Upper School Intersession 2025

Student sign-up timeline:

Monday, November 18 @ 3:15 – 12th Grade
Tuesday, November 19 @ 3:15 – 11th Grade
Wednesday, November 20 @ 3:15 – 10th Grade
Thursday, November 21 @ 3:15 – 9th Grade
November 21-30 – Sign-ups/changes open to all. After December 1, schedules will be frozen.

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8:55am PST

Chip Design: How Does Your Program Run On Silicon?

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

When you write a Java program or use PyTorch to train a ML model, do you wonder how a tiny piece of silicon runs it? Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak once said he pictured transistors toggling when writing code. This session describes how billions of transistors on a chip are designed so you too can picture your code toggling transistors.

Only interest in computer science and engineering is required.

Facilitators

Yi-Fan Hsu

Director, Research Scientist, KLA

Yi-Fan is a director and research scientist at KLA. After receiving his BS and MS in ECE from UIUC, Yi-Fan moved to the Silicon Valley to design chips. Since then he has worked for big, medium, and startup companies designing chips ranging from CPU, GPU, network processors, and digital... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Design Thinking/Technology/Engineering

8:55am PST

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: Medical Science and Clinical Care

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

What is gender affirming care? What are hormones and how do they work? How do doctors customize medical care for transgender and nonbinary patients to achieve their individual gender transition goals and optimize safe health outcomes?

This session will introduce hormonal pathways of the endocrine system, hormone medications commonly prescribed for gender affirming care and their effects on the human body. We will discuss how gender affirming hormone therapy induces physical and emotional changes that help transgender and gender diverse people feel more aligned with their identities. We will review current guidelines and best practices regarding informed consent, medical monitoring, and the importance of multidisciplinary health care.

No prerequisite skills or knowledge are required. We will review definitions and terminology at the beginning of the session to ensure we are using consistent, inclusive and respectful language.

Facilitators

Erica Metz

Dr. Erica Metz is a primary care physician with 15 years' experience caring for and prescribing hormone therapy for transgender and gender diverse adults. In 2013, she co-founded Gender Pathways at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, a multidisciplinary clinic providing mental health... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine

8:55am PST

History of Scientific Racism & Eugenics

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Stacy Hackner

Dr Stacy Hackner is an interdisciplinary researcher who has worked with human remains in the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the UCL Pathology Museum, among others. Her work broadly covers feminist and decolonial archaeology, the role of women in society, and lower leg biomechanics... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Equity and Social Justice, History, Science

8:55am PST

Panel: Social Activism Leadership

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

WRC

Learn from activists across disciplines, from political leadership to social justice, as they reflect on their decades of experience and their perspectives on the future of social equity. If you’re interested in learning about grassroots organizing, community activism, or a career in public service, this panel is for you! Our speakers will include the executive director of Women’s Building SF, founder of FundHer Valerie McGinty, a local director of Public Allies (former collaborators with Michelle Obama), and other E&I leaders!

Moderators

Lara McDowell

Nueva Feminism and Gender Equity Club Leader, The Nueva School

Since our founding in 2014, the Nueva Feminism and Gender Equity Club has been working to dismantle sexism and gender bias in our community and beyond. We're so excited to welcome you to our speaker series at Intersession, and we hope you'll join us for our other initiatives throughout... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
WRC

Content Category Equity and Social Justice, Global Citizenship, Philosophy/Social Science/Law/Politics
Audience Open to Alumni

8:55am PST

Picture Perfect Politics: Assessing Political Competence Through Headshots

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

Can you pick the next president via looks alone? This course will explore whether voters can accurately predict politician competence and performance in office based on facial appearance alone. Research indicates that quick judgments about candidate appearance often predict election outcomes. Voters' response to facial appeal fits into broader concerns that citizens do not base their decisions on things that matter —policy and talent—but what appeals to their basic instincts.

You will investigate this facial phenomenon by examining recent studies and engaging in an in-class facial appearance study. We will ultimately review our own study and examine what it means for the future of democracy and what it tells us about our own concepts of fairness, prejudice, and leadership.

Some basic knowledge of the U.S. electoral process is helpful but not required.

Facilitators

Ned Fluet

Former Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Town of Woodside

Ned Fluet is a humanities and writing teacher. Prior to teaching, Ned was a trial attorney for 15 years during which time he practiced at major law firms, served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and as a Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice. As the... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Philosophy/Social Science/Law/Politics, Equity and Social Justice

8:55am PST

Singers: Songwriting / Lyrics Edition

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

What makes a song lyric great? Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already written tons of songs, learn about structure, hook, rhyming, meter, prosody, song arc, and more to help you create memorable songs.

Facilitators

Rocío Guitard

Master Instructor, Rocío Guitard Vocal Studio

Rocío Guitard has been a professional singer for over 30 years, with three solo albums to her name and multiple guest appearances on other artists’ records, plus extensive performing experience in Europe and the US. Her work as a voice pedagogy expert has led her to present at... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Music

8:55am PST

Smile & Sculpt: Dental Discovery Workshop

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

In this session, the first 15-20 minutes will focus on explaining the journey from high school to college, including how I discovered my passion for healthcare, the classes that sparked my interest, and the ways I explored those interests further. I’ll then discuss the college application process and the path of a pre-dental student, covering topics like relevant coursework, shadowing experiences, and preparing for and taking the DAT.

I’ll also outline a traditional timeline for high school students interested in pursuing a healthcare career. Afterward, we’ll engage in a manual dexterity project, a skill valuable not only for future dentists but also for surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants, and more. No prerequisites are required for this session.

Facilitators

Curious Cardinals

Iman Khater

Curious Cardinals

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine

8:55am PST

The Art of Cooking Breakfast: Crepes, Pancakes, and Omelettes

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

Let’s cook breakfast together! In this class, students will create sweet and savory crepes, pancakes, made-to-order omelettes, and hot cocoa. No prior cooking experience required. Eat your culinary creations!

Facilitators

Michelle Greenebaum

Together In The Kitchen

Michelle Greenebaum of Together In The Kitchen (and mom of an 8th grader at Nueva!) teaches the Art and Science of Cooking and Baking to kids, teenagers, and adults in the Bay Area. This is her 4th year teaching Intersession at Nueva. Her classes are hands-on, fun, and support all... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Cooking

8:55am PST

The Economics and Ethics of Shein

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

Shein seemingly came out of nowhere during COVID, becoming the #1 most downloaded shopping app in 61 countries (including the U.S.) and growing from less than $1B to over $20B in sales in the U.S. in only a few years.

- How did Shein achieve such a meteoric rise?
- How can Shein get you such fashionable looks for so cheap? How do they make money?
- Can they sustain this success even with regulatory and ethical pressure?

Through the lens of Shein, learn about how different types of fashion retailers design and source products and get them from overseas to your closet - and how they make money! We will also discuss regulatory and ethical issues in fashion, including labor and environmental practices.

If you own anything from Shein bring it to class so we can use some real-life examples!

Facilitators

Delaney Steele

Delaney Steele is an Executive Vice President at Ross Stores, which sells apparel, footwear and homegoods in about 2,000 stores. Delaney oversees various functions at Ross including Product Development and Sourcing, with sourcing offices in India and China. She is also an adjust... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Business and Finance

8:55am PST

When The BIG One Hits

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST

TBA

What happens when a large enough earthquake hits? Very likely you and your family may have to care for yourselves for a few days. This session gets you started thinking and considering your individual and family preparedness.

Facilitators

Ed Vail

Ed's an engineer who is running out of disaster preparedness tasks and family patience in his own household. He likes the feeling of calm that comes from being prepared for any situation. It's possible that one of the reasons he is into disaster preparation is he has lingering doubts... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 8:55am - 10:10am PST
TBA

Content Category Wellness and Life Skills

10:15am PST

911!

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

It’s best if the first time you use a fire extinguisher is not also the first time you are fighting a fire. More likely than not, you will be involved in a 911 situation sometime in your life. You don’t need to be a hero, but practicing now can make you seem like one. We’ll practice using fire extinguishers and acting out 911 scenarios.

Facilitators

Ed Vail

Ed's an engineer who is running out of disaster preparedness tasks and family patience in his own household. He likes the feeling of calm that comes from being prepared for any situation. It's possible that one of the reasons he is into disaster preparation is he has lingering doubts... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Wellness and Life Skills

10:15am PST

Bioarchaeology of Sex & Gender

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Stacy Hackner

Dr Stacy Hackner is an interdisciplinary researcher who has worked with human remains in the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the UCL Pathology Museum, among others. Her work broadly covers feminist and decolonial archaeology, the role of women in society, and lower leg biomechanics... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Equity and Social Justice, History, Human Biology and Medicine, Science

10:15am PST

Conservation Ambassadors: Under the Canopy

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Facilitators

Conservation Ambassadors

Conservation Ambassadors

34 years ago David established a non-profit rescue zoo in Paso Robles where he gives wildlife a permanent, loving home for displaced, abused, abandoned or permanently injured wild and exotic animals. Sharing these animal ambassadors helps us educate learners of all ages about conservation... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Environmental Citizenship

10:15am PST

Forensics

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Join us for a hands-on exploration of forensic science. In this lab, you will learn the ins and outs of crime scene investigation, collecting and analyzing physical evidence, examining wound patterns, and psychological profiling. This class will give you the opportunity to practice and perfect the most important techniques coroners, pathologists, forensic technicians and forensic psychologists use in the lab and field to solve crimes.

Facilitators

Kimble Torres

Pathways to Medicine

Kimble Torres is a veteran biologist specializing in the human body and athletics. During his tenure in the biotech industry, Kimble worked for Nektar Therapeutics, Genentech, and Tycho Healthcare investigating product feasibility and managing lab operations. In 2014, his passion... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine

10:15am PST

Panel: Faith & Social Justice – Values-Based Service

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

Take action and learn about the intersection of faith and public service, led by several local faith-centered leaders working in the social justice space. After an interactive panel—discussing anything from how their faith influenced their activism to their career trajectory in the religious leadership space—join us for a menstrual kit drive for local unhoused women. Any and all are welcome: this environment will be centered around humanistic theology and how that grounds public service! Speakers will include members of the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition and leaders of Shalom Bayit.

Moderators

Lara McDowell

Nueva Feminism and Gender Equity Club Leader, The Nueva School

Since our founding in 2014, the Nueva Feminism and Gender Equity Club has been working to dismantle sexism and gender bias in our community and beyond. We're so excited to welcome you to our speaker series at Intersession, and we hope you'll join us for our other initiatives throughout... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

1 Block

10:15am PST

Panel: Nueva Alumni

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Join Nueva upper school alumni as they discuss life at Nueva. Topics to be covered include: advice on getting the most of your Nueva experience; classes or co-curriculars alumni wish they had taken/participated in; reflections on navigating senior year, transitioning to college and building a new network; and more. This is an interactive session—questions and audience participation encouraged!

Moderators

Diana Chamorro

Director of Alumni & Community Engagement, Nueva School

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Wellness and Life Skills
Audience Open to Alumni

10:15am PST

Panel: Women In Tech

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Women represent only 25% of the workforce of major technology companies. Women were also disproportionately affected by pandemic-driven spikes in global unemployment and reductions in labor force participation. What does this mean for young women trying to enter the tech industry? What struggles do women face and how can leaders in the field make change to these inequities? This is a special opportunity to hear from three women who have spent their careers in tech. Topics to be covered include tips for getting started in the tech industry, obstacles that women may face, career advice; and more. Don't miss out on hearing from these industry leaders. Questions and audience participation encouraged!

Panelists:

Monica Ea Chander – Senior Director of Product Marketing at Meta
Deepa Diwakar – Director of Engineering at Meta
Erica Lockheimer – Founder, Investor, Podcaster. Formerly: VP of Engineering of LinkedIn

Moderators

Giovanni Iachello

Meta

I've had a passion for tinkering and technology my entire life. I started using my parent's IBM PC in 7th grade. In high school, I wrote a 3d graphics engine. The last couple of years I worked on the Meta Quest VR headset and most lately, I've been working on AI.Before moving to the... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Design Thinking/Technology/Engineering, Equity and Social Justice
Audience Open to Alumni

10:15am PST

Restorative Yoga

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Restorative Yoga is designed to relax, restore and rejuvenate the body with mindful movements, precise alignment and establishing mind, body and breath connection. The class starts with gentle movements and then will move on to holding yoga asanas using props. The intention is to activate the parasympathetic nervous system with a series of asanas to bring calm and relaxation to the body and mind using breath.

Facilitators

Ruchi Murlidhar

Iyengar Yoga with Ruchi

Ruchi Murlidhar (she/her) is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (Level 2) and a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). She is graduate of the Advanced Studies/Teacher Training program of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Ruchi began learning yoga in elementary school in India... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Athletics and Movement

10:15am PST

Singers: Elevate Your Stage Presence

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Not sure what to do with yourself while singing a song in front of an audience? Learn tips and techniques from a professional vocalist to help you “own” your performance from top to bottom.

Come prepared to sing to a backing track on your phone and be willing to experiment in a fun, caring, and safe environment.

Facilitators

Rocío Guitard

Master Instructor, Rocío Guitard Vocal Studio

Rocío Guitard has been a professional singer for over 30 years, with three solo albums to her name and multiple guest appearances on other artists’ records, plus extensive performing experience in Europe and the US. Her work as a voice pedagogy expert has led her to present at... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Music

10:15am PST

The Art of Cooking Breakfast: Crepes, Pancakes, and Omelettes

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST

TBA

Let’s cook breakfast together! In this class, students will create sweet and savory crepes, pancakes, made-to-order omelettes, and hot cocoa. No prior cooking experience required. Eat your culinary creations!

Facilitators

Michelle Greenebaum

Together In The Kitchen

Michelle Greenebaum of Together In The Kitchen (and mom of an 8th grader at Nueva!) teaches the Art and Science of Cooking and Baking to kids, teenagers, and adults in the Bay Area. This is her 4th year teaching Intersession at Nueva. Her classes are hands-on, fun, and support all... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 10:15am - 11:30am PST
TBA

Content Category Cooking

12:35pm PST

Animal Behavior for Conservationists

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Gustav Steinhardt

Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. R. Gustav Steinhardt is a Lecturer UC-Berkeley and an Associate Research Scientist with Field Projects International. He has worked at a biological field station in the Peruvian Amazon since 2017, studying how wild primates behave and how we can use that information to assist... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Environmental Citizenship, Science

12:35pm PST

Bridge Play

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

Now that you know some of the basics of bridge playing, have some fun at the bridge tables. Here's your chance to practice the basics of bidding and play while you have an instructor available to help you.

This session is open to students who attended the introduction "Learn to Play" class or anyone who knows the basics of how to play.

Facilitators

Jennifer Kuhn

Jennifer Kuhn is an ACBL bridge teacher and tournament director. She won the 2022 Red Ribbon National Pairs and can teach the game from the very beginning.

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Math and Games

12:35pm PST

Conservation Ambassadors: Under the Canopy (Fac/Staff)

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Facilitators

Conservation Ambassadors

Conservation Ambassadors

34 years ago David established a non-profit rescue zoo in Paso Robles where he gives wildlife a permanent, loving home for displaced, abused, abandoned or permanently injured wild and exotic animals. Sharing these animal ambassadors helps us educate learners of all ages about conservation... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Environmental Citizenship

12:35pm PST

Conversation and Q&A with Bestselling Author Jasmine Guillory

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

WRC

Hear from New York Times-bestselling author Jasmine Guillory as she reads an excerpt from her latest book. After, she'll open up space for a Q&A.

Facilitators

Jasmine Guillory

Author

Dubbed “the undisputed queen of the modern-day romance” (Vogue), Jasmine Guillory is the beloved New York Times-bestselling author of several romance novels, including The Wedding Date, The Proposal, While We Were Dating, and more. A former writer for The Toast and a regular... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
WRC

Content Category Literature/Communications/Performance
Audience Open to Alumni

12:35pm PST

Forensics

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

Join us for a hands-on exploration of forensic science. In this lab, you will learn the ins and outs of crime scene investigation, collecting and analyzing physical evidence, examining wound patterns, and psychological profiling. This class will give you the opportunity to practice and perfect the most important techniques coroners, pathologists, forensic technicians and forensic psychologists use in the lab and field to solve crimes.

Facilitators

Kimble Torres

Pathways to Medicine

Kimble Torres is a veteran biologist specializing in the human body and athletics. During his tenure in the biotech industry, Kimble worked for Nektar Therapeutics, Genentech, and Tycho Healthcare investigating product feasibility and managing lab operations. In 2014, his passion... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine

12:35pm PST

Future Healers: Building Your Journey to Med School

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

Calling premeds (or prospective premeds)! Join this interactive workshop on navigating the premed journey, and explore critical topics such as course selection, extracurricular planning, study strategies, and application tips for college and beyond. Led by an experienced mentor who has just finished applying to and gaining admission to medical school, this course empowers future medical professionals to confidently navigate each stage of their premed path with a clear roadmap, preparing them to stand out as competitive, compassionate candidates.

Facilitators

Curious Cardinals

Lexy Tran

Curious Cardinals

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine

12:35pm PST

History of Scientific Racism & Eugenics

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Stacy Hackner

Dr Stacy Hackner is an interdisciplinary researcher who has worked with human remains in the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the UCL Pathology Museum, among others. Her work broadly covers feminist and decolonial archaeology, the role of women in society, and lower leg biomechanics... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Equity and Social Justice, History, Science

12:35pm PST

Poems, Song, and Prose: A Global Exploration of Literary Expression

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

In this course, students will learn about poems, songs, and literary texts from across Spain and Latin America. No prerequisites are necessary as the course will be 1/2 lecture and 1/2 discussion based

Facilitators

Curious Cardinals

Ronak Shetty

Curious Cardinals

Ronak Shetty is a student at Stanford University with a background in Iberian and Latin American studies, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian language and culture, South Asian studies, education, technology, business strategy, marketing, politics, psychology, and public service. Ronak's... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Literature/Communications/Performance, Language

12:35pm PST

Pots and Parthenons in the Polis: Exploring the Ancient Athenian Agora

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

Do you know your kylixes from your kraters? Have any idea what the boule is? Want to know where we get the word ceramic? In this session, Nueva alum Callisto and her dad, an Oxford-trained archaeologist, will take you on a whirlwind tour of the ancient Athenian agora, or town square: we'll cover all the different civic and market buildings, and through it learn about what day-to-day life was like for the people of the largest city-state in the ancient Greek world. This talk was previously presented at the Nueva Humanities Fair, where it enjoyed the seal of approval from none other than legendary Nueva humanities teacher, Cynthia Kosut! Come on down and discover just how exciting archaeology can be!

Facilitators

Callisto Lodwick

Dr Marcus Lodwick received his PhD from the University of Oxford, where he wrote on the architecture of ancient temples and stoa in the Cyclades. He taught extensively in Greece and Rome, worked for the National Trust, and is the author of The Gallery Companion (Thames and Hudson... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category History

12:35pm PST

Uh oh, the Car is Broken

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST

TBA

We'll practice changing a tire, putting on snow chains, jumping a car and what to do if stuck in snow or sand. It's great to do this for the first time in the sunny parking lot of Nueva rather than, say, on the side of I-80 at night in snowstorm on your parent's transitional object. We'll learn how to avoid problems by checking the fluids and tire pressure and which lights mean you have to stop right away and which ones can be ignored for a little bit. No prerequisites.

Facilitators

Ed Vail

Ed's an engineer who is running out of disaster preparedness tasks and family patience in his own household. He likes the feeling of calm that comes from being prepared for any situation. It's possible that one of the reasons he is into disaster preparation is he has lingering doubts... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 12:35pm - 1:50pm PST
TBA

Content Category Wellness and Life Skills

1:55pm PST

Animal Behavior for Conservationists

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Gustav Steinhardt

Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. R. Gustav Steinhardt is a Lecturer UC-Berkeley and an Associate Research Scientist with Field Projects International. He has worked at a biological field station in the Peruvian Amazon since 2017, studying how wild primates behave and how we can use that information to assist... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Environmental Citizenship, Science

1:55pm PST

Bioarchaeology of Sex & Gender

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Stacy Hackner

Dr Stacy Hackner is an interdisciplinary researcher who has worked with human remains in the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the UCL Pathology Museum, among others. Her work broadly covers feminist and decolonial archaeology, the role of women in society, and lower leg biomechanics... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Equity and Social Justice, History, Human Biology and Medicine, Science

1:55pm PST

Conservation Ambassadors: Under the Canopy (Alumni Only)

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Facilitators

Conservation Ambassadors

Conservation Ambassadors

34 years ago David established a non-profit rescue zoo in Paso Robles where he gives wildlife a permanent, loving home for displaced, abused, abandoned or permanently injured wild and exotic animals. Sharing these animal ambassadors helps us educate learners of all ages about conservation... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Environmental Citizenship
Audience Open to Alumni

1:55pm PST

Get To Know The Peace Corps

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

Through this session, you will:
- Hear why the Peace Corps is often described as “the toughest job you’ll ever love,” along with the challenges and unique experiences associated with this role.
- Discover the power of community empowerment and entrepreneurship through the firsthand experiences of a former Peace Corps Volunteer.
- Learn about microfinance programs and initiatives that support small businesses in Panama.
- Explore the significance of Panamanian indigenous crafts in preserving cultural heritage. Beautiful crafts created by artisans from the Ngobe-Bugle, Kuna Yala, and Embera communities will be showcased, and Anne will discuss how these crafts reflect the country’s rich culture and creativity.
- Understand the impact of learning a foreign language on building connections, fostering trust and becoming a unique candidate for work.

This session is for anyone interested in global citizenship, cultural exchange, unique crafts and community-based entrepreneurship. Let’s explore how we can empower communities and celebrate diversity together!

Facilitators

Anne Fazioli-Khiari

Anne Fazioli-Khiari served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama from 1999 to 2002. While in Panama, she worked as a Small Business Development Volunteer for two years and extended her service to become a Regional Volunteer Coordinator. Her experience in Panama altered the trajectory... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Global Citizenship, Equity and Social Justice

1:55pm PST

Innovation, Science, and FDA: How Do New Medicines Get To Patients?

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

WRC

It takes an average of $1.3 billion and more than 10 years to bring a new medicine to the point of applying for FDA approval. After pursuing this long and often tortuous path, the prospects are risky, and the FDA faces a binary choice: Grant marketing authorization, or reject the application?

What does the drug development process entail, and why is it so long, expensive, and complex? What is FDA's role in protecting American consumers and the public? How are the concepts of "benefit" and "risk" used to provide a framework for these decisions?

In this interactive session, you will learn the basics of the drug development process, including the role of the FDA in deciding whether to allow access to new drugs. Students will work in groups to evaluate whether a new drug should be "approved", and, if so, under what conditions.

Facilitators

Thomas Chalberg

Founder & Managing Director, Polymerase Capital

Thomas W. Chalberg, PhD is an investor, scientist, and biotechnology entrepreneur. He is currently Managing Director of Polymerase Capital, where his investments have included Genascence Corporation and Exhaura. Prior to this, Dr. Chalberg was the Founder & CEO of SightGlass Vision... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
WRC

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine, Business and Finance, Philosophy/Social Science/Law/Politics
Audience Open to Alumni

1:55pm PST

Let’s Go Flying - How to Fly from San Carlos to Truckee!

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

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?”!

Facilitators

Andres Kohn

I have been a Private Pilot since 1995, and have flown to over 60 airports in California alone. I fly for fun, but also for numerous volunteer organizations including Angel Flight West, Flying Samaritans, Pilots & Paws and Amelia Air. You’ll normally find me behind the wheel... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Design Thinking/Technology/Engineering, Wellness and Life Skills, Science

1:55pm PST

More Than a Habit: The Science of BFRBs

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

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.

Facilitators

Curious Cardinals

Hannah Pescaru

Curious Cardinals

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Human Biology and Medicine, Science, Wellness and Life Skills

1:55pm PST

Poems, Song, and Prose: A Global Exploration of Literary Expression

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

In this course, students will learn about poems, songs, and literary texts from across Spain and Latin America. No prerequisites are necessary as the course will be 1/2 lecture and 1/2 discussion based

Facilitators

Curious Cardinals

Ronak Shetty

Curious Cardinals

Ronak Shetty is a student at Stanford University with a background in Iberian and Latin American studies, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian language and culture, South Asian studies, education, technology, business strategy, marketing, politics, psychology, and public service. Ronak's... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Literature/Communications/Performance, Language

1:55pm PST

Uh oh, the Car is Broken

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

We'll practice changing a tire, putting on snow chains, jumping a car and what to do if stuck in snow or sand. It's great to do this for the first time in the sunny parking lot of Nueva rather than, say, on the side of I-80 at night in snowstorm on your parent's transitional object. We'll learn how to avoid problems by checking the fluids and tire pressure and which lights mean you have to stop right away and which ones can be ignored for a little bit. No prerequisites.

Facilitators

Ed Vail

Ed's an engineer who is running out of disaster preparedness tasks and family patience in his own household. He likes the feeling of calm that comes from being prepared for any situation. It's possible that one of the reasons he is into disaster preparation is he has lingering doubts... Read More →

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category Wellness and Life Skills

1:55pm PST

Understanding The World Through Maps

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST

TBA

This session will modestly attempt to explain some of the forces that shape today's world through the study of maps. We will likely focus on 20th century and recent conflicts and look into their geography for answers to why these conflicts took place.

Facilitators

Walid Khiari

I am an Africa-born, Paris-educated, Japan- and US-trained global investment banker/finance executive with a passion for international relations and geopolitics. And while "follow the money" is often a valid way to understand the world, I also like to "read the maps"...

Friday January 10, 2025 1:55pm - 3:10pm PST
TBA

Content Category History, Philosophy/Social Science/Law/Politics, Global Citizenship