Undergraduate Seminars
Fall Term 2007-2008
Undergraduate Seminars are offered in both fall and spring semesters. A seminar is a great way for you to add a unique extra dimension to your program of studies, e.g., to explore an area of interest or a style of learning not easily accessible to undergraduates in the MIT curriculum, e.g., small-group discussions or hands-on learning.
Seminars give 6 units of elective credit and are always graded P/D/F.
8.S67 What Is Particle Physics?
12.S56 GPS: Where Are You?
18.S11 Elementary Number Theory
18.S34 Mathematical Problem Solving
20.S02 Common Diseases: Genetic and Environmental Risks
SP.726 Recreate Experiments from History Create Experimental Research
SP.757 Digital and Darkroom Imaging
SP.782 Digital Video Production: Documenting the First Year at MIT
SP.789 Enough Time to Fall: Spectacular Failures in Engineering and Other Experiments
HST.S11 The Art and Science of Medicine
SEM.089 Starting-Up New Technology-Based Business Enterprises at MIT
8.S67 What Is Particle Physics?
Professor Richard Yamamoto Physics
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]Lecture: W3-5 (26-328)
In this seminar we will discuss the present status of high-energy particle physics, the study of fundamental processes and objects that are the underlying bases for all matter in the Universe. As we will see, the majority of experiments carried out in this field require particles with extremely high energies and detectors using todays foremost technologies. Prerequisite courses and/or previous knowledge of modern physics are not necessary, but curiosity is important. Weekly reading assignments from lay material on particle physics and related topics are the bases for seminar discussions. Each student will also write a short paper and give a talk on it at terms end.Richard Yamamoto was raised in Hawaii and came to MIT shortly after high school to obtain his BS and PhD degrees in physics. His interest in physics was fired by his fathers consistent reply "the answer lies in physics" to the many questions he asked concerning automobiles and nature. To this day he is still seeking answers from physics, through teaching and research in the field of particle physics. He is also still interested in high-performance automobiles but has traded surfing for cross-country skiing.
12.S56 GPS: Where Are You?
Professor Thomas Herring Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) in a wide variety of applications has exploded in the last few years. Hikers, sailors, and aviators use the system as a navigation aid but many others use GPS in ways that were not considered during its design. Some of the most stringent uses come from meteorology, where the system is used to track water vapor in the atmosphere, and from geophysics, where it is used to measure continental drift, deformation leading up earthquakes, and mean sea-level rise. In this seminar we explore how positions on the Earth were determined before GPS; how GPS itself works and the range of applications in which GPS is now a critical element. This seminar is followed by a UROP in the spring semester where results from precise GPS measurements will be analyzed and displayed on the web.Thomas Herring is Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. He uses GPS to measure millimeter-level motions of the Earths surface in the Western United States, Asia, and New Zealand with the long-term aim of understanding earthquakes and other deformation processes. He also studies the Earths atmosphere with GPS through the refraction of GPS signals.
18.S11 Elementary Number Theory
Professor George Lusztig
Units: 0-6-0 [P/D/F]
In this seminar we will try to understand Weil's book, "Number Theory for Beginners." Among the topics we'll discuss are congruences, elementary group theory, Gauss quadratic reciprocity (the last one being one of the jewels of number theory). About half of the lectures will be given by the instructor; the other half will be presentations by students based on exrecises in Weil's book.George Lusztig is Professor of Mathematics.
18.S34 Mathematical Problem Solving
Professor Hartley Rogers, Jr. Mathematics
Professor Richard Stanley Mathematics
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Note: Special Sign-Up Instructions: Enrollment will be limited and at the discretion of the instructors. Interested freshmen are encouraged to apply. However, to be considered, you MUST include brief written comments about your interest and experience in the "Tell us a few things about yourself" comments section on the Advising Choice form. Or, send your qualifications to firstyear-www@mit.edu and indicate that the information is for Seminar 18.S34 in the subject heading.
We will consider mathematical problems and puzzles of various kinds and at various levels of difficulty, including problems that are easy but entertaining and problems that appear on mathematical Olympiads or Putnam Examinations. Roughly half of the seminar meetings will be lectures on mathematical themes that appear frequently in competition problems and on general principles of use in problem solving. Other meetings will be presentations and discussions, largely by students, of solutions to problems on the weekly problem set. Problem sets will include both easy problems for the less experienced and harder problems for the more experienced students.Hartley Rogers's main area of research is logic and probability. He is also interested in physics and in theoretical computer science. Professor Rogers will be the advisor to the freshman advisees in this seminar.
Richard Stanley is Professor of Applied Mathematics. His main research areas are combinatorics and algebra, but he is also interested in all kinds of mathematical problems, puzzles, and games.
20.S02 Common Diseases: Genetic and Environmental Risks
Prof. William Thilly Biological Engineering
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
In this discussion-based seminar youll get an introduction to analysis of lifetime incidence rates to estimate the fraction of a population at inherited and environmental risk. Well discuss logical and technical methods to discover genes carrying mutations that confer risk for any common disease. Well review the history of common forms of mortality in the United States since 1890 with the aim of delineating when environmental risks arose that later affected death rates. Supplemental readings will serve to focus our discussion.For more information: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/nr/2003/thilly.html
Bill Thilly '67 is Professor of Genetic Toxicology and Biological Engineering. His group developed microcarrier technology for mass production of mammalian cells, devised the first mutation assays in human cells and pioneered "mutational spectrometry" the technology by which mutations in human tissues and large populations can be identified and measured along a DNA sequence. He received both the Baker and Sizer Awards for teaching at MIT and started a couple of biotech companies that have since been bought by bigger companies. Bill works with his scientist wife, Elena Gostjeva, and has two children at home, Walter, 6, and Audrey, 3, with whom he enjoys backpacking, fishing and cycling.
SP.726 Recreate Experiments from History Create Experimental Research
Dr. Elizabeth Cavicchi Edgerton Center
Units: 1-3-2 [P/D/F]
Put yourself in the place of historical experimenters. What was it like to make the discoveries that youve heard about in science courses? What excites your curiosity to investigate? Your lab activities with magnets, shadows, dropping balls, prism rainbows, electricity, and sound will echo the steps of Shen Kua, Ibn al-Haytham, Galileo, Newton, Volta, Faraday, Konig, Frances Wick, or others. Look at apparatus from another era during museum visits or field trips. Use an historical observation or experiment as a jump-off for developing a research project. Reflect on your creative experience; discuss what you learn together. This seminar might interest you whether you have done little, or much, experimenting, and if you wonder about creativity in history, science, and learning. You'll be asked to keep a journal of what you do, construct, observe and think about in your lab projects. As a final project, you'll write a brief reflective paper on your experiments and experiences as a learner.As an MIT physics and art major, Elizabeth Cavicchi measured forces on balloon pucks and sculpted clay fountains. Currently Elizabeth is a watercolor artist, and makes electrical spark coils to research the electricity, and thinking, of nineteenth century experimenters. To encourage exploring and reflection, she teaches by interactively researching class experiences.
SP.757 Digital and Darkroom Imaging
Ms. Theresa Mislick Student Art Association and Edgerton Center
Prof. Joseph Ferreira Urban Studies and Planning
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Note: Theresa Mislick will instruct the class, but Prof. Joseph Ferreira will be the advisor to the freshmen in this seminar.
This is an Edgerton Center seminar. Each student will learn to use both film and digital photography in developing a creative imaging project of his or her own choice. The New Media Center 26-139 will be used to develop facility in applying Adobe Photoshop to enhance, select, and combine images that the student has taken or scanned for the project. Camera basics and image composition will be discussed. The darkrooms of the Edgerton Center will be used to develop film for scanning and for chemical enlargement. The digital imaging facilities of the Center include scanners, Macintosh workstations, digital cameras, and digital printers. Review of student work will be interspersed by slide and print demonstrations on topics such as modes and formats, image compression, and, halftone and dye sublimation printing. Each student will be expected to produce a duplicate set of black and white and/or color prints as the project output: one to keep and one for display at the Center.For more information: http://web.mit.edu/sp.757/www/
Joe Ferreira, who will be the advisor to the freshmen in this seminar, received both his undergraduate (in electrical engineering) and his PhD degrees (in operations research) from MIT. He is Professor of Urban Studies and Operations Research and is also the director of the Computer Resources Lab. Currently, he is serves as President of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), an interdisciplinary organization that is the oldest professional association focused on the use of information systems to improve our urban and regional areas.
Theresa Mislick is a technical instructor in the Student Art Association and the Edgerton Center.
SP.782 Digital Video Production: Documenting the First Year at MIT
Dr. Violeta Ivanova Office for Educational Innovation and Technology
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Note: This is a Freshman Advising Seminar. Limited space is available for upperclassmen by permission of instructor.
Get an in-depth introduction to documentary video production. Through class discussions, learn principles of dramatic and visual storytelling, and cinematography concepts such as composition, continuity, and camera angles. You will learn how to use professional video cameras and microphones. Throughout the semester we shall videotape interesting activities on campus and interviews with members of the MIT community. Youll also get an introduction to video editing and DVD authoring software, and other post-production resources. From the video footage taped in production, the students will edit a short film that reflects their experience at MIT. This seminar is for those with serious interests in filmmaking. No prior video production experience is required. However, ability to work as part of a team, desire to explore and learn new skills, and a passion for movies and visual storytelling are essential.For more information: http://sp782.techtv.mit.edu/
Violeta Ivanova has Master's and Ph.D. degrees from MIT, where she did research on 3D visualization and mathematical modeling of geologic structures. After graduating, she worked as a software engineer and an engineering consultant before deciding to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in film and video production. She attended film school, but her love for science and technology broughy her back to MIT where she now works in the Office for Educational Innovation and Technology. She has directed and produced several independent short films and a documentary feature film.
SP.789 Enough Time to Fall: Spectacular Failures in Engineering and Other Experiments
Mr. Steven Banzaert Edgerton Center
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
From the Titanic and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters, complex systems have a history of failing in ways their designers thought were impossible or didn't think of at all. In this seminar we will study what happens when well-trained, highly-skilled people with the best of intentions get it dramatically, and sometimes tragically, wrong. We will explore the technical causes of a wide range of failures as well as the organizational conditions that may have fostered them, and perform in-class experiments to better understand the physical principles involved. In particular, we will see what lessons we can learn from these failures, examine their rationalizations and mitigating circumstances, and attempt to understand what (if anything) could have prevented them.Steve Banzaert '98 is an instructor at the Edgerton Center, where he attempts on a daily basis to not provide inspiration for this seminar. In his copious spare time he is a professional trumpet player and regularly performs in concerts and recitals throughout New England. The first class he took at MIT was a version of this seminar, and it changed the way he's looked at engineering design ever since.
HST.S11 The Art and Science of Medicine
Dr. Walter Abelmann Health Sciences and Technology
Dr. David Bryan Health Sciences and Technology
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
In this seminar informal discussions will be held with the seminars leaders and other physicians and scientists. Some of the topics well cover in the seminar include growing up, internal medicine, surgery, mental illness, preventive medicine, public health, the future of medicine, molecular biology, computers in medicine, biomedical engineering, biomedical ethics, and medical school. Well also possibly touch on other topics such as rehabilitation, chronic illness, abortion, dying, homosexuality, substance abuse, violence, tropical medicine, research, scientific misconduct, conflict of interest, and malpractice.Walter Abelmann is an emeritus professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. David Bryan is an MIT alum who took this seminar years ago and is now a surgeon in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Lahey Clinic. Both physicians have appointments at Harvard Medical School.
SEM.089 Starting-Up New Technology-Based Business Enterprises at MIT
Dr. Joseph Hadzima Sloan School of Management
Mr. Richard Shyduroff MIT Entrepreneur's Club
Units: 2-0-4 [P/D/F]
Tue, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, 66-148
In this seminar we will discuss a series of topics that define the stages of development of a new enterprise at MIT. Among other topics, we will focus on idea generation, "creative entrepreneurship," criticisms and reviews, team building and maintenance, networking, fundraising, behavior and management. Our discussions will be led by visiting start-up principals, who in many instances are still current MIT students or alums of both MIT and Harvard. Requirements for successful completion of this seminar include regular reading assignments, regular active participation, two writing assignments, and a variety of optional hands-on project involvements, including the opportunity and encouragement to join the organizing and planning committee for this year's MIT $50K 2005 Competition. We'll also talk about possible UROPs and other ongoing special projects. We might go on field trips around and slightly off-campus to meet and observe MIT students, faculty, staff and alum in their native start-up environments. As well, this year The MIT Entrepreneurs Club or the E-Club, the MIT organization that spawned the original 10k competition, the pre- cursor to the 50k, plans to launch a new effort to research and publish the most useful start-up cases we study in a similar but different manner from those available from Harvard Business School.Joe Hadzima '73, is a senior lecturer in the Sloan School and faculty advisor to the E-Club. He is also a principal founder of the firms I.P. Vision, Main Street Partners, and The MIT Enterprise Forum, and is the new director of The MIT Enterprise Forum's International Chapters program.
Richard Shyduroff, the co-founder and co-director of the E-Club, has been involved in the technology start-up process at and around the Institute since 1963. He is V.P. for New Business Development at Assistive Care Technologies, Inc.
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Produced: 16-AUG-2007 11:34 AM