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This year's schedule is still a work in progress. You can see last year's schedule below.
Titles and Descriptions
8pm
A love triangle: the Earth, the Sun and the Moon
Nils Brode-Roger
Ever wondered how our the Moon influences Earth? How about the Sun? Come and learn about tides, eclipses and other weird phenomena with us!
Nuclear Fusion: The Challenges, Prospects, and Progress
Jonathan Morrell
Are you interested in learning about the process that powers our stars? In this class we will discuss the possibility that nuclear fusion is not only the sun’s source of power, but could be ours as well. This will include the basic physics, engineering challenges, and current fusion research.
de Bruijn sequences
Adam Hesterberg
We'll solve the same elementary math problem by graph theory (both an NP-hard method and an O(n) method), abstract algebra, and Sanskrit poetry.
3D Printing for Mars Settlement
Bruce Mackenzie
3D printing and other custom fabrication is a key to economically live on Mars or elsewhere in space, provided the materials are made on site, not brought from Earth. The Mars Foundation is looking for your ideas on how to use our 3D printer at a Mars Habitat in Hawaii.
Another Look at the Continent System
Ray Hua Wu
Believe it or not, our continent system is outdated. Millenia outdated. Let's take a moment to think smarter about continents.
Intro to Parli Debate / Controversial Topics
Matthew Cole
The first part of this class (~10m) will be an introduction to parliamentary debate and the MIT Debate Team. After that, I'm going to explain to you why all of your opinions on political issues are wrong, and we can shout at each other about it.
9pm
Spectral Sparsification of Graphs
Michael Cohen
Graph sparsification is the concept of producing "sparse approximations" to graphs (i.e. "similar" graphs with many fewer edges). This class will introduce a particularly powerful notion of approximation that defines "spectral sparsification", with a focus on the 2008 result by Spielman and Srivastava (http://arxiv.org/abs/0803.0929) and applications to other graph algorithms.
Minimum Mars Settlement Program
Bruce Mackenzie
Can we start the settlement of space by sending just 2 people to Mars? They would supported remotely while setting up small scale manufacturing to build habitats, greenhouses, and furnishings for more people to arrive. This is a work in progress by the Mars Foundation, which you can help with.
Linguisticsless Linguistics Problem Solving
Adam Hesterberg
The following Kurdish sentences match the following English ones, in some order: Ez h'irç'ê dibînim, Tu dir'evî, Tu min dibînî, H'irç' dir'eve, Ez dir'evim, Tu h'irç'ê dibînî. You see Bear, You see me, Bear runs, You run, I see Bear, I run. Which is which? This and more linguistics logic puzzles!
Insects! and Insects!
Chelsea Voss, Davie Rolnick
Listen to two presentations at once! We will present our two Splash! 2013 classes, both entitled “Insects!”, at a rapid-fire pace. Come learn about suicide-bombing ants and wasps that use metal-tipped drills, see incredible examples of mimicry and camouflage, and learn how to identify insects through fun quiz questions.
Speedily Scripted Sudoku Solver
Ziv Scully
Haskell is a statically typed, purely functional programming language that you've probably never used, which makes it a clear choice for walking through writing a Sudoku solver. We'll define the problem, come up with some terrible search algorithms, wiggle an equation, and voila: a sub-second solver will fall out!
10pm
Sabermetrics 101
James Rowan
Do you wrongly believe Miguel Cabrera is the best position player in baseball? Are you a fan of our national pastime, but too hosed to actually watch games? Have you ever wanted to use 18.06 to prove MLB managers make bad decisions? Sabermetrics, a scientific approach to baseball, can help!
Introduction to Functional Thin-Film Coatings
Brian Tom
Basic to advanced techniques of layer by layer assembly. Exploration of key advances in recent research such as self-healing films and protective coatings.
Mars Foundation Hillside Settlement Review
Bruce Mackenzie
A Journey in Music Theory: Extended Tertian Harmony
Ray Hua Wu
Why not up that number to a 9 after the V for the dominant chord? Or an 11? Or a 13? How does that come out?
11pm
10 Things We Never Learned at MIT and Never Will
Jonathan Tidor, Colin Aitken
Some people teach Splash classes about things they learned at MIT. We prefer the alternative. Hear the 5-minute condensed version of 10 classes we never took at MIT (and never will).
Spontaneous 5-Minute Improvised Classes
Davie Rolnick
You choose the title, we improvise a 5-minute lesson on it! Bring your wackiest topic suggestions, and watch us embarrass ourselves as we teach you about them on the spur of the moment.
Last modified on Dec. 07, 2014 at 04:56 p.m.