ESP Biography



GLADYS VÉLEZ CAICEDO, Physics/Astrophysics, Class of 2015




Major: Astrophysics

College/Employer: Columbia University

Year of Graduation: 2015

Picture of Gladys Vélez Caicedo

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I love to draw, dance and derive.
I am a proud MIT Splash alum 2010-2011.



Past Classes

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

C11276: The Singularity is Near; Post-Biological Reality in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
By the year 2035 every human entity you interact with will be a combination of biological and artificial intelligence--including yourself. This is the prediction Ray Kurzweil: futurist, Googler, and MIT alum '70. This class will be a brief introduction into the ideas and ideals of Kurzweil's radical prediction, dare I say prophesy, that precisely articulates the manner in which human thought coupled to mechanical application will lead to the creation of superintelligent beings. Kurzweil states that not only will superintelligence be the end of human biological evolution as we know it, but, perhaps more importantly, that humans will voluntarily and irreversibly transform themselves into these entities; akin to a release from the chains of the mortal body. Do you find this ethically responsible? What is the religion of technology? How can we best prepare to usher in this post-biological era? Let's talk!


P11277: Introduction to Astrophysics I in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
The Early Universe: This will be a brief introduction to the origins of the Universe. We will begin to understand the conditions that gave rise to organised structure. We will ambitiously review the following: The Big Bang Theory Quantum Fluctuations Cosmological Inflation Primordial Nucleosynthesis and Baryogenesis Cosmic Microwave Background Please note: this is part of a series but each class is independent and they do not have to be taken sequentially. The material presented will be an age-appropriate introduction.


P11278: Introduction to Astrophysics II in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
Evolution of Structure Formation: This will be a brief introduction to the structural and componential formation. We will begin to understand the evolution and the interactions between things in the universe and how they behave. We will ambitiously review the following: Galactic Formation Measurements and Distances Redshift The Theory of Special Relativity Please note: this is part of a series but each class is independent and they do not have to be taken sequentially. The material presented will be an age-appropriate introduction.


P11279: Introduction to Astrophysics III in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
Physical Cosmology: Journey to the Frontier This will be a brief introduction into the most cohesively advanced theory in the study of the universe. We will journey to the frontier and back while trying to keep our feet and minds on terra firma. We will ambitiously review the following: Large Scale Structure Black Holes The Theory of General Relativity Please note: this is part of a series but each class is independent and they do not have to be taken sequentially. The material presented will be an age-appropriate introduction.