Upper School Intersession 2025

Poison frogs are a fantastic model organism that you can use to study a variety of biological wonders -- including (but not limited to) aposematism, toxicity, parental behavior, and juvenile aggression. In Dr. Lauren O'Connell's lab, we study these problems from multiple angles. Today, I will discuss how you can study juvenile aggression through a molecular lens: studying the aspects of poison frog (epi)genetics that deal with sensing and responding to the social environment. A basic understanding of biology is recommended (do you know the central dogma: DNA > RNA > Protein? If not, I'll give a refresher at the start of class, but it would be good to brush up on the material before attending; I'll provide a link)

What do self-driving cars, Alexa, iPhone's face recognition technology, and ChatGPT have in common? They are driven by modern advances in artificial intelligence. Whether you’re interested in law, healthcare, art, or economics, AI is poised to transform every discipline and industry in the future. AI is already all around us today, and by the end of the program, students will understand the underlying concepts and motivations behind technology such as computer vision, natural language processing, and neural networks.
 
In this course, we will explore the foundations of machine learning and explore different applications of machine learning models. In the first half of the course, students learn AI’s core technologies including applications, foundational concepts, and programming tools through live lectures and coding labs. Students will not only learn about different types of machine learning models but also apply those models to real data sets. In the second half of the course, students will complete an instructor-led group project applying AI to the discipline of their choice (e.g., music, healthcare, astrophysics, finance, etc.), utilizing the programming skills they developed in the first half.

Please read more here!

Course Structure

Machine Learning Talks
Learn about machine learning algorithms and techniques in a uniquely interactive, engaging format, before you apply that knowledge in live coding labs.

Hands-On Python Coding
Develop valuable skills in Python, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in our hands-on coding labs, using cutting-edge research to solve real-world problems like breast cancer diagnosis, building self-driving cars, and more.

Project-Based Learning
In our AI for Social Good project, students will be able to apply their newly acquired talents in a collaborative, challenging environment, applying AI to a domain they’re passionate about (e.g., music, healthcare, astrophysics, finance, etc.). Students can use these projects in their résumés and college applications.

Have you ever wondered why we have two eyes? In this course, we'll cover some of the basics of sensation and perception including some of the benefits and drawbacks that humans experience in having double sensory organs. There will be lots of interactive demonstrations as well as a fun experiment/activity! This is the place for you if you're interested in science, biology, psychology, and how humans sense and perceive the world! No prior knowledge necessary.

Have you ever wondered why we have two eyes? In this course, we'll cover some of the basics of sensation and perception including some of the benefits and drawbacks that humans experience in having double sensory organs. There will be lots of interactive demonstrations as well as a fun experiment/activity! This is the place for you if you're interested in science, biology, psychology, and how humans sense and perceive the world! No prior knowledge necessary.