Have you ever wondered how scientists study human diseases? The nematode (roundworm) Ceanorhabditis elegans is an outstanding genetic model to study biological problems related to human disease.
In this project-based laboratory course, students will be introduced to one of the most widely used model organisms in research laboratories, the free-living microscopic roundworm. Using basic and fluorescent microscopy, accompanied by readings from the WormBook (online review of C. [click to learn more]
Everyday our bodies are exposed to a staggering number of chemicals, some are toxic while others are advantageous. In this course, using well-known toxicants, such as asbestos, lead and BPA among others, we will introduce research that explores the mechanisms of toxicity. This course provides practical approaches for researching toxicology through a discussion of recent scientific techniques and 2D and 3D modeling at both molecular and organ system levels. [click to learn more]
Burden of proof? Presumed innocent? Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Is it your desire to be a crime scene investigator (CSI), medical examiner, or an expert in any other forensic science related field? Are you naturally curious? Can you piece together clues to solve a problem? This course will help hone your investigative skills and review a wide range of science concepts simultaneously. The course focuses on the skills and concepts behind crime scene investigation and forensic science.
You will be learning many of the concepts that make up the study of "forensic science" including physics, chemistry, anatomy, cell biology, environmental science and math. [click to learn more]
Are you curious as to what it is like to be in a laboratory, working to solve problems in the medical field? Have you wondered how scientists work to provide breakthrough products and technologies to improve our environment? This course will immerse you in the laboratory as you learn the basics of biotechnology and gain experience conducting advanced laboratory techniques. Researchers in the field of molecular biology work to understand biomolecular and cellular processes and use that knowledge to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives, our society, and our planet.
Students will learn about DNA, RNA, and proteins and apply this knowledge to laboratory techniques used in the field of Molecular Biology. [click to learn more]
Ebola, HIV, Zika and malaria, SARS, Flu, Lime and other tick borne illnesses are all examples of zoonotic infectious diseases that originate in animals and can jump to infect humans. As new infectious diseases are discovered they become relevant to our media and social networks. Where do they come from? What can we do to stop the transmission? Is it safe to travel? This course will discuss a multitude of diseases and focus on public health interventions that have been used to control infectious disease. [click to learn more]
The answers to problems can be found in life all around us! Nature is imaginative, adaptable, and efficient – qualities which inspire today’s engineers and scientists. Biomimicry is the innovation of learning from nature’s sustainable solutions. It is a growing, exciting field of science and engineering that studies nature as a model and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. [click to learn more]
We spend a third of our lives asleep—why would we do this? The meaning of sleep is one of sciences’ most enduring and lingering questions. In this class, we’ll tackle it head-on. We’ll explore what sleep does for the body, the brain, and the mind. We’ll learn how much sleep we should get, and what happens when we don’t get enough. Finally, we will learn where dreams come from, what meaning they may have, and what this all might mean for the future of artificial intelligence.
Sleep is so fundamental to human existence that studying it requires a “cross-disciplinary” approach. [click to learn more]
Imagine for a moment what your world might be like if you could no longer see color, or taste the flavors of food you once enjoyed? Even more peculiar, what if instead of merely seeing color, you could feel, taste, and hear it? We spend the majority of our days exploring and interacting with the world around us. But how are we able to do this so effortlessly, while others struggle? In this course, we will explore the neurobiology of your five senses, and more, in an attempt to answer these questions. We will start by exploring the brain and our ability to sense, perceive, and respond to stimuli using our sensory and motor systems. [click to learn more]
It’s a common misconception that the only way to get started into engineering and computer science is by having access to a 3D printer or laser cutter, by completing all the lessons on Codecademy, or by having an innate understanding of technical concepts. Such false prerequisites make delving into STEM unnecessarily expensive or overwhelming. In most scenarios, all it takes is a project of interest and the will to learn by doing. This course is designed for students who enjoy learning by doing. [click to learn more]
This hands-on course is an introduction to biomedical engineering with a focus on neuroscience and instrumentation. Medical devices use a variety of sensors to record signals from the body that are important for understanding and treating diseases. For example, pacemakers are devices that are implanted in the heart to sense and control heart rate. When the pacemaker senses that the heart rate has fallen below a healthy threshold, the device stimulates the heart to control its rate of beating. [click to learn more]
The importance of design practice and developing hands on approaches to solving engineering projects is becoming increasingly important in industry and academia. Multidisciplinary projects are pioneering the way we think and engage with technology. From MIT’s prestigious Media Lab, to Google and Space-X, the future of innovation relies on students with equally creative and analytic backgrounds. Engineering Design Studio is a course for students who are interested in learning through making. [click to learn more]
The unobservable universe is the key to some of the most intriguing features of our reality. Fluid mechanics provides an insight into the mechanisms of many natural and artificial processes that are part of our everyday lives. However, to observe the most mysterious and fantastic attributes of fluids and their interaction with their surroundings we must overcome the limits set by our eyes. We must carefully design experiments, which will allow us to look at what we otherwise are unable to see. In this class, students will build both a basic understanding of classical Newtonian mechanics and apply those principles to understand and analyze fluid mechanics problems. [click to learn more]
Why did humans evolve and what environmental changes forced humans to move throughout the world? How did Homo sapiens become the most adaptable species on Earth today? The convergence of anthropology and climatology forms a fascinating field of study into our species’ past. In Human Evolution and the Environment, we will take a journey through the emergence of humankind beginning 6 million years ago. We will follow our ancestors in Africa and their dispersal throughout the world. [click to learn more]
Narraganset Bay, Rhode Island’s huge and important estuary, is home to a large community of plants and animals including eelgrass, algae, crabs, fish, and seals. Estuaries, where the rivers meet the sea, are the foundation of life in marine systems and are considered to be one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Today, estuaries are threatened by challenges created by human activities like climate change, invasive species, and impacts to water quality. [click to learn more]
Although not all open problems in mathematics come with a million dollar prize, some definitely do! Math is a changing and growing subject and new discoveries are being made all the time. Through experimentation and with the help of computers, we will discover how research mathematicians draw their conclusions. If we are lucky, we may even solve a million dollar problem!
This course is an overview of the process of mathematical research, from forming the hypothesis to computational tools and types of proofs. [click to learn more]
This course will provide an overview of Newtonian Mechanics. We will be studying one and two dimensional motion, forces, momentum, energy, rotational motion, periodic motion and light. Starting with the concepts of vectors we will move on to studying Newton's laws of physics. Learning about the conservation of energy and momentum will then lead to the analysis of circular motion. We will learn about periodic motion, waves and light, which will lead to the developments of some concepts in modern physics and electromagnetic theory. [click to learn more]
Strange worlds exist within our solar system. On Saturn's moon Titan, methane falls instead of rainwater. Mars is home to both the deepest canyon and the tallest mountain. Pluto has mountains made of ice that may still be actively forming today. Humans have explored the Earth and our moon, but the other planets are millions of miles away. How do we learn about them? Planetary scientists use data collected by spacecraft, rovers, and occasionally astronauts to understand the surfaces and interiors of far-away bodies in our solar system. [click to learn more]
In November 2018, a Chinese woman gave birth to a very special pair of twins: the first children genetically altered through a technique called CRISPR-Cas9. Some celebrated the use of a new technology to increase the girls’ resistance to HIV—the virus that causes AIDS, which has no known cure. Others voiced alarm at the prospect of “designer babies” or the perceived recklessness of the Chinese scientist behind the project. [click to learn more]
