Splash Waterfall 2016
Course Catalog

Make your own stamps and lithographs to create prints in this two-part course!

Ever go on Instagram and wonder why some other peoples' pictures look so much better than yours? They might have a better camera than you, but then there's those people who seem like they could get into a the MFA with an old iPhone. What gives?

Turns out there's more to taking pictures than just finding something pretty and tapping the shutter button. In this class, I'll discuss some basic elements of composition and then show you some free editing software available on the internet and how to use it (and yes, it's perfectly legal).


Prerequisites
It's best if you have used digital camera before (a phone counts!), and know how to use a computer. That's it! In fact, if you know how a histogram works, or know how to color correct, you might find this class to be a bit boring. Bringing a phone/camera or some pictures would be nice but is in no way necessary.

Continue to get creative with stamps and lithographs in this week-2 course!

Rocket science, as it turns out, isn't terribly difficult. Or at least it won't be, once you're enrolled in this class! This is an entry-level primer to the challenges of spaceflight and the tricks of engineering that have been used to overcome them. In part one, we'll use the Space Race (1957 through 1970) as our guide, following the development of the American and Soviet space programs as examples of how it's done. Then, apply that knowledge to plan a mission of your own!


Prerequisites
None.

Rocket science, as it turns out, isn't terribly difficult. Or at least it won't be, once you're enrolled in this class! This is an entry-level primer to the challenges of spaceflight and the tricks of engineering that have been used to overcome them. In part two, we'll look at crewed spaceflight from 1970 to the present as our guide, following the development of the American and Soviet space programs as examples of how it's done. Then, apply your knowledge to plan a mission of your own!


Prerequisites
None. Attending Part One is highly recommended.

Northeastern's chapter of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) will introduce you to the wondrous world of aeronautics! We will bring you through some of the awesome projects we are working on: from building a fixed wing RC airplane to a rocket that is trying to be the first university rocket that reaches space!! In addition we will run a hands on activity to get your creative juices flowing and have some fun!

Ever wonder what making cookie treats has to do with an assembly line in a factory? Join this class and find out! You can also eat the treats you make!

Students will create two different coatings for candy to determine which will keep it from dissolving in soda, much like a pill dissolves in a human's stomach. Through a fun, hands-on activity that involves playing with food, a key application of chemical engineering will be demonstrated. This class will feature a key sector of the many fields chemical engineering can be applied to and provide more information for students who may be interested in a chemE career.

In this class, students will learn more about the mechanical properties of human bones after we snap a chicken bone with a heavy load! This class will inform students of the principles of biomechanics and how bioengineers approach problem solving in their field.

This class will provide an introduction to the engineering design process that is central to all fields of engineering. Students will leave the class with a clear understanding of the core thought processes engineers cycle through when addressing a problem.

Want to know what makes a serial killer a serial killer? Want to delve into the minds of known psychopaths to see what makes them tick? Think YOU might be one? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the class for you.

In Creating a Killer: Criminal Psychology, you will learn the basics of criminal psychology and practice “profiling” a number of known high-profile criminals as well projecting the potential futures – criminal or not – of several hypothetical personalities. While this class won’t be all you need to begin work in the FBI, it will be a fun look into some of society’s most complex and dangerous members.

NOTE: Graphic material (involving abuse, rape and murder) covered may be disturbing to some individuals.

"“Let’s talk about sex, baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Let’s talk about sex.” Did you know that in ancient Egypt women used suppositories made of spoiled milk and crocodile dung to prevent pregnancy? We’ve come a long way since then. In this class we will take an hour to examine the topic of birth control from a variety of fun angles. First we’ll explore contraction’s 3000 year history, looking at how methods have changed and advanced and the key figures who helped to normalize, commercialize, and optimize the various methods of birth control available today. We will then delve into the science behind modern contraception as well as look into new birth control options could be available in the near future."

Does your vote matter? How biased is the news you watch? Should you care about current events in the first place? We'll examine these questions and more in our class discussions and through popular media such as SNL, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report!

Does your vote matter? How biased is the news you watch? Should you care about current events in the first place? We'll examine these questions and more in our class discussions and through popular media such as SNL, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report!

Bareback horse riding, piloting fighter jets, throwing opponents to the ground with professional judo moves.

What is Russia? What was Russia before? What is it now? Who is Vladimir Putin? How did he come to power? How has he stayed in power? What makes for a charismatic leader? Are there any downsides of relying on them pecs to keep those approval ratings high?

Yep - you'll learn a lot about Putin. Class isn't hard, but will be more fun if you come prepared with a question about Putin.


Prerequisites
none

Fact: everything sounds prettier in Spanish. Even the sentence that means "Don't throw oil in the water" has meter and rhyme. So imagine what happens when we start talking about actual poetry. In this class, we'll explore love poems in Spanish from a variety of time periods and regions. You'll walk away being able to dazzle your friends with newfound knowledge of a beautiful language and you might even get a couple of pickup lines out of the deal.


Prerequisites
Some familiarity with Spanish. Fluency isn't necessary (the class will be conducted in English) but at least a year of high-school-level Spanish will be helpful.

You've probably done it before without even noticing it. $$Red + Blue = Purple$$. $$5 o'clock + 8 o'clock = 1 o'clock$$. A double negative is not not a positive. We'll try to connect all these examples and learn about the mathematical subject of Group Theory.


Prerequisites
All we'll need is some basic algebra; if you're familiar with modular arithmetic that's a plus, but definitely not required.

Learn about cryptography, what it is and how it's used. Learn to encode and decode simple ciphers, and have fun!

Join the NU Science Squad for an hour of BRAND NEW science experiments! We will take a closer look at everything from chemical reactions to physical phenomena to quick engineering! We'll show you the science behind a few quick, but intriguing experiments, no lab reports required! There will be some experiments inaccessible at home, as well as a few you can try with your friends! Come ready to experiment!

The cell. The basic unit of life. Ity bity small, multi-functional, and inherently complex, the cell will be the focus of this class.

In the first class, we will learn about cell biology and anatomy, focusing on organelle function. In the second class, we will use our knowledge to understand cell-borne illnesses.

Ever wonder why you shouldn't eat cyanide, or should avoid breathing in large amounts of carbon monoxide? This class explores the reasons that all sorts of "nasty chemicals" really are nasty, and what this says about biology. Chemicals that will be discussed are cyanide, carbon monoxide, several kinds of neurotoxin and whatever else you're interested in (so long as we know something about it).


Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of biology and chemistry. If you know what a protein is, and what an electron is, you should be fine. Knowledge of the proteins involved in cellular respiration is a plus, but not necessary.

What do fireflies in the summertime, "bio bays" in Puerto Rico, and monsters in Finding Nemo all have in common? Bioluminescence! The ability to produce light is found all the way from bacteria to sharks, and creates some of the most beautiful sights on Earth. Just as importantly, biological light is vital for the survival of many organisms, and has been repurposed to fulfill almost every biological need imaginable. Students in this class will learn what, how, and why life produces light, and in doing so will learn major concepts in biology and ecology. Pretty pictures and cool videos guaranteed.


Prerequisites
Basic biology background recommended, but not required

CSI Boston will cover the basics of real life crime scene investigation. The class will cover the theory and practical applications of forensics, and will teach students how to identify and lift finger prints, understand the basics of blood spatter analysis, and other such basic forensics tasks.

CSI Boston will cover the basics of real life crime scene investigation. The class will cover the theory and practical applications of forensics, and will teach students how to identify and lift finger prints, understand the basics of blood spatter analysis, and other such basic forensics tasks.

Students will learn very basic skills to solve a Rubik's cube, which means there is no prerequisite for this class. Even if you know nothing about Rubik's cube, as long as you are interested in it, you can register for this class.

Rather than part 1 class, students are going to get more advanced ideas to solve a Rubik's cube. This means that it is faster, but also much more complex. Therefore, only students who already know how to solve a Rubik's cube or who have taken part 1 class can register for this class. In this class, the ideas will be introduced, but I won't teach students many advanced formulas that are used to solve a Rubik's cube. This class is to give you the direction to improve yourself. After class, you can do it yourself.

Rubik's cubes are amazing. People practice for a long time to get 1 or 2 seconds faster. In this class, students are going to learn some skills which are very helpful to improve your speed. For example, they will be taught how to use fingers rather than hands to solve a Rubik's cube, and how to use the formula in a more proper way. If students can master these skills, they can solve a Rubik's cube in 1 minute only using basic formulas.

Join us for a fun-filled hour of DIY chemistry experiments that you can (mostly) recreate in your own kitchen, and learn about the chemistry behind them!


Prerequisites
Closed-toed shoes and long pants.

Have you ever wondered about the neuobiology of Schizophrenia or Depression? You're in luck! Come join a class full thought provoking analysis of current, up to date scientific information about common psychiatric diseases like alcoholism and Bipolar Disorder. As a neuroscience major, I ask the important questions daily about how can we cure these diseases. In this class we will talk about the brain, how it works normally, and finish with how the brain can also act abnormally.

"NEURONS, Northeastern University Researchers of Neuroscience, will be teaching two different classes, both highlighting interactive and evidence-based learning. The purpose of these classes are to have students think about how a complex organ like the brain can cause us to perform tasks big and small, and to learn about methods used today in science that try to understand, manipulate, and recreate it.

Class 1: (Recommended for those with some biology experience) Focuses on the direct applications of neuroscience and interactive learning.
Class 2: (Recommended for those with more biology experience possibly considering studying science at a higher level) Focuses more on the use of evidence from primary articles and student work.

Topics may include: How We Perceive the World; Today's Methods of ""Mind Control""; How a Computer Can Make a Brain; How the Brain Grows; What a Memory Looks Like; Methods of Visualizing Neurons; Animal Models; Neuroscience of Social Interactions; The Brain's Immune System, or whatever our members are excited about teaching you all!"

"NEURONS, Northeastern University Researchers of Neuroscience, will be teaching two different classes, both highlighting interactive and evidence-based learning. The purpose of these classes are to have students think about how a complex organ like the brain can cause us to perform tasks big and small, and to learn about methods used today in science that try to understand, manipulate, and recreate it.

Class 1: (Recommended for those with some biology experience) Focuses on the direct applications of neuroscience and interactive learning.
Class 2: (Recommended for those with more biology experience possibly considering studying science at a higher level) Focuses more on the use of evidence from primary articles and student work.

Topics may include: How We Perceive the World; Today's Methods of ""Mind Control""; How a Computer Can Make a Brain; How the Brain Grows; What a Memory Looks Like; Methods of Visualizing Neurons; Animal Models; Neuroscience of Social Interactions; The Brain's Immune System, or whatever our members are excited about teaching you all!"

We'll teach the science behind the 5 (and more) senses, and what happens when they overlap, both in a everyday life and in clinical cases.

Learn how to cast on, knit basic stitches, and cast off- everything you need to know to complete your first knitting project!