ESP Biography



KEITH PHUTHI, ESP Teacher




Major: 8

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2019

Picture of Keith Phuthi

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Not Available.



Past Classes

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

S14724: Let's Talk about the Weather! in Splash 2021 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2021)
Have you ever wondered how hurricanes or tornadoes form? Or why thunder snow exists? What is a Nor'easter, and why do they occur? Together, we'll explore the basic physics that create the weather we observe every day, as well as look into some ways to forecast weather yourself!


S14793: Interesting Results from Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in Splash 2021 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2021)
What is Einstein's theory of General Relativity? Unfortunately that's too difficult a question to answer in one year let alone a class! But we can discuss what the theory has told us about Black Holes, gravitational waves and why the lead acid batteries in cars work!


E14794: How does it work?: Physics and Engineering edition in Splash 2021 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2021)
Ever wondered how batteries work? Or microwaves or footballs or any product of engineering really? Well here's your chance to ask anything! Pick an object or process or concept in engineering or science you would like a 5 minute explanation about and maybe I can answer it otherwise we both learn something new!


M14813: Probability, Statistics, and Understanding the World in Splash 2021 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2021)
Probability is the language we use to understand the world around us. It helps us conclude that gravitational waves exist or that certain drug treatments actually help cure a disease. Come learn the fundamentals fundamentals of probability and statistics from random variables to estimation. In particular, we'll talk about where these come up in the world and why it's important to understand them.


S14326: Physics at the Atomic Scale and Beyond in Splash 2020 (Nov. 14 - 15, 2020)
We try and explain why matter at the everyday scale behaves the way it does starting from atoms all the way up to ordinary sized objects. How does the interaction of atoms and molecules result in solids, liquids, gases? Why do they behave the way they do? This will be done mainly through showing you different computer simulations and animations.


S13513: Intro to Quantum Mechanics and Why it is Different from Classical Mechanics in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
I'm sure you hear a lot of the word "quantum" in your daily lives from quantum computers to Antman's "quantum realm". So what does it really mean to say something is "quantum" and what are some real examples of it?


S13514: Entropy in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
An introduction into understanding the concept of information entropy, building intuition about it and relating it to thermodynamic entropy.


E13515: How Modern Batteries Work in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
A survey of how batteries work with a particular focus on how the modern batteries in your phones, laptops and electric vehicles work.


X13516: Let's Talk about the English Premier League in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
I'm looking to recruit an expert panel of pundits to talk about the English Premier League. We'll discuss stats, form, make predictions for relegation and suggest solutions to the struggling clubs. Be prepared to give your opinions!


S13517: Interesting Results from Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
What is Einstein's theory of General Relativity? Unfortunately that's too difficult a question to answer in one year let alone a class! But we can discuss what the theory has told us about Black Holes, gravitational waves and the why the lead acid batteries in cars work!


S13583: Introduction to Cosmology in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Learn about the universe we live in, what it looks like, and how we know all of this! We'll talk about the expansion of the universe, the formation of elements, dark energy, and more! Come see how far we can get through a basic course in cosmology.


W13048: Mutant Plushie Lab in Spark 2019 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2019)
Create an army of mis-matched minions to unleash your vengeance on the world! Or, you know, just see what a teddy with an alligator head would look like. If you would rather play with Sid's toys than Andy's, this is the Activity for you. No prior sewing/gene splicing experience required.


S12837: Thermodynamics and Applications in HSSP Spring 2019 (Feb. 23, 2019)
An introduction to the theory of thermodynamics from a physics perspective with discussions on the Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy, Radiation, Heat Engines and how these concepts can be used to understand Global Warming, Energy Generation and the Heat Death of the Universe.


X12853: Deep Discussions in HSSP Spring 2019 (Feb. 23, 2019)
Discussions are everywhere around us. They're how we argue with parents, how we learn subjects we can't learn from books, they're how hostage situations are negotiated, they're how leaders make decisions about what happens in the world. Discussions are all about understanding information, organizing ideas, and asking the right questions to get people towards a conclusion.


S12596: Thinking like an Experimental Physicist in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
Have you ever wondered what goes into the process of experiments like LIGO and detecting neutrinos? This class will use a basic example to show what scientists do to go from theory to citable results to help you in your own projects.


E12597: Photovoltaics in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
Solar power holds lots of potential as a source of energy for the present and future. This class will help you understand the basics of how photovoltaic cells and other technologies work.


S12599: Thermodynamics, Entropy and Heat Engines in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
Introduction to the basic concepts involved in understanding thermodynamics and entropy leading up to an explanation of what a heat engine and the Carnot efficiency are.


S12600: Intro to What Quantum Mechanics is and What it Means to you in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
An explanation of why quantum mechanics came to be and a few of the important results that come from it. There will be an emphasis on how this actually affects the physical world you are used to.


S12601: Paradoxes in Special Relativity in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
A brief intro to what special relativity is followed by strange paradoxes that result from it and how they are resolved.


P12237: How We Make Energy in Spark 2018 (Mar. 17 - 18, 2018)
A brief introduction on some of the different ways in which we can generate energy.


P12241: Cool Experiments You Can Do in the Home in Spark 2018 (Mar. 17 - 18, 2018)
Ever wondered what kind of cool experiments you can do with basic household materials? We'll look at examples of these and have a few demos.


C12242: Introduction to Python Programming in Spark 2018 (Mar. 17 - 18, 2018)
What is programming? Where does one even start? We will go over basics in Python, a general-purpose programming language, and write a small game by the end of the class!


E11695: Photovoltaics in Splash 2017 (Nov. 18 - 19, 2017)
Solar power holds lots of potential as a source of energy for the present and future. This class will help you understand the basics of how photovoltaic cells and other technologies work.


S11696: Thinking like an Experimental Physicist in Splash 2017 (Nov. 18 - 19, 2017)
Have you ever wondered what goes into the process of experiments like LIGO and detecting neutrinos? This class will use a basic example to show what scientists do to go from theory to citable results to help you in your own projects.


S11508: STEM Lecture Series in HSSP Summer 2017 (Jul. 09, 2017)
Every week, a different teacher will teach a random topic of their choice in the sciences.


H11509: HASS Lecture Series in HSSP Summer 2017 (Jul. 09, 2017)
Every week, a different teacher will teach a random topic of their choice in the humanities/arts.


P11401: How we make energy in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
A brief introduction on some of the different ways in which we can generate energy.


X11402: A tour around the world in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
I will project a map and we will take a virtual tour of some interesting places, a few that I will give and a few that the students can talk about.


M11405: Everyday Shapes like you've never seen them before in Spark 2017 (Mar. 11 - 12, 2017)
We'll talk about interesting things about shapes that mathematicians like Achimedes, Pythagoras and Pascal have discovered throughout history


E10649: Photovoltaics in Splash 2016 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2016)
Solar power holds lots of potential as a source of energy for the present and future. This class will help you understand the basics of how photovoltaic cells and other technologies work.


S10650: The success story of Maxwell's equations in Splash 2016 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2016)
A brief history on how Maxwell's equations came about, what they mean, the scientists who contributed to their formulation and why they are one of physics' greatest success stories.


M10340: Geometric Construction in Spark 2016 (Mar. 12 - 13, 2016)
A quick guide on how to construct simple shapes and curves such as polygons, parabolas, cycloids and many more using just a pair of compasses and a straight edge.


M9637: Integration Bee! in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
Come participate in an integration bee (YES, A CONTEST), similar to the one held at MIT annually, and then learn some calculus from us afterwards! Winner of the bee (the GRAND INTEGRATOR) gets a prize TBD.


S10185: Photovoltaics in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
Learn about how we harvest solar energy and the different things to consider when harvesting it. Also learn about the future of solar and how it could be a solution in solving global warming.