Splash Spring 2026
Course Catalog

Silicon Valley is obsessed with optimizing for a 'frictionless' life: Huel for nutrition, Instagram for connection, and Netflix for entertainment. But when we innovate solely to optimize our lives, what are we actually losing?

In this course, we will explore the intersection of computer science and ethics. We will begin by examining methods for regulating computer scientists before diving into Silicon Valley's obsession with efficiency and how it often fails to account for the depth of human complexity.


Class Style
Lecture

What is a "probability"? What does it mean to "predict" the future? And what does this mean for the central clash between Miles Morales and Miguel O'Hara within the Spider-verse? Building on some foundational concepts in statistics and data science, we reframe the movies' themes to discuss the role of predictive algorithms in the media and how philosophy ties into decision-making in the face of uncertainty.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
Preferably, having seen Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse and Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse.

With the rise of AI tools and large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, we have to ask: how did we get here? How did computers learn how to think and speak? What does the future look like in a world where AI really exists?

This course gives an introduction to the world of artificial intelligence, including natural language processing and its applications, generative AI, and a philosophical discussion on what it means to be intelligent.


Class Style
Lecture

What is the cloud, really? This class will present a beginner-friendly introduction to the cloud, how it works, and what it's used for. More importantly, we will see how the cloud introduces new creative possibilities, enabling builders to create almost anything they can imagine. Throughout the class, we will also cover important principles of cloud computing, including availability, security, and scalability. No prior experience in computer science is needed!


Class Style
Lecture

Throughout this course, we will explore the Unity Engine, which has played a part in many signature titles (in addition to those mentioned above!), like Among Us, Hollow Knight, Genshin Impact, Pokemon Go, Beat Saber, and many more. We will break down Unity’s seemingly complicated user interface and get a taste of scripting in the C# programming language to interact with objects in our game. We will also work with pixel art, utilizing the Piskel website to create digital assets to import into these games!

Enrolled students are encouraged to download the Unity Hub (https://unity.com/download) and install a version of the Unity Engine within the Hub before class to speed the process up.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Students should have a computer that can download software (specifically, the Unity Hub and Unity Engine) and have around 2GB of free storage to accommodate this. Previous background in any programming language (Scratch, Python, Lua, Java, C, etc.) is helpful but not required.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we communicate, learn, and make decisions — and the law is struggling to keep up. In this session, students will explore the live legal and ethical debates surrounding AI regulation, focusing on how existing frameworks are being tested by technologies their authors never imagined. We will examine real cases, competing regulatory philosophies, and the fundamental question at the heart of the debate: when a technology causes harm, who is responsible?


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
No prior legal or technical knowledge is required. Students should come prepared to think critically, argue both sides, and sit with questions that do not yet have answers. This course will move quickly and assume students are ready to engage seriously with complex material from the first minute.

Have you ever wondered how AI systems actually "learn"? This class will explore how AI models are constructed under the hood, and the clever math that is used behind the scenes to power the training process. We will specifically explore neural networks, a foundational component of AI that is widely used in many systems, including LLMs, today.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of algebra (Algebra I) preferred

This class explores how we went from the first recordings of neuron action potentials to today’s technologies that can decode speech and movement from the brain.


Class Style
Lecture

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes during a rocket launch? Learn about Mission Control and work as a team to lead your own spacecraft launch. You'll analyze system data, communicate with other teams, and make the final GO/NO-GO call.


Class Style
Activity

Long before the backflipping humanoids of today, robots were mechanical marvels of the ancient world. Throughout history we have imagined bringing machines to life, shifting our vision from clockwork curiosities to the sophisticated agents of the modern era. This course explores how the "robot" has evolved alongside society, serving as both a mirror for our cultural fears and a canvas for our greatest technical ambitions. By examining these machines through the dual lenses of industrial utility and creative art, we will discover how our desire to automate labor has transformed over time.


Class Style
Lecture

In this class, students will learn about the fundamentals of circuits and create their own works of art! We will discuss basics like how batteries and resistors work. Then, students will get the opportunity to use their knowledge to create their own paper circuits and light sabers that light up!


Class Style
Activity

This course is a fun introductory to the field of aerospace engineering. In this class, you will learn about the basics of aerodynamics, how planes and rocket fly, and even get the chance to participate in a fun paper airplane competition. All are welcome and to the stars we go!!


Class Style
Activity

Going all the way back to the days of Nikola Tesla, there has never been a more exciting time to be working in the world of energy. In the coming decades, we are faced with the monumental task of building a sustainable, secure, and fair energy system. This will require an all-hands-on-deck approach. We will need contributors from across all discipline, including engineering, natural science, social science, and public policy. Come to this class to learn about current energy engineering, economics, and policy issues - and how we are going to solve them. This class includes a mini-lecture, discussion, and a walking tour of some energy landmarks on campus.


Class Style
Discussion

Why do some things bend while others shatter? In this fast-paced, hands-on intro to Materials Science & Engineering, you’ll explore how the structure–processing–properties–performance chain explains everything from smartphone screens and ship hulls to superconductors and shape-memory alloys. We’ll demo ductile vs. brittle behavior with a dramatic drop test, play with grains and defects to see how atoms move, and cap it off by making liquid-nitrogen ice cream to learn how crystal size changes texture.

You’ll leave with a maker’s eye for why materials fail (Titanic plates, Liberty ships, and more) and how smart design—like alloying or microstructure control—prevents catastrophe and enables “impossible” tech. Expect lively Q&A and simple table demos you can try later with household items.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
None

Got a story in your head? A character you want to invent? A world you can imagine but haven't yet brought to life?

In this class, your imagination takes center stage.

You'll learn fun ways to sketch your ideas, build your own characters and creatures, create scenes from scratch, and add your personal, handmade touch to everything you draw — no tracing, no perfect lines needed. It's all about making your ideas real, your way.

Big dreams start with small sketches — it all starts here!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
- Bring a drawing tablet with a stylus (e.g. iPad and Apple Pencil) - OR, bring a sketchbook or loose paper, and pencil or pen Any issues? Email the instructor.

Do you like joy? Do you like whimsy? Do you like world peace?

If so, this class is for you! This class is open to jugglers of all skill levels, from complete beginners looking to learn the basics, to confident performers looking to learn new tricks and props.

We'll learn
1. the basic 3-ball pattern
2. how to spice up the 3-ball pattern
3. basic partner juggling (how to juggle with friends!)

If time allows and curiosity beckons, we can talk about the math behind juggling, or look at some advanced tricks.


Class Style
Activity

A 2019 study found that one of the most popular 'dream jobs' for children is 'YouTuber.'

Maybe you've thought of getting started making your own YouTube videos or filming dancing TikTok's or IRL streaming. And maybe you just didn't know where to start.

This course gives a brief overview into how to get started with social media content creation, how to grow a following, and the many doors that it opens.


Class Style
Lecture

Step into the timeless elegance of the waltz! This beginner-friendly class introduces you to rotary waltz—the graceful, turning dance that's featured in every old romance movie.

No prior dance experience or partner is necessary! We'll guide you through the fundamentals of rhythm, posture, and partner connection while keeping things lighthearted and fun.


Class Style
Activity

Ever wonder how magicians make cards rise back to the top of the deck? Want to learn how to make an orange appear under a cup?

In this class, we'll learn some fundamental techniques in sleight of hand and misdirection to create mind-blowing magic! We'll be going over the classic "cups and balls" routine and some standard card tricks. By the end, you'll be able to show off your new skills to everyone you know!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Some hand dexterity required

Do you want to feel connected with nature? Do you want to have more agency over the food you are consuming, including being able to grow things you can’t find at the store? In this class, you will learn how to grow your own food organically, how to protect what you grow, and how to create a thriving garden ecosystem. At the end of the class session, to put your knowledge into practice, you will plant a vegetable seed to take home and care for.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
High school biology preferred, but not required

Want to pick up a new hobby? Interested in refining your hand eye coordination? In this course, you will learn the basics of juggling three balls. If you've never tried juggling before, this is the perfect place to start!


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever played a game and wondered how the developer(s) created it? This class aims to demystify the gaming process that players (like you and I) typically take for granted. Topics include a variety of different prominent research frameworks in the sphere of game design, including MDA analysis, ludology vs. narratology, etc... for fun and for serious situations!

Students will be expected to play a lot of games, and make some of their own!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Students should have a computer that can download software (specifically, the Unity Hub and Unity Engine) and have around 2GB of free storage to accommodate this. Previous background in any programming language (Scratch, Python, Lua, Java, C, etc.) is helpful but not required.

In this session, we will read together Wallace Stevens’s landmark poem “The Idea of Order at Key West” (1935). We will overview key issues of Stevens’s poetry—such as the relationship between imagination and reality, the shaping power of the mind, the role of art in constructing meaning, and the tension between the natural world and human perception. We will pay particular attention to Stevens’s musical language, his use of abstraction (are there really "mountainous atmospheres" in coastal Florida?), and his philosophical concerns about how order is created through artistic vision. We will spend our time discussing the poem in detail.


Class Style
Discussion

How are visual relationships formed, and how do they shape interpretation? This course investigates the construction of associations across mediums from social media feeds to museum arrangements. Through close looking and experimental analysis, students will explore how curators, artists, and individuals craft meaning through juxtaposition and how such displays can generate emotional, political, and sensorial resonance.


Class Style
Lecture

We know that AI systems are putting immense pressure on our energy and water systems. So what CAN we do? This course provides an introduction to the intersection of environmental justice and AI development and use, and opens up discussion on how we can be more informed and sustainable consumers of AI. Course will consist of hands on activities and discussions.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
NA

Standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and MCAT play a major role in American education. But where did these exams come from, and are they truly fair? In this interactive class, we will explore the history of standardized testing, how scores are used in college admissions, and the debates surrounding equity, access, and accommodations. We will discuss test bias, socioeconomic disparities, and the recent shift toward test-optional policies. Students will analyze real data, debate different perspectives, and leave with a deeper understanding of how testing shapes opportunity in the United States.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
None — just curiosity and willingness to discuss.

Have you ever been confused by the new slang? Does it ever seem like people are speaking a whole different language?

In this class, we explore how language and vernacular evolve, as well as how their evolution has been influenced by the digital age, including social media, video games, memes, and beyond.


Class Style
Lecture

Everything is ironic. It’s cool to care. We have spectrums of ugly-hot and hot-ugly. When the zeitgeist dismantles, can we even pass judgement on cheuginess, lost aura, and all that is reprehensible? If there is such a thing as transcending cringe through and not around it, is it just an internet phenomenon or reemergent art history?

This lecture will delineate the emergence of categories such as Camp and Kitsch. From drag, pop culture, to surrealism, we’ll explore how these aesthetic categories turn excess, glitter, and “bad taste” into social commentary. Analyzing memes, movies, music videos, and artworks, we’ll ask what makes style and how some subversions succeed.


Class Style
Lecture

Join the Stanford Political Union to learn what politics means to you and practice discussing difficult issues with your peers. All viewpoints are welcome!


Class Style
Seminar

Language is soooooo cool. It's something we all use on a daily basis. It's what you're using to read this text right now.

This class will look at a variety of cool concepts in linguistics with the hope of getting you excited about all things language-related!


Class Style
Lecture

Love writing essays? Hate writing essays? Have to write an essay by 10 P.M.? What if I told you that 1) your teachers have reasons for making you do all this and 2) it can actually be fun?

We'll take insights from creative writing, journalism, theater, and more to explore how YOU can use writing to refine your thoughts and persuasively express your ideas. We'll discuss how to choose a good concept, write a strong thesis, hook your reader, find evidence, get unstuck, nail the details, write beautifully, and benefit from community. Most of all, we'll talk about what writing is for and why you should care about writing as well as you can.

As a student who has written award-winning essays at Stanford, this class is a practical compilation of everything I wish I knew sooner.

"Tips & Tools" is designed primarily for students who are currently taking Honors or AP-level writing classes. Nevertheless, everyone who wants to learn is welcome!


Class Style
Lecture

In recent years, there has been a great shift in cultural perceptions in the West of Asian culture, due in part to the export of media—music, films, food, and more.

In this course, we'll explore how K-pop and anime became mainstream in the West, why governments invest so heavily into cultural exports, and representation in Asian-American communities.


Class Style
Lecture

Memes offer an interesting lens through which to view the current cultural zeitgeist. While often humorous nature, these memes cover a wide range of topics, from current events to popular culture. Especially interesting is the history and evolution of memes and brain rot, which present insight into the state of online and niche communities.

This class will take an analytical approach to understanding the history of memes and the purpose they serve in communicating ideas.


Class Style
Lecture

In an age where AI can make entire videos that seem indistinguishable from real life, it's not so easy to take everything you see online at face value anymore.

As the next generation growing up within these online spaces, it is more important than ever to be able to think critically about the content we engage with online and how to practice good digital media literacy.


Class Style
Lecture

Ever feel like you are being controlled by algorithms? In this seminar, we’ll examine how the design choices embedded in everyday technologies actively shape our social world. We’ll investigate overpasses engineered to perpetuate segregation, the ways generative LLMs subtly influence our speech and behavior, the growing phenomenon of people paying to wear biometric monitors, and other examples that reveal how technology constructs our lives. Through case studies and collaborative discussion, you’ll develop the tools to identify and critically analyze the hidden power dynamics built into the technologies that surround you.


Class Style
Seminar

How did the Israeli-Palestinian conflict begin? Why does the US play such an active role in the Middle East? How did the region arrive to where it's at today?

In this class, we'll take a look at the past 150 years of modern Middle Eastern history from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the present day.

By the end of the session, you should make sense of the current geopolitical landscape through understanding its history and present dynamics via key stakeholders and interests in the region.

Whether you're interested in international relations, computer science, medicine, environmental science, etc, the region requires people like you with a diverse range of interests / backgrounds to solve issues in technological development, water & energy shortages, climate change, and global health.

The last 15-20 minutes of class will be reserved for a seminar-style discussion to reflect on current events in the region.


Class Style
Seminar

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

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

We'll have fun with examples of induction in logic puzzles and paradoxes, talking about the famous muddy children puzzle and unexpected hanging paradox, touching on related ideas like common knowledge, self-reference, and provability.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Familiarity with induction and exposure to proofs

This course will serve as an introduction to differential (non-Euclidean) geometry through the lens of physics. The course will begin with the simple example of special relativity and then give a rough intuition for how special relativity is structurally generalized to general relativity. This will involve introducing manifolds - the proper mathematical notion of a “smooth surface” - and the metric tensor, which gives a manifold structure beyond its topology. Topologically, a coffee cup and donut may be equivalent (as you might’ve seen online); their metric tensor distinguishes them - you’ll see how. Coming out of this course, you will have some real understanding of what we mean by the “warping of space around a black hole” or the “slowing of time,” and you'll understand the elegance of the theory. If time permits, we may introduce field theories like electricity and magnetism and how they emerge from more subtle geometry.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Some amount of intuition for linear algebra is required, possibly at the level of 3Blue1Brown's Essence of linear algebra. Calculus is definitely recommended, especially for the latter half of the course - special relativity should be intelligible regardless. Multivariable calculus will give you a very strong starting point, but it is not required.

Whether its paragraphs of text or strands of DNA, information comes in all shapes and sizes. However, regardless of the data, all a computer sees and sends are 0's and 1's. Claude Shannon's information theory gives us a general-purpose way to quantify the amount of information in our data by thinking about how easy it would be to communicate it.

In this course, we will provide a brief introduction to information theory, allowing us to figure out how much information is in our data and how much we can compress it.

[This course is inspired by Liam O'Carroll's previous course on "The Mathematics of Information]


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Know what a probability distribution is (e.g., flipping a coin or rolling a die). Know what a logarithm is.

When we are young, we are told not to play with our food but we believe that some of the best learning experiences happen through play. In this sequence of labs, we flip the script and encourage you to play with your food and learn some interesting math along the way. There are no hard prerequisites so come curious and peckish! (Allergen Warning: Some of the ingredients used in the labs may contain milk, egg, and soy.)


Class Style
Activity

When is a coffee cup the same as a donut? Surprisingly, the answer is not "never"...

The mathematically curious student may have heard of this fact, or recognize the Möbius strip or Klein bottle. These are all examples of "manifolds," which are the foremost objects studied in topology — the study of geometric objects up to continuous deformation. That is to say, in topology, we say that objects are "equivalent" if we can stretch or bend one into the other. A major goal, then, is to develop tools called "invariants," which don't change under stretching and bending, which we can then use to classify manifolds.

This class is an interactive introduction to one of the most strikingly visual and conceptually rewarding fields of mathematics — I'll develop important invariants, formalizing the above notions in the process; discuss the Euler characteristic, the fundamental group, and more; and end with a proof of Brouwer's fixed point theorem. If none of this sounds familiar, don't worry — we'll explore and demystify everything together. By the end of the class, you'll be thinking like a topologist!


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
No strict prerequisites — just be ready to volunteer ideas and think outside the box. This class will move quickly, and introduce many new ideas.

Certain integrals coming from astronomy, in particular the arc-length of the ellipse, resisted computation by elementary functions. In the 18th and 19th centuries, begining with work of Fagnano and Euler, certain amzaing "addition theorems" were discovered that suggested a deeper structure to these functions.This culminated with Abel and Jacobi's discovery that elliptic functions are doubly periodic on the complex plane leading to Weierstrass' discovery that elliptic integrals arose from an algebraic object called an elliptic curve.

The insights these mathematicians developed laid the groudwork for the central objects of modern number theory: modular forms and elliptic curves.

This course will give a historical introduction to the subject and its various objects.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Strong background in single variable calculus. It would be useful to know what some of the following concepts from complex analysis mean: analytic funtion, holomorphic funciton, residue, pole. This course will be fast and introduce many deep concepts but will try to stay grounded in examples and elementaty calculations with integrals and power series.

One of the most fundamental ideas in math is equivalence. We know that 2 = 2 and that squares of the same area are congruent, but why do mathematicians consider a donut and a mug the same object? Equivalence is a very elegant and flexible concept that can be applied to many topics in mathematics, science, and beyond. Topics introduced in this course include (but may not be limited to!): modular arithmetic, geometric and topological equivalence, relativity (physics), periodicity (chemistry), and evolution (biology).


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
We welcome students of all backgrounds and plan to introduce exciting and accessible topics! Basic familiarity with algebra and geometry may be helpful.

From giant robots to slice of life stories, anime is an incredibly diverse medium. In this class, we will examine the expressive power of anime by looking at thematic and aesthetic elements present in many key examples. In particular, we'll also see how anime differs from conventional Western media.


Class Style
Lecture

College admissions are getting increasingly competitive every year, with many schools’ acceptance rates falling into the single digits. In this class, students will learn about effective strategies for approaching college applications, based on real-life case studies.

A Q&A will follow a short lecture, so bring any and all questions you have!

Disclaimer: Attending Splash itself is not demonstrated interest, and participating in Splash does not make admission into Stanford any more likely.


Class Style
Lecture

Legal communication is everywhere, but it might as well be nowhere for how often we notice it. How many of us take the time to pore over the 'terms and conditions' tab or ponder before accepting cookies on the Internet? Do we even know the strengths and weaknesses of the legal documents that built our nation?

In this course, we will examine the role language plays as the backbone of constitutional, contract, and intellectual property law, diving into opinions from landmark court cases and the letter of the law. The classroom will be an active forum for discussion, debate, and even disagreement -- embracing the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent to language and, in turn, the great power it can give to those who know how to wield it.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Middle school level understanding of history

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people today. The way we talk about mental health and tragedy in a campus setting matters. Student journalists and mental health advocates don’t just report the news. They shape the narrative around youth mental health. They influence how stories are understood, shared, and felt across the school community.

This interactive class, led by the Reporting Responsibly On Campus Suicide (RROCS) Youth Leaders, empowers students, journalists, editors, and mental health advocates to use research-based tools to write about suicide and mental health safely, responsibly, and compassionately.

Takeaways from the class:
- Learn how media messaging can impact student wellbeing and how student journalists can create positive change
- Discover practical, evidence-based reporting guidelines
- Explore real-life scenarios through hands-on activities
- Gain confidence in covering difficult topics with care
- Help prevent harmful misinformation and media-driven contagion

Whether you’re part of your school newspaper, yearbook, broadcast team, or simply passionate about mental health advocacy, this session will equip you to lead with empathy, center youth voice and uplift youth wellbeing in your community.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Experience or interest in youth media (journalism, social media, etc.) is helpful, but not required.

Have you ever wanted to start your own company but didn't even know what the first step to that would be?

Maybe you want to start a clothing brand, a media company, or even the next big AI B2B SaaS!

In this course, we'll give a brief overview of what it takes to start your own business, from spotting unmet needs and building your first product to how to market and grow a startup.


Class Style
Lecture

How does the next photo, video, or ad get chosen in your social media feed? How does AI change how we perceive reality online? Is your phone really listening to you? Bring your phone* and be prepared to learn the secrets behind social media! In this interactive course, we'll cover topics like the psychology and strategies driving advertising, how algorithms capture and keep your attention, and how to spot misinformation and AI content. Demystify how social media works and leave this course with the skills to critically evaluate the messages you see on these platforms every day. *No phone or social media accounts required to participate!


Class Style
Seminar

Parent Program - PARENTS ONLY


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever wondered how to respond in a medical emergency? In this highly interactive, hands-on class, you will learn the critical skills needed to step up and help when someone gets hurt. Trained EMTs and Wilderness First Responders from Stanford’s Aid In Daily Emergencies for Youth club will guide you through the essentials of patient assessment, confident 911 communication, and practical injury treatment. Then, you will put your new knowledge to the test in simulated, real-world scenarios, playing the roles of both the rescuer and the patient.

Please Note: Because this class relies heavily on hands-on practice, participants must be comfortable with safe, instructional physical contact with their classmates—such as checking a pulse, applying a practice bandage, or rolling a partner into the recovery position. We will heavily emphasize the real-world medical practice of always asking for verbal consent before making physical contact with a patient!


Class Style
Activity

In the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations (U.N.) declared that “Everyone has the right to education.” But nearly 80 years later, how far have we achieved? The dismantling of the Department of Education, the reverse result of racial segregation after Brown v. Board, and overall low achievement in math and sciences. Where is the problem? How can you bring a change?

Students will explore a philosophical lens towards what education means and should look like. We will dive deeper into the research behind education inequalities and help you answer the “why?” This class is student-centered as we believe active engagement gives rise to maximal learning. You will also have the opportunity to design a solution to meet the U.N. standard of education as a human right.


Class Style
Discussion

What makes something look "cool"?

From fashion to architecture to websites and more, there is a lot that goes into good design.

In this course, we'll talk about why things look the way that they do.


Class Style
Lecture

How can you be an extraordinary teammate? It is a common misconception that effective teamwork simply requires an authoritative leader giving orders. In reality, the most successful teams are made of individuals who understand the hidden dynamics at play.

In this class, we will briefly use a high-stakes “Mission to Mars” simulation to test how we make decisions under pressure. From there, we will spend the majority of our time exploring the psychology of team building and the mental models that shape our perspectives. We will learn how to step off the “dance floor” of immediate conflict and onto the “balcony” to observe the big picture. We will also introduce the “Self-Awareness Quad” to help decode our own thoughts, emotions, and core intentions. You will leave this class with a practical toolkit to navigate team environments and become a more adaptable leader.


Class Style
Discussion

For many of us, the Thanksgiving dinner table has become a debate pulpit, Facebook pages a battleground, and text group chats a minefield. At the end of the day, no matter how strong your arguments are or how earnest your conviction is, the other side just doesn't change their mind. And neither do you.

Why are we like this -- always so ready to go to bat for our ideas, convinced we're the good guys? And, more importantly, why can't we actually convince anyone else?

In this course, we explore the psychology behind moral and political identity, uncovering why political polarization has become more intense now than ever. As we peruse a wealth of cutting edge scientific research, we will trace the values underlying our beliefs and reasoning, perhaps realizing that civil discourse and common ground is much closer than we think.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Assumes a desire to engage with somewhat challenging vocabulary

What does it mean to love? How have different cultures throughout history defined love? In this course, we will explore the many forms love can take—romantic love, familial love, and friendship—and examine how philosophers and individuals across time have tried to understand it. By reflecting on these perspectives alongside our own experiences, we aim to develop a deeper understanding of both humanity and how we think about love at this stage in our lives.


Class Style
Discussion

In this class we're going to go over the history of guacamole and make our own!


Class Style
Activity

Are you interested in learning how to play the drums? Read music?

By the end of this course you will learn how to read percussive sheet music, find and interpret rhythm in music, and play along to a few songs!

No background experience in music is required!


Class Style
Activity

"As in a theatre, the eyes of men, /
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage, /
Are idly bent on him that enters next," -- Duke of York, "Richard II"

Are you interested in the performing arts? Reciting poetry, perhaps? Or maybe you just want to bring some Renaissance era whimsy into your life? If any of these ring true, then greetings, young thespian! This workshop is for you!

Led by members of the Stanford Shakespeare Company, this workshop will provide a general introduction to reading, understanding, and performing Shakespeare. Students will participate in theatrical exercises, read scenes from multiple Shakespeare plays, and have the opportunity to perform themselves! Members of StanShakes will help get students understand Shakespeare with an emphasis on performance, teaching students how to relate the material to their own lives while providing helpful performance critique. If you seek your chance in the spotlight performing the works of the most famous playwright in history, this course is for you!


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s really out there? It turns out, almost everything we can see is just a tiny fraction of what exists. In this class, we’ll uncover the mysterious forces shaping the cosmos: dark matter, the unseen glue holding galaxies together, and dark energy, the push causing the universe to expand faster and faster. We will explain big discoveries about dark matter and dark energy, as well as state-of-the-art research being done at Stanford to address these questions.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
None

Why do we procrastinate even when we care? Why is it so hard to focus? How do habits form, and how can mindset change the way we learn, work, and grow? This is a class about understanding your brain so you can better understand your life.

In this course, we'll explore how we can leverage cognitive psychology and other neat little tricks to our advantage.

If you're someone who wants to lock in but always ends up procrastinating, this is the class for you.


Class Style
Lecture

A brief introduction to fundamental concepts in chemistry, with a focus on those useful for the chemistry of carbon-based molecules. Topics to be introduced include atoms, electrons, bonding, Lewis structures, and chemical reactions.

Through this class, we will discuss how the world around us can be described in chemical terms, how atoms interact to form molecules, and how these molecules behave and interact with one another.

This class will cover all the prerequisites for class 8269: Making Molecules. Students interested in that class who are not confident in their chemistry background are encouraged to take this class as well.


Class Style
Lecture

Curious about how students your age get involved in real research? Whether you’re interested in medicine, biology, or technology, this workshop will show you how to turn curiosity into discovery.

In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to find research opportunities, reach out to professors, and make the most of your experiences in a lab or independent project. We’ll also practice how to read and understand scientific papers—even if you’ve never seen one before!

You’ll leave with practical steps, example emails, and resources to help you start your research journey, plus a look at how students are making a real difference in rare disease research and beyond.

Topics Covered:

How research really works (from hypothesis to publication)
Finding mentors and writing effective outreach emails
How to read and analyze a scientific paper
Understanding ethics, collaboration, and the impact of research
Stories of students contributing to rare disease and biomedical research


Class Style
Lecture

Molecular Imaging emerged in the early twenty-first century as a discipline at the intersection of molecular biology and in vivo imaging. It enables the visualization of the cellular function and the follow-up of the molecular process in living organisms without perturbing them. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging, an important molecular imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body. The theory behind PET is simple enough. Briefly, tracking molecule need to tagged with a positron emitting isotope and followed by scan the body with PET-CT. PET imaging have many advantages. The most important is its sensitivity: a typical PET scanner can detect between 10−11 mol/L to 10−12 mol/L concentrations. Dr. Arutselvan Natarajan, Stanford Researcher will give an overview of PET which is key imaging modality for cancer staging and therapy.


Class Style
Lecture

You may find yourself doomscrolling on TikTok, hours passing by like seconds. You know it's not good for you, but it's so hard to stop.

Social media platforms have done a really great job of engineering the user experience in a way that makes doomscrolling irresistible.

In this course, we'll investigate what is actually going on in our brains when we spend so much time in these digital worlds, as well as what we can do about it.


Class Style
Lecture

Learn how to save a life with CPR! Also practice wound packing with our wonderful bleeding trainer!


Class Style
Activity

A fun presentation of the history, biology chemistry trivia of chocolate.
Some samples provided during the lecture. A free drawing at the end for more chocolate


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever wanted to learn about the most extreme objects in the universe? Look no further than neutron stars, which are the incredibly dense remains of collapsed stars. These objects are about the mass of the sun, but are only about the size of a city. A teaspoon of their matter weighs as much as Mount Everest, and if you stood on their surface you would melt into a puddle from the sheer force of their gravity! In this class you will learn about neutron stars, including pulsars (rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation from their poles) and magnetars (neutron stars with incredibly strong magnetic fields and sometimes produce bursts of energy called "giant flares"). By the end of this course, you will be familiar with how different types of neutron stars form, theories describing their interiors, gravitational wave detection methods using pulsars, and how collisions between neutron stars are responsible for creating many of the chemical elements in the universe.


Class Style
Lecture

A brief, but systematic, introduction to chemical synthesis from an organic chemistry perspective.
In the first part of the class, we will learn about various chemical reactions that are useful for creating new carbon-based molecules, building a "tool-box" of techniques for molecular transformations. In the second part, we will use these techniques to develop a set of reactions that could form target molecules, such as flavorings, dyes, and drugs.
If you would like to propose a molecule for us to "synthesize," please fill out this form! https://forms.gle/jW4hARNDQ6FkxNbc7 (I will not discuss the synthesis of illicit substances.)
Please note that this is not a lab-based class. We will focus on theoretical routes to produce certain molecules rather than laboratory techniques, resulting in a more puzzle-focused problem-solving approach. While this is listed as a "Lecture-Style Class," there will be plenty of opportunities for group work and discussion.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
An understanding of Lewis structures, electronegativity, bond polarization, and the basic theory of chemical reactions (e.g., transition states and reaction coordinate diagrams) will be assumed. Students who are interested in this course but not familiar with all of these concepts are encouraged to sign up for course 8270: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry as well.

Most children's toys were once patented. This includes the SLINKY, FRISBEE, YOYO, Barbie Doll, Rubik's Cube, etc. This fun talk presents some of the amazing background stories about the inventors and their inventions.
At the end will be a free drawing for a familiar children's toy and a copy of its US Patent.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
$30.00

Matcha has gone from a centuries-old Japanese tea to a global wellness trend, but what actually happens in your body when you drink it? In this class, we’ll explore the biology behind matcha’s most famous compounds, including caffeine, L-theanine, and catechins like EGCG. We’ll discuss how these molecules affect the brain, how matcha produces a unique combination of calm and focus, and why scientists are studying green tea compounds for their potential roles in neurodegenerative disease and cancer prevention. During class, students will enjoy ceremonial-grade matcha lattes while thinking about its real-time biological effects.


Class Style
Lecture

This class follows the universe from its earliest moments through the formation of particles, atoms, and galaxies, and shows how its evolution can be understood quantitatively using only Newtonian physics. Time permitting, we will also consider how General Relativity modifies the picture!


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Basic Newtonian mechanics, some calculus

Join us to explore how scientists film the motion of atoms and electrons. This class introduces the principles of ultrafast science, revealing how ultrashort laser pulses help capture nature's fastest processes on atomic timescales.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Familiar with Newton's Laws of Motion. Heard about concepts such as lasers, atoms, and electrons.

Stop by to learn about issues and disparities in Asian-Pacific Islander health ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ

Presented by members of Stanford Pre-Med APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association).


Class Style
Seminar

What makes a good night of sleep? How much of our sleep do we control, and how much of it is affected by other factors?

In this class, we'll explore the systemic and cultural issues behind sleep, as well as tips & tricks for a good night's rest. Instead of a lecture, we'll explore these concepts through activities and coloring sheets.

Come stop by for some relaxation!


Class Style
Activity

Curious about how students your age get involved in real research? Whether you’re interested in medicine, biology, or technology, this workshop will show you how to turn curiosity into discovery.

In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to find research opportunities, reach out to professors, and make the most of your experiences in a lab or independent project. We’ll also practice how to read and understand scientific papers—even if you’ve never seen one before!

You’ll leave with practical steps, example emails, and resources to help you start your research journey, plus a look at how students are making a real difference in rare disease research and beyond.

Topics Covered:

How research really works (from hypothesis to publication)
Finding mentors and writing effective outreach emails
How to read and analyze a scientific paper
Understanding ethics, collaboration, and the impact of research
Stories of students contributing to rare disease and biomedical research


Class Style
Lecture

In this class, students will learn about hydrogels — soft, water-filled materials with applications from food science to medicine. Through a hands-on activity making popping boba, students will explore how hydrogels form when long polymer chains are cross-linked to trap water and form gels. Students will gain a practical understanding of how polymer chemistry and structure–property relationships shape the materials that surround us.


Class Style
Activity

An introduction to one of the fundamental process behind life: DNA replication! We will discuss DNA replication initiation and the timing of replication as well as where the process begins.


Class Style
Lecture

In recent years, there have been increased interests in the science community to study how we teach and learn science better. These have lasting impacts in modern science learning. For example, Professor Carl Wieman's studies behind active learning have led to reform of the physics classrooms across American universities. In this course, we will introduce you some important research in physics education research and give you a taste behind the Stanford way of learning physics.


Class Style
Seminar

Prerequisites
Some introductory courses in physics would help but all are welcome!

This class will focus on how students can get involved in health-based community service and leadership, using Stanford Medicine Health EDU’s outreach model as a starting example.

In the first half of the session, facilitators (med, PA, grad, and undergrad) will explain how Health EDU identifies community needs, designs educational programs, partners with local organizations, and evaluates impact. Students will learn concrete steps for starting or joining similar initiatives at their own schools. The second half of the workshop will be a panel-style discussion and Q&A where facilitators share their personal experiences getting involved in community and global service. This includes work with local nonprofits, school-based programs etc. relating to health promotion.


Class Style
Panel

Prerequisites
none

We know that batteries can store electricity, but how do they actually do that? Why are there different types of batteries, what makes them better than others, and how do they work? Join us for this workshop to learn about the chemistry and material design of batteries! With batteries powering everything from phones to electric cars to the electrical grid, you'll get to build your own batteries and learn about the design choices we make for real applications, like starting an engine, lighting a flashlight, or even powering an airplane.


Class Style
Activity

Every patient deserves answers—but what happens when there are none?

In this course, you’ll step into the shoes of doctors, scientists, and families working to solve some of medicine’s rarest and most mysterious conditions.

Through real-life case studies, hands-on activities, and patient stories, you’ll learn how rare diseases are discovered, diagnosed, and researched—and how people around the world are working to turn these mysteries into hope.

We’ll explore the science of rare diseases, the detective work behind genetic diagnosis, and the power of advocacy in driving new treatments. Come curious and leave inspired—you might even help write the next chapter in rare disease research someday.

Topics Covered:

The genetics of rare diseases
Diagnostic odysseys and the role of “medical detectives”
The NIH’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program
Patient perspectives and advocacy
Drug development and clinical trials for small populations
Health equity and the global impact of rare diseases


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever wondered how your body can survive having trillions of microbes living in and on it? Or how we benefit from microbes living in and on us? In this course we'll talk about how the body coexists with microbes. We'll cover introductory immunology and microbiome content.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Basic understanding of biology is recommended (DNA, types of cells)

Batteries are critical energy storage devices for the deployment of many modern technologies—from an old iPod to an electric truck, all the way to enormous grid-scale energy storage facilities. Our understanding of the fundamentals of electrical energy storage is owed to two Italian scientists, Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta, whose discoveries in the late 1700’s led to the development of the world’s first electric pile. To follow in their footsteps, we will be creating our own electric piles using common household items and implementing them to power small devices. In this workshop, we’ll learn about a contentious historical scientific debate, the electrochemical principles behind the operation of batteries, and how the original Galvanic (or Voltaic!) cell led to the modern batteries that follow us everywhere.


Class Style
Activity

This course will teach students Dirac notation and the 7 postulates of quantum mechanics by building intuition from fundamentals of classical probability.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Basic understanding of probability

During this course, students will learn why water is such a unique molecule and how it allows life on Earth to flourish. The course will have interactive demonstrations to highlight water's unique properties. We will connect these to one of the most pressing current problems: climate change.


Class Style
Lecture

Have you ever wondered why diamonds are the hardest material on Earth while pencil lead is so soft? It all comes down to Lattice Geometry. In this session, we’ll dive into the invisible, repeating patterns that atoms use to build the world around us. From the "Lego bricks" of salt crystals to the complex grids of advanced tech, we will explore their foundations in 14 fundamental templates. Discover how simple geometrical rules allow us to design the next generation of super-materials!


Class Style
Lecture

Imagine a material that behaves like an indestructible donut—twist it, bend it, but its unique properties remain unchanged due to its hidden "topological" nature. In this lecture, we will explore how electrons can organize themselves to dance in loops and knots, creating exotic new states of matter that defy everyday intuition. We will reveal the secrets of topological matter and discover how they might reshape the future of quantum computing and sensing.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
Physics, calculus

The biomolecules within our cells— proteins, DNA, RNA—are always in motion, constantly undergoing twists and turns. This intricate, mysterious choreography underpins life itself and is responsible for processes ranging from viral infection to how a painkiller relieves a headache.

For most of human history, these motions were invisible to us. Over the past half century, however, the advent of computers, in combination with the development of powerful algorithms, have given rise to methods which allow us to witness this delicate dance unfold. In this class, we will learn exactly how scientists turn computers into virtual microscopes to watch this movie of life. We will also explore ways to effectively time travel and 'fast forward' this movie of molecular motion.


Class Style
Lecture

Prerequisites
AP Calculus and introductory physics, biology, and chemistry are all recommended but not required. (The lecture, however, will likely feel quite fast without having taken them).

Have you ever eaten Play-Doh? Did it taste salty? And can we make a doh that's both transparent AND conductive?

In this course, students will learn about materials properties that arise due to differing electron behavior, including conductivity (ionic, electronic, and thermal), transparency, phase dependence, and mechanical properties. We will make our own conductive salty-doh to make a circuit.


Class Style
Activity

Ever wonder why one energy drink can wreck your sleep? Or why coffee sometimes stops working?

Step into our pop-up Decaf Café, where you will sip decaffeinated cafe drinks while uncovering how caffeine actually affects your brain, sleep, and energy levels. Through facts, real-world examples, and interactive activities, we will break down what caffeine does in your body, why sleep matters more than you think, and how to stay alert without relying on constant caffeine.

By the end of the session, you will:

• Understand how caffeine interacts with your brain and sleep cycles
• Learn why teens are especially sensitive to sleep loss
• Discover smarter ways to manage energy during busy school weeks
• Leave with practical habits you can use immediately

Plus: free decaf drinks while supplies last.


Class Style
Activity