based coding language called Scratch! (scratch.mit.edu)

After a quick lesson, get hands on experience in a fun coding competition style activity (Scratch-a-thon like hackathon...I tried to be punny, alright?) where pairs compete to complete the most tasks, ranging from simple (make the Scratch cat move to the right) to challenging (projectile launch the Scratch cat across the screen using real physics concepts)!

Meant to be fun for anyone on any skill level, so the goal is to challenge yourself to learn more about programming through a friendly competition :)


Prerequisites
Anyone of any level of experience is welcomed, especially beginners because Scratch is meant for learning the very basics in an intuitive way!

M649: Exploring Hip-Hop through Data
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Derek Lim

We will discuss and analyze hip-hop, America's most popular genre of music as of last year in terms of amount consumed, through data. There are many hip-hop related datasets available for exploration. Exciting data science techniques are being applied to understand interesting properties of hip-hop through this data. Data science is one of the most influential fields of study right now, and we will be discussing fundamental techniques in data science while looking at interesting data!

M650: Intro to Thermodynamics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kyle Lai

Ready for a crash course in thermodynamics? This short course will teach you some of the basics, with some calculations involved.

M659: Introductory Statistics: Applications in Games of Chance
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Yared Tadesse

Get ready to learn statistics through the medium of games! We will explore fundamental concepts through card games like poker and blackjack. To apply students' newly learned skills, we will simulate a fun and interactive game of chance.


Prerequisites
A strong algebra foundation is recommended for this class. Taking (or have taken) Algebra 2 is sufficient.

M661: An Introduction to Knot Theory Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kabir Kapoor

Take a piece of string, twist and tangle it to your heart's content, and tie the ends together. Now you've got yourself a knot. Can you rearrange your knot to be an unknotted circle? What kinds of knots are out there? How do you distinguish between different knots? How do enzymes in your cells unknot DNA? We will discuss these sorts of questions in the class, and have fun making and playing with string knots. Punning will knot be allowed.

M663: Introduction to 3D Modeling Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jenny Wen

Have you ever wanted to create something that hasn't been created before? In this class you'll learn how to 3D model anything from your imagination using Tinkercad. You'll walk away with a model that you can pop into any 3D printer to actualize your vision!


Physical & Biological Sciences

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P639: Predict the Future
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zachary Krauss

Meteorology, the study of weather, is effectively an art of predicting the future. Take this class if you are interested in learning about how meteorologists forecast weather and how forecasting weather can help you predict stock prices and the price of guacamole at Chipotle. If that's not enough, you'll get to see our tornado machine in action!


Prerequisites
Algebra

P644: Biofilms
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sakshi Vasiu

A slimy buildup of bacteria attached to surfaces, like dental plaque, biofilms are now a pressing public health concern. Come to learn basic microbiology and brainstorm methods to eradicate biofilms.


Prerequisites
High School Biology Course

P647: Why haven't we cured cancer yet?
Difficulty: **

In this interactive class, we will expand upon basic biological theories to examine the Emperor of All Maladies. We'll discuss ecology and evolution, and how Darwin's finches and cancer metastasis aren't all that different.


Prerequisites
Come with an open mind!

P655: Basic Nutrition Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nautica Smith

Who doesn't love food? Ever wondered what and how much you are supposed to eat? Join this class to learn the basics of Nutrition so simple that you will be able to share it with your friends. We will use our online resources to explore these facts followed by a cooking demo!

P662: Scales n' Tails Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Anabel Sanchez

Whether you think they're cool or scary, reptiles are an amazing group of animals. In this class, you'll learn about their natural history, their shared characteristics, and traits that make this diverse group unique.


Prerequisites
Be comfortable with LIVE reptiles!


Social Sciences

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S635: Entrepreneurship in a Nutshell
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Beril Yalcinkaya

This course is designed to introduce fundamentals of entrepreneurship by providing foundational theories and discussing contemporary issues. The primary objective is to address the process of creativity and innovation and its impact on the success of businesses. This course also aims to discuss the contribution of entrepreneurial activities to economic growth and society. At the end of the session, students will have a broad understanding of entrepreneurship.

S638: Crash Course on America's Prison System Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Emily Lin

The U.S. is a leader among many issues, but did you know that the U.S. also leads the world in percentage of people behind bars? What are the reasons behind this?
Come learn about the different issues within mass incarceration, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, private prisons, recidivism, and more. No prior knowledge needed. All are welcomed! Note: This topic may be sensitive to certain individuals.

S648: Everything is Marketing: Intro to Marketing & Advertising Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lilia Fromm

You are exposed to around 5,000 advertisements per day on average! Maybe you have a favorite commercial jingle or Superbowl ad, but how you ever thought about how your favorite companies spend millions of dollars trying to cut through all this advertisement clutter to get even a second of your attention?

In this session, we will explore what marketing is, new marketing techniques, and how to create and analyze advertisements. By trying your hand at analyzing advertisements and creating your own marketing “campaign” with other students, you’ll begin to understand how big companies and brands think!

By the end of this session, you’ll be a more savvy buyer and understand how marketing ideas can relate to everyday life!


Prerequisites
Interest in ads, commercials, or business.

S652: Reproductive Health and Sex Education
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Chelsea Stephens

The goal of my purposed workshop is to educate youth on reproductive health and sex education and to empower adolescents to become responsible, consenting individuals. This workshop will include discussion topics such as: general reproductive anatomy and function, health and disease in the context of sexual intercourse, contraception, medical and emotional support services, gender identity and sexuality in society, and the identification of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment in intimate and professional relationships. By the end of this workshop, students will not only understand their personal autonomy and decision-making to address their individual libido and reproductive needs, but also develop increased social awareness on gender identification, sexual preference, and sexual violence.


Prerequisites
None

S653: Humans vs. Robots: A Psychological Perspective
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Danny Vieira

A world dominated by artificial intelligence is quickly approaching. While many are optimistic and excited about the AI future, many seem to be—quite frankly—terrified. Elon Musk warned at MIT's AeroAstro Centennial Symposium that by advancing AI we may very well be "summoning the demon." Stephen Hawking told BBC that because humans are limited by slow biological evolution, full AI will likely supersede us, and such an event "could spell the end of the human race." This class explores the psychological implications, both good and bad, associated with such a future.