Harvard ESP

Computer science doesn't just involve programming - to the contrary, it is an inherently mathematical subject. In this course, we'll take a tour of theoretical computer science, exploring the basics of data structures (lists, queues, stacks, etc...), algorithms (sorting, graph algorithms, etc..) and their analysis, and then progress to other topics as time allows (possibly including cryptography, quantum computing, etc..).

In this course we'll delve into fascinating questions about justice, morality and law. What are the moral limits of legitimate governmental power? What do governments owe their poorest and least fortunate citizens? Is it wrong for the government to force you to buy healthcare? Is affirmative action wrong? Why should unelected judges be able to strike down democratically elected laws? Is it okay for the government to punish actions done in the privacy of your own home? Should religious beliefs play a role in political argument? Every week we'll investigate one of these fascinating issues, developing our skills in logical thinking and persuasive argument in the process.

Nutrition has taken a central stage within the American consciousness, but the science behind what makes a food "good for you" is often lost in media discussions of public health. A combination of biology, physiology, and chemistry, this class will explore the science behind food, nutrition and cooking. Topics to be covered include the real meaning of metabolism and calories; the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates; how proteins and amino acids impact the body; the chemical and physical differences between saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats; and more. One important goal of this class is to help students use their scientific knowledge to positively impact the health of their school or community, so health advocacy ideas will be suggested and encouraged throughout the class with ample opportunities for mentorship along the way!

This course acts as a bridge between philosophy of mind, cognitive sciences and humanities. We cover the science, processes and theories of the brain, consciousness, memory and cognition.Topics range from discussions on social psychology, to mind control and subliminal messages to mind mapping and multiple intelligences

The brain is the most complex organism in the universe, and many psychologists have said that dreams are the door to the unconscious. The class is a mix of science and humanities. We will study neuroscience, the architecture of the brain, cognition, memory, consciousness, and the sleeping brain. We will explore the different theories of sleep and consciousness, including where dreams come from and consider the psychology of the dream and the dreamer.

In this course, we will discuss the core of ethical theory and then apply this knowledge to case studies in ethics. The course will begin with a brief look at the ethical theories espoused by Aristotle, Kant, Hobbes, and Mill. We will work from this knowledge to address important questions in ethics, which may include: the nature of altruism, animal rights, equality and fairness, and bioethics. This course is driven by student interest; we will focus on topics of interest to all of you. No background in philosophy is required for this course.

Introduces the basic methods for infectious disease epidemiology and case studies of important disease syndromes and entities. Methods include definitions and nomenclature, outbreak investigations, disease surveillance, case-control studies, cohort studies, laboratory diagnosis, molecular epidemiology, dynamics of transmission, and assessment of vaccine field effectiveness. Case-studies focus on acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, malaria, and other vector-borne diseases.

Psychology is everywhere: we experience it in our lives every day, read about it in the news and see it in the television. In this class, we will learn some of the amazing discoveries in psychology over the years and how to think like a psychologist. We will also try to understand how our brains work. Students will be encouraged to bring in studies to share with the group that they find in the news, and we will discuss the findings together. In the end, I hope that through fun and interesting Saturday mornings, we will all have a better (and much more engaged) understanding of how we think and why people do the things they do, and to start an ongoing interest in psychology. This class will be really fun!

This goal of this course is to provide a deeper understanding of random processes. You will be taught how to program computer simulations that model evolution and other natural phenomena. You will also be taught how to use the principals of evolution to help computers themselves learn. No experience with programming is necessary, although it can be very helpful; this course will teach programming with a strong eye towards its applications to these sorts of algorithms. Each of the topics covered will be addressed both in the context of its own discipline and in connection to the others. Thus we will explore the dynamics of ant evolution, and use the prisoner's dilemma to understand multicellularity and the tragedy of the commons. Topics covered will include: evolution, game theory, the prisoner's dilemma, the stock market, molecular dynamics, genetic algorithms, artificial intelligence and more; we will also address pseudorandomness (random number generation) and the philosophy of randomness. Structurally, the class will consist of lecturing, demos, and a lot of in-class group projects

How is information stored in biology, and how does it change with time? Can evolution drive social structure? What's the mathematical threshold for the formation of order from randomness? These questions lie at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and biology. This class aims to use the language of mathematics to describe and understand these fundamental questions. Topics will include evolutionary game theory, virus dynamics, the evolution of language, and evolutionary graph theory.

This summer a new particle was discovered at CERN, a laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Are you eager to learn more about the Higgs Boson discovery and research happening at CERN, but also an artist at heart? This interdisciplinary course will explore the intersection between particle physics and artistic expression. Each week, we will first work through a quantitative and qualitative treatment of fundamental topics in physics useful for understanding how the Large Hadron Collider works (particle collisions, electromagnetism, Feynman Diagrams, Standard Model of Particle Physics, and more). Then, we will switch gears and analyze modern works of art inspired by these concepts in particle physics. Each class will conclude with a group critique, in which students present thoughts, inspirations, and progress on their independent art projects and solicit feedback from peers. You will leave this class not only with a basic understanding of cutting edge experiments at CERN, but also a deeper appreciation for the aesthetic beauty of particle physics.

Why is the sun always behind you when you see a rainbow, with the shadow of your head at the center of the rainbow circle? If wave-particle duality is true, could we actually walk through walls? How can we see the surfaces of cells to determine what protein markers are present? We will begin by examining how electrons behave as waves in the language of atomic and molecular orbitals--and these orbitals, when configured in certain patterns, can create pigments and color, allowing us to explain the interaction between light, dyes, and--when applied to biology--fluorochromes. We will then proceed by considering light and the consequences of it being a wave, including interference and resolution. Finally, we will look at how quantum mechanics offers us the key to understanding the wave-like behaviour of any physical system. Throughout this course, we consider how our understanding of waves leads to technological applications such as lens design, microscopy, flow cytometry, photoelasticity, and various spectroscopic techniques.

This course will surveys ideas in economics through lectures and discussion of current and relevant economic issues. Economics is the study of the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services. Hopefully, this class will help students understand how our society organizes its economic affairs. Additionally, this course will try to discuss current economic issues to give students an opportunity to apply what they learn more vigorously.

"Creativity is an extremely complex human behavior that requires a multitude of approaches to understand, yet it can be seen as one of the fundamental elements defining humans as it allows us to flourish throughout our lives." This class will examine this concept and the creative process from historical, scientific, philosophical, organizational, educational, and cross-cultural perspectives. Prepare yourself for an extremely unusual yet highly interdisciplinary learning experience that will change the way you think inside and outside the classroom.

This class is an interactive introduction to fascinating and hidden topics of art history. You will explore art that is rarely explained in classrooms or displayed in museums. The first half of the class will consist of powerpoint presentations and discussions. The second part of the class will be more hands on. You will apply your new art history knowledge to create awesome projects! [[[Potential topics are: Felt Art (in nomadic Central Asian/Hungarian art), Sculpture, Art and Fractals (particularly in African design), Geometry in Islamic Design, Figure Drawing, Contemporary Architecture, and even Graffiti!! You will have the opportunity to learn how to make felt balls (from wool), to draw from a live model, to create graffiti (on a canvas of course, not the wall ;) ) and much more!]]]

"Life: the whim of several billion cells to come together and be you for a while" - Groucho Marx. Ever been interested in the nuts and bolts of the miracle of life? Want to learn about the fundamental building blocks responsible for allowing us to function the way we do? Then this course is for you! Over seven weeks, in this general biology course taught by Harvard freshman, Shree Bose, we will build up from our definition of life and from the concept of what cells are to an understanding and appreciation for the complex processes that allow life to exist. This course will also include a glimpse into the challenges of cancer on a cell level, and how we attempt to treat these challenges.

This course is designed to introduce students to the literature of Shakespeare. By engaging in close reading of some of Shakespeare's greatest sonnets and drama, we will search for modern relevance in these early seventeenth century texts. Our reading will focus on Shakespeare's use of literary and dramatic devices, which we will examine through interactive readings, creative exercises, and comparison of film adaptations to the original text. We will sample the range of genres that Shakespeare authored, including comedy, tragedy, and history. One class will be devoted to an acting workshop with guest teachers, so you will have the opportunity to try out your own voice in Elizabethan English!

An introduction to some of the classic ideas in mathematics, organized around the theme of self-referentiality. Though a notion seemingly better suited for wordplay, self-referentiality can be made into a precise mathematical concept, and even one that provides a powerful array of tools. What is mathematical induction and why is it so useful? Are there problems beyond the theoretical reach of computers? Can the dimension of an object be a fraction? These are the types of questions to be considered in this course. (To be co-taught with Dylan Yott, email address dyott@bu.edu.)

Have you ever wanted to write your own songs? Do you want to deepen your appreciation for music and understand why you like the music you do? This course may be for you! Composers from Palestrina to Paul Simon have worked from a theory called common-practice harmony, which details the best ways to connect chords into phrases and phrases into coherent compositions. In this course, we will study the basic elements of common-practice harmonic theory. Though we will cover the theoretical backing for the rules, we will focus mainly on how composers apply the theory to creating music, both through a series of composition exercises and through analyzing and discussing music from a variety of styles. You should leave this course with enough musical knowledge to begin writing your own music in any style you choose.

Too often, students look at poetry as an awful subject, full of memorization, mysterious lines, and pointless messages with no real-world application. The emphatic statement "I HATE poetry" is not a rare occurrence in any middle school or high school English classroom, and I will admit that I have been known to utter this statement at one time or another as well. But I think the central issue here is that we have forgotten how to enjoy poetry and learn from poetry. I promise you, both are entirely possible, and we will do plenty of enjoying and learning in this course! As children, poems are fun ways to rhyme words and tell silly stories. Why does that have to change as we age? Poems are, at their core, just expressions of common everyday problems. Sometimes they are silly, sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are uplifting, and sometimes they are sad. But they are always entirely applicable to our lives RIGHT NOW in the twenty-first century. In this course we will examine the many methods famous (and not so famous) poets use to express their struggles with problems such as power and competition, individuality, ambiguity, time and aging, death, education and knowledge, and love. In the spirit of keeping poetry alive, fun, and meaningful, we will not only be reading poetry but also be writing our own poetry, having lively discussions, debates, and role-playing activities, playing games, and exploring other modes of expression in conjunction with poetry (such as art and music.) I promise that by the end of our seven weeks together, your days of saying "I HATE poetry" will be a distant memory!

When coming up with the plot for a novel, writers sometimes use their life experiences or their imagination to create new ones. In some cases, writers decide to be risky and fuse reality with fantasy by including events that are not possible in the real world except in our dreams. Magical Realism is a aesthetic style used by writers that allows them to blend magical elements with those that we see every day. Authors have used magical realism as a tool to insert unrealistic events into their real life stories; these events are often used to highlight certain part of the story they are telling us or to portray certain character or situation. People tend to take these events as fictional and often do not pay attention to the real meaning behind them. Latin American authors of the 20th century have used magical realism as an aesthetic tool to represent complex topics such as love, political instability, cultural differences, seek for power, acceptance, among others. In other cases, magical realism has been used as a form of protest to traditional ways of writing. Overall, this aesthetic tool has enabled authors to express deep ideas by using dreamlike events, showing that the juxtaposition of the real and the fantastic is not only part of our imagination. In this course, we will analyze passages in English of magical realism novels written by the most well-known Latin American authors. We will see what motivated them to include fantasy in their writing and what underlying meaning related to the real they are trying to portray. We will also see the effects these elements cause on the readers by first analyzing the reactions such passages cause on us. We will not only be reading and analyzing passages but also be creating our own ones using magical realism. We will be exposed to the different ways to use magical realism in order to decide what style we want to take for our literary creations or to decide if we want to make up our own. This will be an interactive course where everyone will see that to write a beautiful meaningful prose we do not need to write too serious.