Could you be a brain in a vat? You think that you are registering for Splash @ JHU, but maybe in reality you are just a brain connected to a computer. Skeptical scenarios like this have caused much problem to our theory of knowledge. This is roughly because if it is possible that we are dreaming, it seems that we cannot be certain of what we take ourselves to know. In this class, I will try to demonstrate the Brain in a Vat paradox, and suggest some potential solutions. Please note this will be a philosophy session so we will not discuss the technological details.

This will be a philosophy of science session. Instead of guessing the content of the laws of nature, we will take a step back and think about what are the laws of nature. Are they governing rules of the universe such that whatever happens according the laws of nature? Or are they a collection of elegant descriptions of the world made by humans scientists without any governing power?

You can count 1, 2, 3, 4, … for a 45 minutes session without reaching the end of natural number. Suppose you have all the time in the universe, you still wouldn’t reach infinity. However, is the infinity the largest number? In this session, I will try to prove that there is a number bigger than infinity (it’s not infinity+1, actually we can show that infinity+1=infinity).

Take a tour through plant mythology from different cultures, adopting plants as role models and mentors with the goal of becoming a better living being.

The United States constitution is the world's oldest active codified constitution, yet despite that our current system of government is vastly different today than during its inception. In this class we will explore how the relationship between the US's government and its citizens changed as it transformed from a fledgling nation of former British colonies to a global superpower.

All too often, History in school is about memorizing facts. In this experimental class, we'll try to learn history through playing a "table-top-style" game instead! Students will be tasked with leading their own fictional civilizations across Afro-Eurasia. Your choices will change the history of this parallel Earth! If you've wanted a new way to look at history, this is the class for you!

Have you ever wondered how words are put together? How do we understand the word "unreliable" as a combination of the parts "un-", "rely", "-able"? This course will introduce that field of linguistics and more specifically morphology through fun language puzzles.

Students will learn how to encrypt messages using a variety of ciphers, starting with simple algorithms and moving to more complex ones. We will go over techniques for decrypting encoded text, getting plenty of practice decoding by hand, and will also apply basic computer programs to decryption.

Learn what makes the internet work, from how single bits are stored and transmitted, to how complex streams of information are sent in seconds around the world.

This workshop taught by the JHU MedTech Network will be an introduction to Java and cover the basics of syntax, data types, loops, and arrays. Students will learn about medtech applications of Java through interactive coding activities.


Prerequisites
This class is introductory, so no prior coding experience is needed.

Where did COVID-19 come from? There have been many different theories floating around -- was it a lab accident? A biologically engineered weapon? A coincidence? In this class, we will walk through several of the most popular theories on the origins of COVID-19 and discuss their plausibility, as well as their implications for the future of global health.

A step-by-step, scientific guide on how to engineer a supernova-scale explosion. A fun experiment to try out on your enemies! Or their entire solar system, for that matter.

In this class, we'll use engineering and the laws of physics to explore one of the most effective (and yet, one of the most absurd) ways to power a house on Mars.

Ever wonder how space affects various parts of the human body or what evidence we've found of life on other planets? Join us as we delve into the worlds of space medicine and astrobiology to find intersections between 3 interesting fields.

Have you ever wondered why we sleep? What do dreams mean? What influence does a lack of sleep have on learning and diseases like Alzheimer's? Why do some migrating animals only sleep for 1 hour per day while koalas sleep up to 21 hours per day? Come find out in this class!

In this course, students will have the opportunity to explore gene editing - a technique that will revolutionize healthcare, food security, and scientific research. We will first dive into the fundamental inner workings of gene editing, followed by an exploration of different advancements within this field.

Why are identical twins so different? How does the environment affect your genes? What different modifications can be made to DNA? All of these questions can be answered with epigenetics. Join us as we explore the role of epigenetics in making us who we are.

Have you ever thought about the complex biological molecules within the food that we eat? This course will relate concepts from the biological sciences in an applicable context to food and nutrition, providing students with an understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, health, and nutrition. Topics including food molecules, function of different vitamins, and the impact of food on the human health are all covered in this course.

The Universe is incredibly vast, yet we are the only intelligent civilization we know of. Join us as we walk through the rare events in Earth's history, from evolutionary quirks to mass extinctions, that have created intelligent life. Then, as a class, we'll estimate just how unlikely we are!

Interested in the sort of molecular biology experiments conducted in research and industry settings? This course will begin by giving a quick overview on DNA, RNA, and proteins and proceed to examine the basic theory and method regarding foundational bioanalytical techniques such as PCR, ELISA, gel electrophoresis and the cloning cycle. The course will then explore more technical experiments involving next generation DNA sequencing and common staining procedures performed on clinical samples.

Are you interested in the field of STEM? Are you also interested in a career in medicine? From the perspective of a pre-dental student, this course will cover the importance of oral health and the field of denistry. We will cover the pros and cons of the job, while also comparing the pre-dental academic path to the pre-medical path. I will discuss the application requirements and how technology is changing how dentists work with patients. This will also be a great class (full of advice) for any student considering a pre-health path in college.

This class will equip you with the skills needed to impress anyone who watches you play Geoguessr. We will explain the best methods to successfully pinpoint the most likely country or location that you are placed in. This class will focus on the distance based mode and the country selection mode.

If you can hear the sound of the sea in a shell, can you hear the sounds of the city inside a tin can?
This highly interactive, discussion-based class, co-taught by a civil engineer and a humanities major, is an example of what can happen when two very different disciplines come together. This is a deeper look into what typically goes unseen—public (and private) structures that mold where we live and, of course, the way we live. Join us as, with new perspectives, we explore our cities, towns, and suburbs. What do we see when we choose to notice?

Applying to college soon? Curious about the process? This class is for you! We will cover the entire timeline of creating a school list, testing, writing essays, asking for letters of recommendation, and finally sending in applications. Please note this class will NOT give specific admissions advice, but more a general overview of the process and what to expect. There will be opportunities to ask questions throughout!