ESP Biography

Have you ever wondered how cupcake batter transforms into a fluffy, delicious treat? In this class, we'll explore the chemical processes that are all around us - including in our kitchens. From the decomposition reaction of baking soda to the caramelization of glucose, we'll give you the chemist's perspective on cooking. And, yes, there will be cupcakes.

How many times have you had a question about periods, sex, hormones, or any other topic in reproductive health - but you didn’t know who to ask, or how? This class is your opportunity to empower yourself with knowledge about how your body works and skills to advocate for your reproductive health. This isn’t your typical sex ed: we’ll dive into the history of gynecology, explain reproductive anatomy that is sometimes only taught in medical school, and answer all of your pressing questions. We will mainly cover female reproductive health in this class, but anyone of any sex or gender identity is welcomed (and encouraged) to join.

AI has the potential to make medical diagnoses sooner and more accurately, predict which treatments will work best, and even discover new drugs. But how do we know if these breakthroughs benefit everyone equally? In this class, we will explore algorithmic fairness - that is, whether a computer science system is fair - within the context of healthcare. We'll present case studies that have been in the news, and invite students to share their own ideas to make AI in healthcare more equitable. After this class, you should be able to view news stories about AI breakthroughs through a more critical lens. Whether you continue to study computer science, medicine, or something else entirely, we hope that understanding the principles of fairness will be helpful to you!

What's the longest sentence you can come up with? What if that sentence only had one word? How do you know the sentence is grammatically correct? And what does all this have to do with fractals? In our class, you'll learn the one simple concept that explains how our minds represent language, how computers solve complex problems, and how you can draw realistic trees that will blow away your artistic friends. No experience required -- if you enjoy friendly mathematical banter and aesthetically pleasing diagrams, this class is for you!