# ESP Biography

## LIZHOU SHA, exoplanet hunter working on NASA's TESS mission

Major: Physics

College/Employer: MIT

Not Available.

## Past Classes

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

X13192: Spontaneous 5-Minute Classes on Whatever You Want in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
You choose the topic, 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.

M13232: Quirky Quarternions: An intro to non-commutative algebra in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units. We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn a few party-twister tricks that work thanks to quaternion algebra.

S13233: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to detect? We'll look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future looks like for this field.

S13237: Speaker for the Facts: Understanding Science as a Social Practice in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Science is the most successful system for discovering and organizing knowledge that humanity has ever invented. But who gets to decide what counts as scientific facts, really? In this class, we will explore science not as just another subject you have to learn in school, but as a living, breathing social practice of interpretation. We aim to lift up the mysterious shroud that the public perceives and help you see science as the social practice it is: ever-so-fascinating, sometimes messy, but always intimately human. We will also expose how pseudoscience and anti-science weaponizes routine debates among scientists to cast doubt on the entire scientific enterprise. In the end, we hope you will gain a deeper appreciation of how new science is generated and use this framework to evaluate scientific claims. The class is divided into two halves. In the first hour, the co-instructors will introduce key concepts and present case studies in a lecture-like format. In the second hour, we will have a roundtable discussion on the topics presented.

M12591: Quirky Quarternions: An intro to non-commutative algebra in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units. We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn a few party-twister tricks that work thanks to quaternion algebra.

S12592: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to detect? We'll look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future looks like for this field.

S12277: Exoplanet Explorer in HSSP Summer 2018 (Jun. 30, 2018)
Twenty-five years ago, we weren't even sure planets existed outside our solar system. Yet, today we know from the Kepler survey that on average, every star in our galaxy has at least one planet. Even in light of this amazing progress, exoplanet research remains a vibrant, dynamic field. New discoveries are probably happening as we speak! In this course, we will take a technical dive into exoplanet detection methods, atmospheres, and interiors. We will develop the theoretical understanding necessary to interpret the observable properties of exoplanets. We will also explore the feasibility of finding earth-like planets, habitable planets, and biosignature gases (aka "possible alien life").

M11919: Quirky Quarternions: Steering your spacecraft with non-commutative algebra in Splash 2017 (Nov. 18 - 19, 2017)
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units. We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn about why you might want use quaternion multiplication to steer your spacecraft.

S11920: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2017 (Nov. 18 - 19, 2017)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future looks like for this field.

S10839: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2016 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2016)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future looks like for this field.

M10840: Quirky Quarternions: Find your bearing with non-commutative algebra in Splash 2016 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2016)
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units. We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn about why you might want use quaternion multiplication to find your bearing.

P10321: Exoplanet Excavation in Spark 2016 (Mar. 12 - 13, 2016)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll learn how, and also look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are so hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what else we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future is for the field.

S9908: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll learn how, and also look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are so hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what else we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future is for the field.

M9915: Quirky Quarternions: Steer your spacecraft with non-commutative algebra in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units. We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn about why you might want use quaternion multiplication to steer your spacecraft.

S9005: Exoplanet Excavation in Splash 2014 (Nov. 22 - 23, 2014)
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll learn how, then try to discover our own planet with one of the methods we learnt about! We'll also look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are so hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what else we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future is for the field.