# ESP Biography

## DANIEL EPELBAUM, MIT Freshman and all around awesome person.

Major: 18

College/Employer: MIT

Not Available.

## Past Classes

(Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

M10273: Differential Geometry in HSSP Spring 2016 (Feb. 20, 2016)
Gentle introduction to the ideas of differential geometry, which are fundamental to our understanding of physical concepts like general relativity and black holes. Curves in Euclidean 2- and 3-space. Curvature and torsion. Surfaces. Gaussian and mean curvature. Topics will be tailored to student interest and background.

H9877: Playwrights' Workshop in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
Interested in writing plays? Come and get some hand-on experience in this class taught by the Experimental Theatre Company! In the first hour, we will teach you the basics of writing scenes for the stage. We will address stage space, character voice, and conflict structure. In the second hour, you will write scripts in groups of four. After dinner, we will PERFORM as many of these scenes as possible for you and your friends!

M9884: P vs. NP in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
One of the deepest questions in mathematics that is still open today is whether or not $$P=NP$$. In non-math-speak this basically asks whether or not being able to check whether or not an answer to a question is correct is the same as being able to come up with an answer yourself. Take this class to learn what that means, why it's important, and why it has implications for everyone, not just nerdy math researchers.

M9886: Cryptography in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
This class will go over methods of cryptography since its invention. You will learn ways to hide secret messages and ways that people have uncovered those secrets.

S9051: Quantum Mechanics for Fun and Profit in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
Maybe you've heard that quantum mechanics can be used to make quantum computers. Maybe you've heard that some of the properties of quantum mechanics actually allow you to make a really secure currency. Maybe this is the first you've heard of either of these, but they sound pretty cool, and you just want to know what quantum mechanics is. If any of this describes you, then you should take this class and learn how to use quantum mechanics for fun and also for profit.

M9053: P vs. NP in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
One of the deepest questions in mathematics that is still open today is whether or not $$P=NP$$. In non-math-speak this basically asks whether or not being able to check whether or not an answer to a question is correct is the same as being able to come up with an answer yourself. Take this class to learn what that means, why it's important, and why it has implications for everyone, not just nerdy math researchers.

M9054: Infinity and You in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
I bet someone at some point told you that 2 times infinity equals infinity. And then your brain hurt a little bit. And maybe now you know that that isn't quite true and if you just don't think about it everything will be okay. If an answer to "how do $$2*\infty = \infty$$?" is something that you would really like, then come take this class. In not a lot of time we will introduce the concept of infinity and show how reasoning about infinity leads to huge implications about the foundations of mathematics. If you like learning a lot of really cool higher math in not a lot of time then this is the class for you.

C8473: Hands-On Theoretical Computer Science in HSSP Summer 2014 (Jul. 06, 2014)
This class will give you a hands-on introduction to many ideas in theoretical computer science, from the design of algorithms to the limits of computation and beyond!

M8375: Infinity and You in Spark 2014 (Mar. 15 - 16, 2014)
I bet someone at some point told you that 2 times infinity equals infinity. And then your brain hurt a little bit. And maybe now you know that that isn't quite true and if you just don't think about it everything will be okay. If an answer to "how does $$2*\infty = \infty$$?" is something that you would really like, then come take this class. In not a lot of time we will introduce the concept of infinity and show how reasoning about infinity leads to huge implications about the foundations of mathematics. If you want to learn some really cool real math then this class is for you!

H8191: Thought Experiments in HSSP Spring 2014 (Mar. 01, 2014)
Many ideas in science and philosophy have come out of thought experiments. The paradigm shifts started by Galileo, Newton and Einstein all relied initially on thought experiment. Thought experiments allow a powerful method of separating important aspects of a situation to figure out what we should focus on. In this class we will discuss various thought experiments, from the very scientific thought experiments that led to relativity, to the philosophic thought experiments such as the famous "Trolley Problem." We will use thought experiments to think about questions such as: what is identity? can computers think? etc. We will talk about what separates a good from a bad thought experiment, and ultimately devise some of our own.

M7773: Infinity and You in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
I bet someone at some point told you that 2 times infinity equals infinity. And then your brain hurt a little bit. And maybe now you know that that isn't quite true and if you just don't think about it everything will be okay. If an answer to "how do $$2*\infty = \infty$$?" is something that you would really like, then come take this class. In not a lot of time we will introduce the concept of infinity and show how reasoning about infinity leads to huge implications about the foundations of mathematics. If you like learning a lot of really cool higher math in not a lot of time then this is the class for you.

M7871: Computability and Logic in Splash! 2013 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2013)
Even as the first computers were being constructed mathematicians were trying to figure out the power and the limitations of these promising new machines. Even with very simple models about how computers work there are startling conclusions to be made about math and logic leading to a proof of Godel's Incompleteness Theorem, which itself completely changed how people viewed logic. If you want to know more about how the limitations of computers affect the foundations of math itself, then you should take this class.

A6846: Elements of Theatre in HSSP Spring 2013 (Mar. 02, 2013)
There's more to theatre than just acting! Learn everything from playwriting to set building to make up and costumes to, of course, acting and rehearsals. Taught by the MIT's very own Shakespeare Ensemble; we're a light-hearded and extremely self-assured overly-competent gang of lads and lassies that want to spread our love for theatre over the infinite cosmossss.

H6896: Playwriting Workshop in HSSP Spring 2013 (Mar. 02, 2013)
Time in this class is divided between learning about plays and writing your own. We will learn what does and doesn't work in plays. When you finish the class you will understand essential concepts like intent, conflict and plot along with how to effectively use them into your writing. We will go through the process of brainstorming, writing, editing, and reviewing individual student-written pieces. By the end of the class, you will have your own one-act play.

A6334: Playwrights' Workshop in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Interested in writing plays? Come and get some hand-on experience in this class taught by the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble! In the first hour, we will teach you the basics of writing scenes for the stage. We will address stage space, character voice, and conflict structure. In the second hour, you will write scripts in groups of four. After dinner, we will PERFORM as many of these scenes as possible for you and your friends!

C6597: Cryptography in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
This class will go over methods of cryptography since its invention. You will learn ways to hide secret messages and ways that people have uncovered those secrets.

M6598: Lies and Statistics in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
This class will go over statistics and use it in one of its most useful and creative applications: lying to people. This class will go over techniques to use numbers and facts to convince people of things that aren't true while stopping yourself from being fooled by these same techniques.