ESP Biography

BRONTE MCKINNIS, ESP Teacher

Major: Chemical Engineering

College/Employer: Stanford

Year of Graduation: G

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Not Available.

Past Classes

(Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S8290: The Science of Water in Splash Spring 2026 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2026)

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.

S8219: Poppable Polymers: The Science of Popping Boba in Splash Fall 2025 (Nov. 15 - 16, 2025)

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.