Has your mother ever told you, "Turn that iPod down! I can hear your music from across the hall!"? In this class, we will look at why your mother had the right idea. (It's not only because you may have been listening to Gangnam Style). First, we will explore the science of sound, by learning about the wave equation, the speed of sound, and sound intensity. Through our discussion of Decibels and sound intensity, you will get a sense of how loud is too loud. We will follow this physics introduction with discussions on biology, genetics, and neuroscience to understand how the inner ear and the brain work together to create the sensation of sound. The third portion of this class will focus on hearing damage, and groundbreaking methods of regenerating inner-ear neurons to cure deafness. We will examine exciting research currently being conducted by Harvard and MIT scientists. Finally, we will talk about the importance of this research in an increasingly loud world. Regeneration techniques to cure deafness may be one option on the horizon, but preventive measures against hearing damage are still essential. You will understand the growing trend of hearing damage, alarmingly in young people as well, and you will take away methods of protecting your hearing so that you can continue to enjoy the music and environments you love.

Has your mother ever told you, "Turn that iPod down! I can hear your music from across the hall!"? In this class, we will look at why your mother had the right idea. (It's not only because you may have been listening to Gangnam Style). First, we will explore the science of sound, by learning about the wave equation, the speed of sound, and sound intensity. Through our discussion of Decibels and sound intensity, you will get a sense of how loud is too loud. We will follow this physics introduction with discussions on biology, genetics, and neuroscience to understand how the inner ear and the brain work together to create the sensation of sound. The third portion of this class will focus on hearing damage, and groundbreaking methods of regenerating inner-ear neurons to cure deafness. We will examine exciting research currently being conducted by Harvard and MIT scientists. Finally, we will talk about the importance of this research in an increasingly loud world. Regeneration techniques to cure deafness may be one option on the horizon, but preventive measures against hearing damage are still essential. You will understand the growing trend of hearing damage, alarmingly in young people as well, and you will take away methods of protecting your hearing so that you can continue to enjoy the music and environments you love.

Nutrition has taken a central stage within the American consciousness, but the science behind what makes a food "good for you" is often lost in media discussions of public health. A combination of biology, physiology, and chemistry, this class will explore the science behind food, nutrition and cooking. Topics to be covered include the real meaning of metabolism and calories; the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates; how proteins and amino acids impact the body; the chemical and physical differences between saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats; and more. One important goal of this class is to help students positively impact the health of their school or community, so health advocacy ideas will be suggested and encouraged throughout the class with ample opportunities for mentorship along the way!

Has your mother ever told you, "Turn that iPod down! I can hear your music from across the hall!"? In this class, we will look at why your mother had the right idea. (It's not only because you may have been listening to Gangnam Style). First, we will explore the science of sound, starting off with the basic foundation of the wave equation and how it is applied to sound waves and sound intensity. Through our discussion of Decibels and sound intensity, you will get a sense of how loud is too loud. We will follow this physics introduction with discussions on biology, genetics, and neuroscience to understand how the inner ear and the brain work together to create the sensation of sound. The third portion of this class will focus on hearing damage, and groundbreaking methods of regenerating inner-ear neurons to cure deafness. We will examine exciting research currently being conducted by Harvard and MIT scientists. Finally, we will talk about the importance of this research in an increasingly loud world. Regeneration techniques to cure deafness may be one option on the horizon, but preventive measures against hearing damage are still essential. You will understand the growing trend of hearing damage, alarmingly in young people as well, and you will take away methods of protecting your hearing so that you can continue to enjoy the music and environments you love.