ESP Biography



PAVEL PANCHEKHA, MIT Junior studying mathematics




Major: 18

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 13

Picture of Pavel Panchekha

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Not Available.



Past Classes

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

M6274: The Mathematics of Dating in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
They say mathematicians don't study anything useful. And that that's why mathematicians are single while the jocks, poets, starving artists, and Richard Feynmans have dates to the party. But mathematicians have an ace in the hole: MATH. We'll cover how to supercharge your dating life with results from calculus, combinatorics, graph theory, and computer science. Class will be ENTIRELY THEORETICAL; results may only be applicable to spherical dates in a frictionless vacuum.


E6276: Quantum mechanics to web applications in two hours in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
We'll start at the bottom and work our way up at ludicrous speed.


X6282: Advanced Donut Theory in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
The donut (also: doughnut) is a particular type of fried confection, styled as a dessert food. In this class, we discuss the theoretical underpinnings of donuts, their use in our everyday lives, and their effects upon our society. Particular emphasis will be placed on the buying, eating, and enjoying of donuts in the context of a modern American lifestyle and society.


H6312: How to Bullshit in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
There are 47% of Splash students who won't take this class no matter what. All right, there are 47% who are dependent on being taught, who believe that they are victims, who believe that Splash has a responsibility to teach them everything, that they are entitled to instruction on every individual thing. That that's an entitlement. And that Splash should give it to them. And they won't take this class no matter what. These are students who pay no information tax. 47% of Splash students deal pay no information tax. And so our job is not to worry about those students- we'll never convince them to take personal responsibility and care about their lives. Our job is to teach you, the rugged individualists, all about creating information. In this class, you'll pull yourself up by your mental bootstraps and become experts at info-genesis. And once you finish this class, you will make all other Splash students intellectually wealthier as your knowledge and competency trickle down. Sign up for this class, because you are information creators, and are more valuable than the fact-poor who rely on Splash handouts to get by.


C6389: Modern Programming Language Theory in Splash! 2012 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2012)
Describes the various facets of modern programming language theory. Type theory, macro systems, safe computing, machine proofs, concurrency and parallelism, dynamism and extensibility, and similar are covered.


H5715: How to Bullshit in Spark! 2012 (Mar. 10, 2012)
I, Pavel Panchekha, know exactly what I'm talking about. So will you, after leaving this class. What was the question? Come to this class to learn how to consistently look knowledgable, intelligent, and informed; for a tour of art criticism, politics, and philosophy; for a look at the grease that makes the wheels of the world turn. By the time you leave, you'll be an expert on being an expert.


E5910: Quantum mechanics to web applications in two hours in Spark! 2012 (Mar. 10, 2012)
We'll start at the bottom and work our way up at ludicrous speed.


H4922: How to Bullshit in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
Hello, I definitely know what I'm talking about! And so do I! Get ready to go on a tour of politics, art criticism, and philosophy. Come learn to be an expert on being an expert.


M4923: A Wretched Hive of Dots and Arrows in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
Categories! Arrows! Morphisms! Arrows! Dots! Arrows! Transformations! Diagrams! Arrows! Commutative diagrams! Arrows! Universal properties! Functors! Arrows! DID I MENTION THE ARROWS?


C4924: Zippers in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
Zippers are a purely functional way of updating a data structure. This class describes how they could be used and the theory behind them.


C4925: Modern Programming Language Theory in Splash! 2011 (Nov. 19 - 20, 2011)
Describes the various facets of modern programming language theory. Type theory, macro systems, safe computing, machine proofs, concurrency and parallelism, dynamism and extensibility, and similar are covered.


C4623: To Precede a Course on Quines by its Description in Spark! 2011 (Mar. 12, 2011)
To quine a word is to follow it by its quotation (quining "cow" produces "cow 'cow'"); in this class we will study a mind-blowing concept: we will quine "quine". The class will discuss how to produce quines, the theoretical principles that make them possible, and venture in their real-world use. Finally, a disection of Ken Thompson's "Trusting Trust" attack will be embarked upon.


C4626: Call-with-current-continuation sign-up-for-this-class in Spark! 2011 (Mar. 12, 2011)
Continuations are a feature of several programming languages, most notably Scheme, that allow a program to effectively time-travel. They're often considered arcane dark magic. This course discusses their use, demonstrates real-world application, and disects several brain teasers based around them (such as the famous yin-yang puzzle).


C4627: Vim: the world's best text editor in Spark! 2011 (Mar. 12, 2011)
Vim is a text editor that's more than 40 years old. Text editing sounds simple, right? But it's really like hunting --- sure, you can hunt using nothing but sharp rocks, but to do it well, one needs the right tools. And Vim is the right tool. Vim is an editor which unashamedly gives you the most powerful text editing experience possible. As such, it's a difficult beast for a beginner --- but this course will teach you everything you need to know to begin using vim effectively.


C4629: Emacs: the world's best text editor in Spark! 2011 (Mar. 12, 2011)
Very few know Emacs, even though it is almost 30. I and many others have used Emacs, and left with a great feeling. Maybe this class will show you why. It's such a pleasure working around an Emacs user. Stop using editors that are confusing and arcane. Bring changes directly to your productivity! Easily kill text as you could with no other editor! There is no way to give Emacs the praise it deserves. Those n00bs who use other editors, especially, should take this class. Edit great text as it was meant to be edited! Relax - this class will tell you which editor to use. g g l C-v G k k $ d C-x h F3 M-d C-d C-f C-k F4 M-d C-a C-x C-k r


M3841: Mathematics Reloaded in Splash! 2010 (Nov. 20 - 21, 2010)
Hello students. Look at your mathematics. Now at your paradoxes. Now back at your mathematics. Now back at your paradoxes. Sadly, your mathematics is non-axiomatic and rigorless, but if you rephrased it all in terms of set theory, it could be structured like mine. Look down, back up, where are you? You're in a universe composed entirely of sets, in the mathematics you wished you had. Who's that constructing the real numbers? It's me, using only the Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. Look down. Back up. YOUR MATHEMATICS IS NOW SET THEORY. Anything is possible if you rephrase everything in terms of sets. We'll also cover modern set theory with possible diversions to lambda calculus and model theory.


S4852: AP Physics C in Delve 2011-2012 (Sep. 18, 2011)
This course ordinarily forms the first part of the college sequence that serves as the foundation in physics for students majoring in the physical sciences or engineering. The sequence is parallel to or preceded by mathematics courses that include calculus. Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems. The sequence is more intensive and analytic than that in the B course. Strong emphasis is placed on solving a variety of challenging problems, some requiring calculus. The subject matter of the C course is principally mechanics and electricity and magnetism, with approximately equal emphasis on these two areas. The C course is the first part of a sequence which in college is sometimes a very intensive one-year course but often extends over one and one-half to two years. (from collegeboard.com)