Splash Spring 2023
Course Catalog

Come for an afternoon of Studio Ghibli film analysis, discussion of music and art, and minigames! On our list: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Grave of the Fireflies. We’ll focus on themes like identity, coexistence, and coming of age, and test your knowledge with some friendly trivia! There will be themed snacks!


Class Style
Discussion

Come join us for this hour long workshop in bracelet making! This will be a highly interactive workshop where students will be shown how to make various bracelet designs before being able to make bracelets of their own. Bracelet designs will not be limited to those shown in the workshop and will be a fun way for some hands on activities that anyone can participate in.


Class Style
Workshop

And as Link lays his final strike upon Calamity Ganon, the screen panning out to a vision of Hyrule now that the darkness has been sealed away, you sit back in your chair and close your eyes to the familiar, heroic tune of The Legend of Zelda's classic theme...

Whenever I hear music from a video game I played as a kid, I'm filled with a sense of nostalgia. From TLoZ to Hollow Knight, Super Mario to Luigi's Mansion, these tracks will always hold a special place in my heart. But what makes these scores so iconic? What makes them so catchy, and what leitmotifs do composers use to connect our minds to a specific character whenever we hear their theme?

In this class, we'll go through an overview of the music theory of video games and what makes their music so awesome and impactful! Then we'll have a group activity where we create our own video game plot and try to compose music for the main character!

So, what's your favorite video game?


Class Style
Activity

Learn to fold cool things with just a square sheet of paper! You can make birds, fish, balloons, flowers, and more! Paper will be provided.

This is the "for fun" part--check out part 2 for more advanced applications of origami :)


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever wondered how your hand works? Contrary to what you may think, each finger in the hand doesn’t contain any muscle. The muscles that control your finger motion are located in both the hand and forearm, and are able to work at a distance with the help of tendons which attach them to your bones. The physiology of the hand is important to recognize and understand for various reasons, especially for engineers that are designing products such as robots/prosthetics for people like amputees.

Now is your opportunity to channel your inner scientist/engineer and learn how the combination of bones, muscles, joints, and tendons works together to provide individuals with fine motor skills. Through this hands-on activity, designing your own DIY robot hand, you’ll be able to learn about the underlying mechanics behind the hand and visually see what plays a role in allowing normal function in one’s hands!


Class Style
Workshop

Ever wondered if you could Spaghetti?
Want to show your Spaghetti Prowess?
Feel smart enough to realize Spaghetti is being used in grammatically incorrect ways in these questions?

Well, look no further! Here you can use Spaghetti in a variety of ways, from building with spaghetti to using spaghetti as a building material!

Wait, isn't that the same thing?

OF COURSE IT IS!!! WHO DOESN'T LOVE BUILDING WITH SPAGHETTI!?!

Also, one more thing. THERE ARE PRIZES! FOR BUILDING WITH SPAGHETTI!

So if you like using spaghetti and/or want to try to win prizes, then this event is definitely for you!

On a more serious note, if you want to have some fun using spaghetti to build different structures and competing with your peers while doing so, then this class is for you!


Class Style
Workshop

Do you ever wonder how your phone works? What about how electronics are made? In this workshop, we'll have fun learning about the basics of electronics; batteries, LEDs, resistors, switches, and more. After a brief introduction, we'll learn to solder, and you will get to solder and take home your own electronics kit. No previous experience needed!


Class Style
Workshop

Ever wanted to drop an egg and have it NOT explode?

Unlock mystical secrets of physics and science--impress your friends, impress your teachers, prove that you are the Egg Master!

(But seriously, we're going to be building a chamber to put an egg in, dropping it from a balcony, and seeing if the egg breaks. Very easy, lots of fun, and a good competition.)


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of eggs. Ability to drop said eggs.

Learn how a simple set of folds can be used to make solar panels that go to space, materials with interesting properties, life-saving airbags, and more! You'll get to try some of these complex folding patterns yourself, and hear about some of the hardest problems relating to the math of origami (don't worry--you're not expected to solve them). Paper will be provided.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
I recommend signing up for part 1, but it isn't strictly required.

Come and learn how to bring your ideas for inventions to life in the form of a cardboard prototype! Students will have the opportunity to create cardboard versions of any ideas they may have and learn about the prototyping process


Class Style
Workshop

Have you ever wondered how medical devices are made? Fascinated by the thought of 3D printing organs and tissues? Curious how software is being used to aid in medicine development? Come learn what bioengineering is and about the innovative work being done in the field!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

The American Civil War ended in 1865, we abolished slavery, and we don't have to think about what happened afterward, right?

The reality is that one of the most intense political battles in history took place over the next decades, and proved that sometimes history is written by the losers.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
Content Warning: This class may discuss racial and political violence that occurred during this time period. A basic familiarity with the American Civil War may be assumed.

This course will take a broad look at the history of the rock genre, including its origins, many of its major movements, and its intersection with contemporary historical events.

We'll definitely be putting on music that relates to the content in the lecture!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Promising revolutionary looking to seize control of the government? Aspiring dictator looking to protect yourself from threats against your power? Come join this course that will examine the factors that make countries particularly vulnerable to coups and the mechanics of a coup d’etat, using examples from real-world coup attempts.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

In this interactive class, you will take the role of a military commander as we walk through a real historical conflict. At critical junctures in the battle, you will get to vote on the course of the battle. Will you do better than history?


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
May assume a basic knowledge of major historical conflicts like World War 2 or the American Civil War.

Do you ever feel like big tech is watching your every move?
Ever wonder about the ethical ramifications of various inventions?
Confused as to why some people do/don’t contribute to environmental causes?
Want to learn some philosophy from someone who took a single philosophy course and now feels that he is an expert?
If so, look no further than this class!

Within this class, I have a few prepared discussion points and a few that you will be able to choose from as a group, and this will allow for a vibrant and deep discussion about how human values relate to the technology of the modern era.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
An open mind.

This class will be a discussion based, very involved class about climate change messaging.

Drawing on my guest facing experience at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I will talk about how we can translate excitement about and love for the natural world into care for our planet.

This class will not be too science heavy (though I will do my best to answer science questions if you have them!) and will draw upon my personal experience, studies, and relevant literature from the field.

Here's what you can expect:
- cool facts about animals (especially ocean animals!)
- pictures and videos of animals
- discussion (challenge by choice, but please be open to speaking and participating)
- strategies to talk about climate change
- fun (hopefully!)


Class Style
Discussion

Keys, tables, strings, and dictionaries aren't just an odd collection of household items. This course will teach you how these concepts and more are used to build a database, and how databases get used by companies, governments and non-profits every day.

We'll also touch on SQL, the programming language usually used to manage data in a database.


Class Style
Tutorial

Prerequisites
This course will start from the basics, no background in computer science is needed!

Getting annoyed at all this newfangled technology? Confused as to how on earth typing a few lines of code is able to render a webpage? Morbidly curious about what programmers have been up to so far?

In this class, we’ll be discussing how humans have evolved our technology from the invention of electricity to the modern age of software. This is purely conceptual so no need to know any code or anything, just bring your curiosity!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Come learn about what makes the internet tick, from websites, to apps, to games! We'll learn about how computers talk to each other, how websites work, and to be honest probably far too many acronyms* – a cheat sheet will be included :).

We'll also learn about some of the cybersecurity side. What does it actually mean for someone to know your IP address? How do people "hack" websites? Come and find out!

*Including but not limited to: IP, HTML/CSS/JS, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, BGP, URLs, DDoS, XSRF, and XSS.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Come learn about AI by a broad introduction of the most useful AI to date, and an opportunity to ask questions about where we are and where this is going.


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
NA

The Fermi Paradox asks why, in a universe that is so incomprehensibly big, the only intelligent life we know about is located on Earth. In this class, we will walk through the basis of the Fermi Paradox and some of the proposed answers to the paradox. Then we will discuss as a group!


Class Style
Discussion

You -- everything you consider to be your personality, thoughts, identity -- are dictated by electrical and chemical signals in a blob of jelly. That blob is in your head and called your brain! In this class, you'll learn a smorgasbord of things about sentient jelly. Be prepared for wild facts, confusing contradictions, and demonstrations of brain science!


Class Style
Demonstration

Did you just see Avatar 2 and spend way too much time afterwards thinking about how the Pandoran ecosystem works? Ever get sad about the fascinating lives of dinosaurs that we’ll never truly know about? Have you ever looked at a monkey and wondered how two creatures could become so different in 10 million years, how different would we look in another 10 million years?

This class will not answer any of these questions. Instead, YOU will be the one who creates the answers. In this class you will learn about the speculative evolution movement and experience the works of other artists involved. The next step is for you to get involved! You can choose a scenario and create your own creature, based in real life biology, and bring it to life on paper or through playdough. Then you will have a chance to share your creature with the rest of the class.

So, consider it. What if you left a population of just canaries on a habitable moon? How could a human evolve to live in the vacuum of space? And why can’t we find any remains of the ancient dinosaur civilizations? That is for you to decide.


Class Style
Activity

In this fun and hands-on class, students will learn about the science of density and emulsions by making their own lava lamps from household materials. They will explore the properties of oil, water, and alka-seltzer tablets, and discover how these materials interact to create the mesmerizing effect of a lava lamp. Along the way, they will develop their observation and critical thinking skills, and learn about the scientific method of hypothesis testing and data analysis. This class is perfect for students who enjoy creative and interactive projects, and want to learn more about the fascinating world of science. No prior experience is required - just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm!


Class Style
Experiment

Join us as we perform science experiments involving all the colors of the rainbow! You'll get to try a bunch of fun experiments and even walk away with your own color-changing slime.


Class Style
Experiment

In this class, we will use some basic principles of Chemical Engineering to make homemade Ice Cream!
Along with this hands on experiment, students will have the opportunity to explore some of the many fields within Chemical Engineering like Food Safety and Engines


Class Style
Experiment

Prerequisites
** Please note this experiment contains dairy and may pose a nut allergy** We will try a dairy free almond milk based ice cream-however we are unsure of how yummy this will be ( :

The idea of humans changing themselves at a molecular level proliferates through all sort of science fiction, be it horror or humor. This science fiction concept is no longer confined to the world of fiction, and it turns out that its much more complicated than any story would have us believe.

Come learn the true history and science behind gene editing. Then, we will all work together on a large escape-room-like puzzle that models the work real scientists go through to edit a gene. Will you be the next scientist who prevails in making sci-fi into real life?


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
High School Biology

What is college even for? Should I go?? How do I even apply or know which college to choose???

If you've ever had these questions or worries, fear no more. In this class we'll have an open discussion about college - what's it for, is it worth it, and how to help you choose where to go and get started.

Note that we will NOT be reading over people's specific supplements or essays. This will serve as a general discussion and I will provide some insights and tips that I and others have used when it comes to applying for college. My advice is general and not specific to one-college, however I am happy to provide specific information on Northeastern's programs and resources.

(Note: Taking classes at Splash does not affect your Northeastern college application)


Class Style
Discussion

Interactive fiction is the world of video games, text adventure games, choose-your-own-adventure books, and much more! It brings together computer science and the creative arts in a unique way, and has some fun tools out there ready for total beginners to make their own stories.

In this class, I'll give a brief overview of the history of interactive fiction. Then, for the main part of the session, we'll try out cool tools for building and playing IF games.

Best of all, I have tons of IF game recommendations to share. Depending on the vibes people want, I can always adjust the lesson plan on the fly and make time for just geeking out about IF :)


Class Style
Workshop

Prerequisites
Bring a laptop if you have one!

These vegans are so preachy, am I right? They claim to have the silver bullet to climate change and human health, but really they’re just looking for a way to shame us. Veganism at its core is unsustainable and elitist, right?

Where do they get it wrong? Where do they get it right?

How about we find out!

In this class, we will be discussing the ideals of veganism and its critiques. We will cover ethical, environmental, and health concerns all to get into the nitty gritty of what the vegan movement is really about.

*This will be a safe space for nuance, reflection and honesty.

Trigger warning: animal cruelty, violence, death. While we will do our best not to harp on these subjects, these are consistent themes in discussion about veganism.


Class Style
Discussion

The TV show Jeopardy! has been on the air for more than 35 years now. But in recent years champions have been earning more money than even, such as James Holzhauer and Amy Schneider who won $2m and $1.6m respectively. How do they do it?

In this course we will be going over the strategies and tactics that made these champions the winners that they are. And we will be using these tips and tricks to CRUSH IT in our Jeopardy! tournament.


Class Style
Activity

Ever played Monopoly and had a win stolen from you? Or been stuck in an endless cycle of capitalism vampirism, unable to break free? Good news: Monopoly is solved. It's time to always win.


Class Style
Workshop