Splash Fall 2024
Course Catalog

Learn the importance of and how to study music genres and their history/development. We will tackle the importance of socioeconomic/political factors in creating communities of music, how niches form within existing scenes, how to categorize and properly label all music new and old, and understanding existing patterns in genre etymology, ethos, and community.

Want to learn some cool dance moves for your next party? Join a studio session with an officer from Berkeley's collegiate ballroom dance team. Dances taught will be dependent on space + student interest


Prerequisites
Athletic clothing. NO SHOES OR PARTNER NEEDED

Learn what a Zine is and a bit about its history and influences. Then, using magazines and crafts that will be provided, make one yourself!

Ever wanted to make an animated film? This class will teach you the basics!

Available animation software:
- Wick Editor (https://www.wickeditor.com), free, works for all computers, including Chromebooks
- Krita (https://krita.org), free, works for Windows, MacOS, and Linux
- Adobe Animate, paid, works for Windows and MacOS

I will teach using Wick Editor since it's the most accessible for everyone. However, you are welcome to install Krita or Adobe Animate on your computer and bring it to class. The workflow is similar for all of them.


Prerequisites
Bring pencils, paper, and a computer. Optionally, bring a mouse or stylus+tablet.

This course is for all students interested in picking up a new hobby, learning how to fold origami! No prior experience is required.

Speed running the basics of Psychology through means of arts and crafts + etc.! We will be using Play Doh, marshmellows, and more..
Activities relating to parts of the brain, important concepts/ideas in psych., and communication.

Have you ever built a bridge out of household materials? Level up your bridge building skills by learning about stress and strain. Then implement the engineering techniques to see who can build the strongest bridge!

Welcome to Bioengineering 101! Join us for a hands-on, group activity to explore bioengineering. Learn from current bioengineering undergraduate students at UC Berkeley & discover various bioengineering fields and career paths.

Electronics surround us in our daily lives, but how do they work? Join us as we hold hands-on activities where you can learn how your electronics function while building your very own circuit! We'll learn some of the basics of electrical engineering, from LEDs to microcontrollers to working with breadboards, as we create a speed-controlled binary counter. No prior experience is needed!

Curious about what ChemE is really about? Join us to explore the different fields of chemical engineering and learn about process design, reactions, and sustainable practices that shape our future. Join us for some hands-on experiments and interactive projects to see how we you make a difference in the world!

Ever wondered what keeps massive skyscrapers towering above us or how bridges withstand the weight of hundreds of cars every day? In this course, we’ll crack open the secrets of materials like steel and concrete, discovering the fascinating science behind how they hold up our world—from spanning bridges to soaring skyscrapers! Join us as we learn from real-world failures and uncover the awesome forces that keep our cities standing tall!

Japan has been one of the most popular tourist destinations lately. From anime to jiggly pancakes, people tend to portray Japan as some kind of separate haven from the rest of the world. Among various myths that have been perpetuated about the country, the myth that all people who live in Japan are Japanese and speak only Japanese is quite false! Join me in exploring a history of colonization in Japan and the various indigenous groups that reside there now.

Whether you've had to read Huck Finn for school, enjoy Twain's writings on your own time or have just heard the name somewhere before, this class is for you. Mark Twain is one of the most influential writers in American history, and one of the funniest. We'll go through his life history, reading excerpts from his many works to see why he remains so influential. To quote the author himself, "Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished". Thanks to the generosity of the Mark Twain Project here on campus, I have a couple of free books to give away the day of; if you need a copy of Huck Finn, this is your chance!

A brief survey on the various Gods and Heroes that make up Greek Mythology. We will be looking at a general timeline of the Greek mythos as well as a handful of stories. This class primarily focuses on both the teaching and dissection of these mythologies, what can they tell us about the writers then and what do they say about us today?

A Creative Writing Course helping high school students focus on literary character development in their writing. In addition to learning how to best describe the physical attributes of their charactes, I'm going to try and teach them the importance of character backstory composition, dialogue, and how to improve the dynamic between several characters in a story. I'm going to focus on the creation of a character in the context of plays, poems, short stories and even songs!


Prerequisites
Nothing, just a love for writing!

Interested in creative writing but suffer from bouts of perfectionism and paralysis? In this class, we will go through a series of prompts that will get the creativity flowing and may just lead you to your next piece! This class will give you a chance to practice locking your inner critic in a sound-proof box so they can't get in the way of the generative process.

This is a skill that can be applied to any type of writing, but the prompts will focus on creative writing!

Personal narratives are those stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Personal essays are how we put those stories on paper. In this class, I'll go over the importance of controlling your personal narratives and advice for writing personal essays (such as the ones college applications require).

Please note that I am simply a student myself and have not been on the admissions board or anything like that. I have done some research on what is successful for college admissions and have read essays my UC Berkeley peers submitted, but, again, I am simply a student with some opinions!

We will go over the fundamental building blocks of short stories. These basic building blocks can be used to write a story in ANY genre, and the advice can be applied to novels as well. This class heavily leans on lessons I have learned from creative writing classes here at UC Berkeley. You will do writing in class and leave with the foundation of a short story of your own.

Many people—students, teenagers, and even adults—often brush off poetry as too difficult to understand, inaccessible, or simply uninteresting. This class aims to introduce students to some fundamental elements of lyric poetry through the lyrics of popular musician Taylor Swift and connect them to the lyric tradition throughout history in the hopes of demystifying the study of poetry and giving students a new appreciation for poetics.

Dive into the vibrant world of media studies! And no its not just watching movies in class (it is sometimes). We'll explore how media shapes our lives, influences our thoughts, and connects us all. Whether you're a binge-watcher, a social media guru, or just curious about the impact of media, get ready to unravel the stories behind the screens and discover the powerful role media plays in shaping culture and society!


Prerequisites
A person that consumes media (newsflash!! its everybody)

Ĉu vi volas lerni novan lingvon?
Do you want to learn a new language?

Do you want it to be simple, with not too much memorization and yet a huge amount of expressive power? Do you want to communicate with and learn from people around the world, regardless of their first language?

Learn Esperanto, a language designed (yes, designed) to be exactly that—regular and easy to learn, so that people can communicate with each other through a common second language! It's also good preparation for learning other languages in the future. (The Wikipedia article is a good overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto)

In this class, I'll teach the basics of the language (which are also most of what you need to use it!). Then, we'll have a workshop, where you can practice speaking the language, learn words relevant to your interests, and write your own Esperanto texts!

(For the workshop, a laptop might be useful to write and/or look up words, but isn't necessary.)

(If you're interested in conlangs, we're also teaching a Toki Pona class!)

o kama sona e toki pona! Learn Toki Pona, the constructed language with approximately 130 words!

Format: basics via lecture, then practice/workshop.

(If you're interested in conlangs, we're also teaching an Esperanto class!)

Learn about the laws and regulations for entertainment visas in the United States. Pre-law tips and information will be provided as well.

Join me in an interactive, discussion-based session as we analyze William Butler Yeats's poem, "The Song of Wandering Aengus." All levels of familiarity with literary analysis are welcome. No prior knowledge of Yeats is necessary.

Detailed Description: We will study Yeats's work in a vacuum (i.e. without reference to the historical context or Yeats's background), and center our discussions on the ways elements of form and content combine to create various effects. We will also explore generalities such as the public vs private experiences of readership, the direct and indirect ways narratives invoke sensation, and theories of symbolism.


Prerequisites
Read "The Song of Wandering Aengus" (length: 24 lines) by William Butler Yeats

You may have programmed in Java or Python; but what if there was a programming language know for being well.. essentially brainf*ck? How do you program with it and, why would anyone want to use it?

In this class we'll be running through the ins-out of the Brainfuck programming language, using it to solve problems, and discussing esoteric programming languages more generally.


Prerequisites
Limited programming experience (any high school CS course would be sufficient!).

This introductory course invites you to dive into the fascinating world of quantum algorithms! Essential math concepts—such as vectors and matrices—will be broken down in simple terms, demonstrating how they serve as the foundation of quantum computing.

You’ll discover what qubits are, how quantum gates operate, and why quantum computers can tackle problems more quickly than classical computers. Through this class, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of how quantum algorithms harness the power of superposition and matrix operations to perform remarkable calculations.

What is a qubit, and what makes it more exciting than a classical bit? What are topics that have been in the news such as quantum supremacy and quantum error correction really about?

In this class, I'll give an overview of what quantum computing is, what it isn't, and what progress is being made in quantum computing research.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with matrix multiplication

How do we describe a donut, a pair of pants, a Möbius strip, or a Klein bottle, and how can we tell if they are the same or different from each other? What if we connect two or many donuts together? If we draw some circles on the donut, can they deform into each other or not? How can we describe both the things around us and the entire universe using the language of topology?


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of sets will be helpful.

Interested in elevating your internet researching powers? Want to be a digital Sherlock Holmes?

This course goes over the basics of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and digital forensics.

You'll learn how to gather and analyze publicly available information on the internet and as a bonus we'll cover digital forensics skills to better understand where important information is stored on digital devices.

Requirements:
- Laptop is heavily recommended for this course, since we will be doing exercises together (and on your own), but it isn't required.

Fractals are infinitely repeating self-similar patterns - there's a larger pattern but as you keep zooming in, you see the same pattern on smaller scales.

Not only do they look cool (and hence appear in art and in the natural world) - they have some fun mathematical properties like non-integer dimensions as well as applications in technology.

We'll introduce fractals with examples, see how to create them on a computer as well as by doing some crafts. We'll also discuss their mathematical properties and talk about how they appear in the natural world and how they can be used in various applications!


Prerequisites
Computing areas and volumes of simple objects, basics of logarithms

Explore real-life applications of commonly used ML techniques and overarching data analysis paradigms in the physical sciences. This class is designed to introduce and build on the fundamentals of industry and publication-worthy data analysis, going from traditional ML and data analysis examples to applications in scientific research and industry. Ideal for those with an interest in computer science, statistics and physics, this class provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of STEM disciplines.


Prerequisites
At least one of the following, or equivalent: AP Statistics AP Calculus BC AP Physics C: Mechanics AP Physics C: E&M Some knowledge of python is preferable, but not required. Machine Learning experience optional

How can we describe the way populations, chemical reactions, or infectious diseases evolve over time? Can we use this to come up with a way to predict how these systems will behave?

In this class, we will dive into the essence of calculus, the tool that allows us to work towards answering such questions. From physics to economics and biology to chemistry, calculus permeates nearly every aspect of the world around us. We will start by introducing the fundamental concepts of limits and derivatives, then focus on modeling the physical world using differential equations, which gives us a way of relating different variables.

Whether you are interested in understanding the language of the universe or just looking to sharpen your mathematical skills, this class will equip you with the necessary tools to solve problems across different disciplines!


Prerequisites
Trigonometry, algebra, functions

We'll be covering the fundamentals and applications of blockchain technology, so the class is open to people from all experience levels! We'll be teaching the basics of distributed systems, consensus, and cryptography with an emphasis on Bitcoin.

We especially encourage underrepresented minorities in STEM to attend the workshop!

At first glance, numbers are boring - they are just the things we count, in an increasingly greater level of sophistication. But what $$is$$ a number? In this course, we'll explore the immense depth of the most basic objects of Mathematics, discovering how that initial impression could not be further from the truth.


Prerequisites
None!

Women in tech, evolution of it, how it has grown, what can be done about it for the future

This course’s mission is to inform students about homelessness and barriers to healthcare, and provide them with opportunities to create tangible change within these communities. In particular, we will be focusing on the barriers to accessing and navigating health insurance. We will be learning about health insurance policies through Covered California and teaching students how they can become health insurance enrollment counselors. We will discuss how we can do our part in working towards a world in which no individual is discouraged from receiving medical aid due to unaffordable services.


Prerequisites
none

Oel ngati kameie! Between 2050 and 2077, an extrasolar moon was detected orbiting the planet Polyphemus, located in the Alpha Centauri system. This moon, known as Pandora, has become one of the most celebrated discoveries in all of human history. Why? It was the first time humanity became aware of the existence of intelligent, extraterrestrial species--the Na'vi. In this immersive and interactive class, you will act as a xenoanthropology student in the 22nd century who is enrolled in an introductory course on the Na'vi (the humanoid aliens featured in James Cameron's 'Avatar' film series). We will explore Na'vi culture, customs, and language, as well as the greater environment of Pandora, through an anthropological, biological, and sociological lens.

Please note that NO prior knowledge of the Avatar film series or the Na'vi is needed for this class. Whether you're a fan of the original film series or completely new to it, this course is for you! Anyone interested in anthropology, biology, sociology, ecology, xenology, science-fiction, fantasy, aliens, or speculative fiction will have a great time!

In this class, we'll explore the rich and impactful history of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States. We'll examine the significance of milestones such as the Stonewall riots and learn the stories of influential figures who have shaped the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Overall, you will gain valuable insight into the social, political, and cultural dynamics that have influenced the LGBTQ+ community and its history.

Folklore is an incredibly broad subject, covering essentially any type of informal culture. We'll go over some of the main forms, including folktales and myths, and look at how these stories have been adapted over time. After this brief introduction, we'll head over to the UC Berkeley Folklore Archive to look at some examples, collected by Cal students for over 50 years.

Want to learn about the foundation of public health? In this class, we will cover a broad range of topics in this field, including epidemiology, to environmental health. We will tie these themes together to discuss social determinants of health. We'll end with an overview on potential careers in public health, as well as current events.


Prerequisites
N/A

The purpose of our course is to teach students about the intersection of sustainable business and global public health. With the environment being a major field in public health, we will study how businesses that produce smoke, oil, petrochemicals, etc affect minority groups and economically disadvantaged communities the most. We will discuss how businesses can work towards more sustainable practices, and will also specifically examine the social determinants of health, looking towards ideas to help reduce this disparity in healthcare accessibility.

Have you ever been harassed by the police? Have you seen the police do something you thought was wrong?
In this splash course, you will learn your rights when interacting with police and some best practices for observing or documenting police activity. Berkeley Copwatch has been directly observing the police and advocating for justice for over 30 years. We want you to leave this course ready to assert your rights and prepared to document police activity in your community!

This course will explore ways to develop methodological approaches to understanding race and other markers of difference that blend empirical methods with critical theoretical traditions, e.g. critical race theory, feminist theory, disability theory, queer theory, etc.

Emphasis will be placed on understanding the practical implications of the tension between humanist theory, anti-humanist thought, and research methods in the health and housing sciences.

"Follow your passion!" is always a popular --- maybe too popular --- piece of advice for career choice. Have you ever wondered what
"passion" really is and how it affects our lives? Serving as a brief introduction to the scientific study of passion in psychology, I hope the class could go a little way toward answering these questions. Welcome to join us to together explore "passion" passionately!

This course will give a brief overview of the fundamental definitions, formulas, and financial statements, drawing from two classes offered at Berkeley's Haas School of Business (UGBA 10 Principles of Business and UGBA 102A Intro to Financial Accounting). There will be practice problems and real-world examples to keep you accountable for the accounting knowledge you've acquired--pun intended!

A dissection of one of the most primal emotions in human history, fear! This brief course looks to explain the concept of fear under a biopsychosocial lens. Finally, I wish to use this class as a way for students to find methods to manage their own fears in life with the knowledge gained in class.

Class Is NOT Affiliated With Monsters University!

Do you like birds? Do you want to like birds? Have you ever seen a bird and wondered what it was? In any and all cases, this class is for you. We'll begin with a brief introduction to the most common birds of the Bay Area, go over some good birding (birdwatching) spots and other resources, then finish with a quick walk around central campus to see what we can see. Binoculars and cameras not required but encouraged.

Mental illness is a relevant topic, with almost a quarter of Americans suffering from a mental disorder. This course will act as a survey course of the biology and causes of various psychiatric disorders, as well as tips for dealing with a mental health crisis from a licensed crisis counselor. This is an open class for anyone with the interest.

Note: If you took this course with Ajay Krishnan in Splash 2023 Fall or Splash 2024 Spring, it is advised to take a different course as much of the content overlaps with Fall 2023.

Trigger warning: upsetting materials related to mental illness may be discussed, student discretion is advised

I will historically motivate the need for a quantum theory and introduce some of the strange phenomena. We will then utilize the tools we have developed to intuitively demonstrate how a quantum particle can tunnel through a barrier. We will then examine the probability of spontaneously falling through the floor due to such effects.


Prerequisites
Basic calculus would be helpful but not required! If you are interested in the course on experiments with quantum mechanics, I would also recommend you take this course first.

We will survey some landmark experiments that either shed light on the quantum world or harness it for clever applications. I will briefly discuss some techniques in modern experimental physics and the shocking degree of control we have on quantum systems. This course is a complement to the course "A Tour of the Quantum Land".


Prerequisites
I would recommend taking the course "A Tour of the Quantum Land" before this course.

The gold in jewelry, the uranium in a nuclear power plant, the iodine with table salt, the caesium in atomic clocks: what do these all have in common? It turns out they were likely forged in the fires of a cosmic explosion known as a kilonova! This course will dive into astronomer's journey to understand the origins of the heaviest elements of the periodic table.

This course delves into the complexities of Substance Use Disorder, a public health issue often linked to mental health disorders and infectious diseases. Participants will learn about the causes, symptoms, and risk factors of SUD, while exploring how limited access to treatment, and societal misconceptions impact individuals suffering from addiction. We will also examine the systemic barriers to care, the need for comprehensive support systems, and the critical role of public health initiatives in addressing this crisis.

Cater your meals to maximize your performance as we discuss superfoods, a balanced meal, preparing for big performances, myth bust, and dive into some fun nutritional science!

Have you ever wondered where atmospheric oxygen comes from?

This is an introductory course to a concept in Earth and Planetary Science of the mechanisms for how Earth attained its oxygen. We will be walking forward through time to discuss the proposed processes, looking at the geological evidence and discussing the reasoning for why it is evidence.

Much of research in fields like zoology, integrative biology, and animal science focuses on conservation (humans helping animals), with not as much working the other way (how animals help humans). This survey course helps to examine how animals are currently influencing research in human medicine and the importance of studying the natural world. From using venom as a morphine substitute to uncovering insomnia, the animal kingdom has pharmacological wonders for us to unpack.

Interested in learning more about the field of biotech, healthcare, and drug discovery? Then this is the right class for you!

We'll be exploring how business, research, and medicine all come together in this unique field, while also discussing possible career pathways and opportunities for high schoolers.

Presented by the Bio-Business Initiative at UC Berkeley.

Come learn about the wide range of careers and routes in the field of biotech, as well as some ways to get started early in your biotech career!

Presented by the Bio-Business Initiative at UC Berkeley.

The nature of dark matter still remains a remarkable open question almost a hundred years after its first discovery in our Universe. Its history reveals a tale that has evolved from astrophysics into the realm of particle and fundamental physics, with surges of theories and experiments being proposed to answer this question. Yet, the enigma of dark matter remains outstanding.

Beginning with the humble first astronomical observations of dark matter, this class will then proceed to give both a theoretical and observational treatment of what the dark matter question is, how it bridges both astrophysics (galaxies? clusters? black holes?) and particle physics (axions? WIMPS? other hypothetical particles?), and where we stand on the dark matter problem today.


Prerequisites
There are no strict prerequisites for this class, although any amount of knowledge of physics (e.g. mechanics) and/or calculus would probably enrich your experience. The biggest prerequisite however is always just curiosity!

We describe the story of a particle with quantum mechanics, the story of many particles with quantum field theory, and the story of many strings with string theory. A particle’s path through time is a line, and a string’s path through time is a sheet. For interacting particles, how do we describe their interactions, and how do we describe interacting strings? We have different types of particles, like photons and electrons, so how are they different, and how do we describe them as different vibrations of strings?


Prerequisites
No prerequisites are needed! It would be helpful if you know some mechanics and electromagnetism, but no worries if you don’t. Curiosity is what matters most!

Black holes are some of the most extreme objects in the universe. They push the boundaries of our knowledge and hold many unsolved mysteries. Come learn about black holes from "small" to enormous, how we detect them, and explore the frontiers of astrophysics!

Have you ever wondered what makes red red, green green, and blue blue? While psychologists have thought a lot about that question, many great physicists such as Maxwell, Schrodinger, and Newton have some of the answers. In this class, we will dive into the physics of color. We'll talk about prisms, white light, pure hues, color mixtures, and spinning color disks. You'll hopefully leave this course with a new appreciation for an everyday experience as well as for why purple is a strange color!


Prerequisites
None

From the theory of continuous symmetry to the foundations of geometric analysis, from the development of the nuclear shell model to the experiments that proved the violation of parity conservation, women have always been there. There are more obstacles for us to remember them, but we want not only to remember them but also to understand specifically what they have discovered. In this course, we will focus on learning the mathematical and physical theories and experiments developed by women scientists. You will not only learn their names, but also explore the interesting and inspiring mathematical and physical concepts they have contributed.

Enrico Fermi had a penchant for making "Fermi estimates"--for example, he famously estimated the power of the first atomic bomb test by dropping a piece of paper and seeing how far it flew. Thus began a whole category of order-of-magnitude estimation questions called Fermi questions. Some famous Fermi questions include: How long would it take to read all of Wikipedia? How many piano tuners are there in Chicago? How many intelligent civilizations are there in the galaxy?

Want to impress your friends by doing back of the envelope calculations? If we ask you: determine (without googling anything!) the distance from Pluto to the Sun divided by the width of a single HIV virus--are you confident you'll be able to get an answer accurate to within a factor of 10?

Learn how to become a whiz at Fermi questions, join the class!

In this lesson, students will learn about the science behind hydraulic machines and how liquids can be used to generate and transmit power. Students will also engage in hands-on activities to build sumo-robots to practice the engineering design process

From light diffracting into rainbows and tectonic plates shearing into earthquakes, to black holes generating gravitational waves in the fabric of spacetime — Despite how different these phenomena may seem at first, with the magic of calculus, they can all be reduced to one simple type of equation.

In this class, we will dive into the general theory of wave propagation, also known as the theory of linear, homogeneous differential equations. We will use these equations to examine both fundamental physics — light waves in electromagnetism, matter waves in quantum mechanics, and gravitational waves in general relativity — as well as emergent phenomena in the macroscopic world — shear waves, sound waves, and water waves.


Prerequisites
Students should come into this class knowing how to take derivatives of simple functions in calculus. No prior physics knowledge is necessary.

Most physicists believe that the matter we are made of and can interact with makes up only about 5% of the universe. What and where is the rest of it, and why can't we see it? This course will serve as a brief introduction to dark matter and dark energy: the theories of what they are, the evidence we have for them, and more!

What can computers do? You can use them as calculators, to build websites, or to solve physics problems! We will learn how they help physicists analyze large data sets and uncover nature’s laws. With the power of our computers, we can visualize motion in graphs better than pen and paper. We will introduce you to cool physics simulations in class (finding best-fit lines and simulating pendulum motion, to name a few) and give you a chance to try more at home.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of any coding language is preferred. It’s also helpful to know some physics beforehand. You will need a laptop for this course, but if you have trouble accessing a personal computer, we will provide one for you.

Have you ever wondered about the physics of your favorite movie/TV show? This class will give a brief overview of various areas of physics, including mechanics, relativity, and nuclear physics by associating them with different pop culture properties.

This course explores synthetic biology, where biology, chemistry, and engineering converge to design and construct new biological systems. Students will learn genetic engineering techniques like CRISPR, data analytics in bioinformatics, and system design using modular DNA components. Through projects and case studies, they will model biological processes and analyze genomic data. The course also addresses ethical considerations and biosecurity concerns associated with synthetic biology.


Prerequisites
A brief knowledge of general biology and general chemistry.

Immerse in the biological, environmental, and behavioral factors contributing to spread of disease. Learn about public health intervention and strategies in the transmission of infectious disease. Included discussion of challenges in public health, treatments, and antibiotic resistance.

What do space exploration, limitless energy, and the cure for cancer have in common? NUCLEAR!!! Nuclear sciences and technologies span much more than you may suspect. In this course, you will learn the basics of nuclear physics and how the concepts can solve many of our generation's most pressing issues.


Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of Chemistry would be good, but there are no hard prerequisites.

Curious about how stem cells are changing the future of medicine? In this beginner-friendly class, we'll dive into the science of stem cells, exploring the different types and how they are being used to create groundbreaking treatments. We'll cover exciting topics like how scientists are using stem cells to develop treatments for conditions once thought untreatable and its applications in regenerative medicine. No previous knowledge is needed, we'll help break down the science in a way that’s easy to
understand. If you're interested in how science can solve real-world problems, this class is perfect for you!

Curious about how chemistry and biology can solve real-world environmental challenges? This course is your chance to dive into the exciting world of renewable energy! Using waste cooking oil from campus dining halls and algae grown in a bioreactor that we built ourselves, you'll learn how to produce biodiesel that can fuel cars. Discover how the intersection of chemical engineering and biology turns algae into biofuel, and perform experiments first-hand to see how simple chemical processes can create big changes for the environment. Join us as we explore renewable energy, recycling, and innovative sustainable solutions!

Have you ever wondered why humans sleep? Have you ever thought about the mechanisms behind sleep or how it impacts your body?

In this course, you'll learn the basics of what sleep is, why we need it, how it impacts our brain and body, and so many other amazing things about sleep! You'll also unlock the secrets of how to sleep better, how to improve your memory through sleep, and how to beat that pesky jet lag.

Adapted from real UC Berkeley course curriculum (PSYCH 133: Psychology of Sleep).

Time, mass, and length are not constant!

Delve into Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity and discover how traveling the speed of light reshapes your fundamental understanding of the universe. We will consider basic equations for length contraction and time dilation, along with real-world applications of Special Relativity; GPS, and the movie Interstellar. Learn to warp spacetime!

As a bonus, we will calculate the speed of light using microwaves, and chocolate.


Prerequisites
A mind waiting to be blown.

Are you nervous about leaving for college and don’t know where to start? Or a curious student who wants to see if college is right for you? Visit “What I Wish I Knew When I Went to College” to learn helpful tips and tricks to prepare for your first year.

5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel is a mind-bending variant of Chess that opens up countless possibilities through time traveling and dimension hopping pieces. The goal is to checkmate your opponent’s king across space, time, and parallel universes!

Intro to 5D Chess is designed for all Chess players, from complete beginners to titled masters. Throughout this class, students will develop a solid understanding of the game’s rules and utilize tactics and strategies never before seen in Chess. Most importantly, players will discover how fun thinking in 5D can be!

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 equitable energy system. This will require an all-hands-on-deck approach. We will need contributors from across all disciplines - 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.

Self Defense is a useful skill for everyone. In this class, we will be learning some basic self defense moves and getting some exercise.


Prerequisites
Na

Are you struggling to keep up with the competitive college admissions process? Do you have a special circumstance or a disability that’s keeping you from reaching your full potential in high school? Want a fresh start after graduation? Transfer from a community college!

This process is not only cheaper (CA residents get 2 years free at CA community colleges (CCC)) but admissions from a CCC to a UC school are significantly easier via TAG/TAP. This class will be going into the transfer process, how to write your essays, what resources to take advantage of, and how to get the support you need.

Note: this is a small class to foster community and better answer questions, so please only register if you are seriously interested and can attend your section.

Assisting high school students with their college scholarship applications.

Presented by the Bio-Business Initiative at UC Berkeley.

Preparing high school seniors on the college application process. Open to all grades, but most helpful for high school seniors.

Presented by the Bio-Business Initiative.

Assisting high school freshmen and sophomores with their high school experience in order to get them ready for college and further education.

Presented by the Bio-Business Initiative at UC Berkeley.

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, with a focus on what it truly means to start a business from the ground up. You will explore the critical steps involved in developing a startup, from ideation and market research to crafting a business plan and understanding financing options. Students will also engage with real-world case studies and gain practical insights into startup culture here at Berkeley. Whether you’re aiming to launch your own business or gain a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial process, this course will equip you with the essential tools and mindset for success.

In this class, we will explore the mathematical principles behind probability and how psychology influences our decision-making in uncertain situations. We will explore the Monty Hall Problem and the Gambler’s Fallacy to help us dive into the math of probabilities and examine why human intuition often clashes with statistical logic. There will be an activity to help students experience these concepts firsthand, while learning how understanding probability can lead to more rational decision-making in real life.

Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube and failed miserably? Well so have we! Rubik’s cubes are hard to solve, and in this course, we'll talk about why that is and feature some probability theory and math. However, by the end of the class, we'll to teach you how to solve a 2x2x2 Rubik's cube on your own. Come join us for an enlightening experience!

When we think of the internet, we picture scrolling through social media or binge-watching Netflix. But behind the scenes are the digital infrastructures that power our online lives—and their environmental impact.

In this class, we'll dive into those critical systems, explore their hidden environmental costs, tackle pressing issues of social equity around who gets access, and examine how international politics impacts development and sustainability efforts. We'll also look at new technologies and policies that could make the internet more sustainable and equitable for everyone. If you're passionate about shaping a better digital future, this class is for you! We value interdisciplinary perspectives and interests ranging anywhere from environmental science, media studies, political science, engineering, to ethnic studies.

This is a is designed for beginners but more experienced players are encouraged to come as well, This class will consist of an introductory period explaining the basic rules than immediately lead into play using Jumpstart decks allowing students to pick from a variety of themes and pick a combination that seems interesting. Experienced players can either bring decks and play during the time period or join in on playing with Jumpstart decks aswell.

Wondering what to write on college applications? Struggling with how to answer those tricky PIQs? Well, here is the course for you! This course offers the best tips and tricks to improve your writing for college applications. Whether you plan on applying as a freshman or going to community college and applying as a transfer student, come join me and save yourself some time (and a whole lot of stress) by getting a head start on your college writing!