Upper School Intersession 2025

The way we view science and the past has been strongly informed by scientific research that did not have good intentions, and did not view humans across the globe as equals. In the past 15 years, archaeologists and museum researchers have been trying to identify how ideas of inequality and superiority have affected our understanding of the past, using archaeology as a tool of empire and European supremacy. This session covers how European researchers used their colonial view of their own high intelligence to build up a scientific practice that reinforced their role as “objective”, and how that view permeates science today, including AI and data science. The session aims to deconstruct some of the myths of science as fully objective, identify ways to break down these concepts, and figure out how science can move forward with inclusive research. We will discuss archaeological theories and developments that led to our current understanding of non-objectivity and decolonising praxis.

Key questions: What role did scientists’ belief in their objectivity influence the kinds of research they practiced? How can we practice science today without falling into the same traps?

Part of a series: “Ethical issues in archaeology." Students are invited to attend one or more sessions in this series by Stacy.

In this session, we will be discussing facets of science that can be uncomfortable in the interest of learning and understanding.

How does the brain, a three-pound organ, give rise to all of the thoughts and feelings we experience everyday? How can new technologies such as virtual reality contribute to our understanding of the brain and human behavior?

This course will be an introduction to novel methods that scientists are using to learn about human cognition, emotion, and motivation. We begin the session by examining the the structure and function of the brain, and how scientists use neuroimaging to gain insight into the biological basis of behavior. We will then explore current methods like immersive virtual reality (VR), psychophysiological methods, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). We will conclude with a discussion about how to apply these new methods to open questions in psychology and neuroscience, as well as some crucial ethical considerations that arise when utilizing such approaches.

We now know that sex and gender are an interrelated spectrum. These are reflected in the way archaeologists view skeletons, and helps to problematise our view of sex and gender concepts and roles in ancient societies. This session will teach methods used to perform scientific sex assessments and the ways we use that and other archaeological indicators to suggest gender. From there, we will discuss and problematise the ways that sex and gender have been discussed in archaeology, and how that has impacted the public understanding of ancient societies.

Key questions: Were women always confined to domestic spaces? Were men always hunters? Is there archaeological evidence for trans, non-binary, and other gender identities across the ancient world? How have researchers misidentified sex and gender of archaeological individuals, and how does this change our understanding of their identities and societies?

Part of a series: “Ethical issues in archaeology." Students are invited to attend one or more sessions in this series by Stacy.
In this session, we will be viewing images of ancient human remains.

Understanding animal behavior is a fascinating challenge. Wild animals migrate vast distances, maintain complex social relationships, and solve novel problems in their environment. These behaviors aren't just scientifically interesting - they might have important consequences for environmental conservation. If we want to save endangered species and preserve the world's biodiversity, we need to understand things like: how do primates change their behavior in response to deforestation? How does noise pollution affect the social relationships of whales? How are bird migrations adjusting to climate change, and how can we mitigate the effects?

This presentation starts by looking at the science of animal behavior and its relevance to conservation. We then discuss one scientist's work on primate behavior in a threatened region of Amazon rainforest, and its implications for rainforest regeneration.

The way we view science and the past has been strongly informed by scientific research that did not have good intentions, and did not view humans across the globe as equals. In the past 15 years, archaeologists and museum researchers have been trying to identify how ideas of inequality and superiority have affected our understanding of the past, using archaeology as a tool of empire and European supremacy. This session covers how European researchers used their colonial view of their own high intelligence to build up a scientific practice that reinforced their role as “objective”, and how that view permeates science today, including AI and data science. The session aims to deconstruct some of the myths of science as fully objective, identify ways to break down these concepts, and figure out how science can move forward with inclusive research. We will discuss archaeological theories and developments that led to our current understanding of non-objectivity and decolonising praxis.

Key questions: What role did scientists’ belief in their objectivity influence the kinds of research they practiced? How can we practice science today without falling into the same traps?

Part of a series: “Ethical issues in archaeology." Students are invited to attend one or more sessions in this series by Stacy.

In this session, we will be discussing facets of science that can be uncomfortable in the interest of learning and understanding.

In recent years, methods have been developed to peel atomically thin layers from bulk crystals simply using Scotch tape. By restacking them on top of each other, sometimes with an interlayer twist, it is possible to engineer new quantum materials that would not otherwise occur in nature. In many such systems, the electrons act collectively, leading to superconductivity, magnetism, and other exotic behavior which may have technological applications. In this session, we will present an overview of the broader field of these “two-dimensional” materials. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in related hands-on activities, including making their own two-dimensional flakes and seeing them in a microscope.

Understanding animal behavior is a fascinating challenge. Wild animals migrate vast distances, maintain complex social relationships, and solve novel problems in their environment. These behaviors aren't just scientifically interesting - they might have important consequences for environmental conservation. If we want to save endangered species and preserve the world's biodiversity, we need to understand things like: how do primates change their behavior in response to deforestation? How does noise pollution affect the social relationships of whales? How are bird migrations adjusting to climate change, and how can we mitigate the effects?

This presentation starts by looking at the science of animal behavior and its relevance to conservation. We then discuss one scientist's work on primate behavior in a threatened region of Amazon rainforest, and its implications for rainforest regeneration.

We now know that sex and gender are an interrelated spectrum. These are reflected in the way archaeologists view skeletons, and helps to problematise our view of sex and gender concepts and roles in ancient societies. This session will teach methods used to perform scientific sex assessments and the ways we use that and other archaeological indicators to suggest gender. From there, we will discuss and problematise the ways that sex and gender have been discussed in archaeology, and how that has impacted the public understanding of ancient societies.

Key questions: Were women always confined to domestic spaces? Were men always hunters? Is there archaeological evidence for trans, non-binary, and other gender identities across the ancient world? How have researchers misidentified sex and gender of archaeological individuals, and how does this change our understanding of their identities and societies?

Part of a series: “Ethical issues in archaeology." Students are invited to attend one or more sessions in this series by Stacy.

In this session, we will be viewing images of ancient human remains.

You’ve probably been on an airplane, but have you thought of what it takes to fly one?  In this Intersession, we’ll follow along on a flight from the San Carlos Airport to Truckee, and learn about all aspects of how to get a small (6-seater) airplane safely between two airports.

Coming out of the session, you should be able to answer questions such as “How do you plan for a flight between two airports?”,  “How does an airplane actually work and how do you control it?”, “What are  communications with Air Traffic Control like?”, “What do airplane avionics and navigation systems like?”.  And hopefully you’ll be interested in the answer to “How do I learn to actually fly an airplane?”!

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) can impact up to 5% of the population, but they can often be dismissed as bad habits. However, BFRBs are actual disorders and much harder to treat due to changes in brain anatomy and external stressors. These disorders, in which a person uncontrollably fidgets with his or her body, can be both physically and emotionally damaging. In this activity, the physiology, development, and consequences of BFRBs are discussed as well as ways to cope and support yourself and loved ones.