2019-20 WAVU Courses
Spring 2020 Courses
Saturday, February 1st
Grades: 7-8 | 8-9 | 9-10 | 10-12
The status of each course (full- waiting list closed, full- waiting list open, available- limited space, available) can be seen below. Please contact our office at 615-343-5790 or vsa.pty@vanderbilt.edu if you have questions about the length of a specific waiting list.
Grades 7-8
Biochemistry: The Language of Life
FULL- WAITING LIST OPEN
The chemical understanding of life and the methodology in which organic matter interacts are encompassed in the study of biochemistry. Biochemistry provides the road map for how life occurs on earth and for how the body communicates with itself. This science determines the genetic code transfer from generation to generation, the way proteins are produced, how food is digested, and even the process in which cells differentiate to produce a full grown human. Understanding cell signaling pathways and the ability to transmit information from cell to cell, tissue to tissue, and even organ system to organ system, allows scientists to comprehend how it is possible for the body to converse in this biochemical language. You will learn how the interaction of organic material on a fundamental level determines biology. In this course, we will also study how biochemistry can be used as a diagnostic tool in forensic science and disease detection. Lastly, this study will investigate the pharmaceutical mechanisms involved in medicinal chemistries and how treatments are determined by their ability to alter gene transcription, protein expression, and hormone interaction. Overall, you will come away with a better understanding of how it is the body processes chemical information and what these chemical changes mean in both healthy and pathological states.
Dr. Joseph Weinstein-Webb received his PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2017. His dissertation work investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic capacities of gold nanostars in both prostate and breast cancer. He received his BS in biochemistry from Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) where he researched the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and its capabilities to operate human cellular machinery even as an exogenous player within the body. He currently is a professor in the department of chemistry at Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN). Joseph has always had a fascination with the human body, how it operates, and its response to outside pathogens and disease. When he is not investigating human diseases, he is practicing yoga. He teaches yoga at studios around Nashville and loves being involved with the community as well as outreach.
Margaret Calhoun graduated from the University of North Texas in 2016 with a B.S. in Chemistry with a Certificate in Forensic Science. She is currently a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the department of chemistry at Vanderbilt University. Her thesis work is focused on sensor development for proteins, specifically focusing on MMP-3 for the study of pre-term birth and IL-6 for early sepsis detection. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and annoying her 16-year-old cat, Tiger, that she has had since childhood.
Destabilizing History
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
The “post-truth” age is not just about outright lies. It often refers to the growing awareness in today’s society of the power and scope of human subjectivity. With an increasingly diverse society and information more accessible now than ever before, the incredible variability on display in how individuals construct the “truth” has become impossible to ignore. How best to handle this new epistemological reality is one of the most pressing issues of our time, one that historians should productively and eagerly engage. For a history book, even a textbook, is not what you may think it is. It is not simply the “truth” based on facts. It is, instead, an argument for the truth based on the prioritization of some facts over others. In this course, you will look at the rise of the United States as a global superpower from multiple and complex perspectives. Through this analytical process that challenges reigning narratives, develop your own historical understandings while becoming better prepared to handle the formidable intellectual challenges of the present day.
Kevin Vanzant received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in 2013 and now teaches history at Tennessee State University. He believes that the central challenge facing history teachers today is how to keep historical instruction current and relevant in an ever-changing world. His classes are always experimental, and he is constantly gathering feedback from students about how they see a history class fitting into their world. The result has been history classes that are far from frozen in time but change dramatically from year to year. History classes, as Vanzant has learned, can be whatever teachers and students want them to be or, alternatively, whatever the world, no matter how much it changes, needs them to be. Vanzant is full of optimism that historical instruction can be as important today as ever.
Grades 8-9
Out-of-the-Box Geometry
FULL- WAITING LIST OPEN
What happens when you bounce a laser off a mirror? What if the laser is inside a rectangle made of mirrors? In this course, you will use this simple scenario as the starting point to examine advanced mathematical concepts such as combinatorics, permutations, and distance metrics. If you love math and want to explore topics you won’t see in school, this course is for you!
Jason Brasel is a math teacher and math education researcher at the University of Michigan. He is interested in the interplay between teachers’ mathematical knowledge and teaching practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s in learning, teaching, and diversity from Vanderbilt University. He lives in Nashville with his wife, three daughters, and catahoula.
Grades 9-10
Of Microbes and Men. Fundamentals in Host-Pathogen Interactions
FULL- WAITING LIST OPEN
Microbiology and Immunology is the science of diseases caused by microorganisms and the host immune response to them. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of immunology and the variety of host-pathogen interactions that drive evolutionary change. We will explore the metaphorical arms-race between a pathogen and its host to further understand the individual components of each organism. You will have the opportunity to think creatively about what would make a pathogen successful in any given environment and the counter measures that would be necessary to contain an outbreak. By the end of class, you will gain a deeper understanding, and hopefully appreciate, the complexity of host-pathogen interactions.
Ly Pham graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research focuses on innate immune defenses within the lungs, specifically how the innate immune system detects and responds to bacterial pathogens. Throughout her graduate training, she has mentored visiting students to her lab and served as a teaching assistant for the medical school and the undergraduate course in Microbiology and Immunology. This year she will be combining her love for science and her years of training to bring together a course that will hopefully encourage students to pursue a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Grades 10-12
Writing Poetry & Free Verse
AVAILABLE
Led by a published author, this writing class will help you find and express your poetic voice and gain confidence and expert feedback about your work. We will pay particular attention to free verse and the frontier of poetry beyond meter, with a focus on finding your own voice. The writing skills you learn will not only enhance your poems, but also allow you to engage in scholarly conversations with other classmates and express your ideas in unique ways while having a lot of fun along the way.
Dr. Jan Elaine Harris is an associate professor of English and writing at Lipscomb University. Jan earned her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in 2008. Six poems from her collection in progress, Voyager, were featured in Waxing and Waning’s fall 2017 Issue. She has given readings of her work at SCMLA (2017), PCA/ ACA (2018), and RMMLA (2018). One of her poems was featured on Spokane Public Radio in February 2018. Other poems of hers have appeared in Anthology, Event, and Exposition. When Jan is not teaching or writing, she is probably hanging out with her GSPs, Malloy and Astrid.
So You Want to be a Doctor: A Day in the Life of A Medical Student
FULL- WAITING LIST CLOSED
Is a physician on your short list of career options? What can you do now to set you on the path toward your dream job as a doctor? What skills, interests and content knowledge are important as you consider this amazing field of medicine? Throughout this fast-paced class, engage in conversation, simulation, and case studies as you get a glimpse of the day to day experiences of a medical student. Learn more about the complexity of the human body as an interrelated system as you dabble in chemistry, biology, physiology and the ethics of patient care while simultaneously gaining a better understanding of the interdisciplinary skills, knowledge base, dispositions, and training necessary to become a doctor.
Elishama Kanu is a fourth year Vanderbilt medical student. She completed a double major in chemical biology and cognitive science at Case Western Reserve University, and was dually enrolled in a masters in bioethics in her final year of undergrad. She dreamed of entering the medical field as a young girl, and now, years later, she is happy to say she has loved medicine more than she could have ever imagined! She especially loves sharing this passion with young minds! When not at the hospital she enjoys quality time spent with friends and loved ones, and watching copious amounts of TV.
Sarah Fitzlaff is a 4th year Vanderbilt medical student who is planning to do her residency in pathology. She came to Vanderbilt after completing her undergraduate degree in cell and molecular biology at Missouri State University. Outside of school, Sarah enjoys playing with her dogs, clay sculpture, and trying Nashville’s restaurants.
Fall 2019 Courses
Saturday, October 5th
Grades: 7-8 | 8-9 | 9-10 | 10-12
Grades 7-8
Public Policy and the 2020 Elections
FULL- WAITING LIST OPEN
In this course, we will explore how key theories from public policy, political science, and economics can help us to better understand they ways politicians craft policies and discuss those policies with the public. We’ll apply these theories to many of the actual policies areas being debated by 2020 Presidential candidates and analyze the ways in which candidates are working to build support for their proposals in topics as diverse as education, healthcare and tax policy. By the end of the day, you should walk away with key insights and tools to analyze what motivates the policy decisions of 2020 candidates over the next year. **This course offers a bipartisan academic methodology.
Walt Ecton is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Vanderbilt University. His research focuses on the role of public opinion and politics in education and on the policies affecting students’ transitions from high school into college and the workforce. Prior to his doctoral studies, Walt taught high school history in Atlanta, Georgia, and worked in student success technology and consulting with the Education Advisory Board in Washington, D.C. In his free time, Walt loves running, listening to podcasts (usually while running!), and checking out all the great art, theatre, and music that Nashville has to offer!
Of Microbes and Men. Fundamentals in Host-Pathogen Interactions
FULL- WAITING LIST OPEN
Microbiology and Immunology is the science of diseases caused by microorganisms and the host immune response to them. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of immunology and the variety of host-pathogen interactions that drive evolutionary change. We will explore the metaphorical arms-race between a pathogen and its host to further understand the individual components of each organism. You will have the opportunity to think creatively about what would make a pathogen successful in any given environment and the counter measures that would be necessary to contain an outbreak. By the end of class, you will gain a deeper understanding, and hopefully appreciate, the complexity of host-pathogen interactions.
Ly Pham graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her research focuses on innate immune defenses within the lungs, specifically how the innate immune system detects and responds to bacterial pathogens. Throughout her graduate training, she has mentored visiting students to her lab and served as a teaching assistant for the medical school and the undergraduate course in Microbiology and Immunology. This year she will be combining her love for science and her years of training to bring together a course that will hopefully encourage students to pursue a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Grades 8-9
Music and the brain: A survey
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Music is known to exist in every culture and is considered a human universal. How do cognitive neuroscientists begin to answer questions about how music is processed in the brain? This session will survey the ongoing research in music cognition, including research on music perception and musical development. We will cover methods cognitive neuroscientists use to study the brain. There will also be an emphasis on how music can be used with clinical populations such as aphasia.
Anna Kasdan is a first-year graduate student in the neuroscience program. She completed her undergraduate degree in neuroscience, with a minor in piano performance, at Boston University and then worked as a research assistant at NYU studying music aesthetics, music perception, and neuroeducation. At Vanderbilt, her research broadly focuses on the brain basis of music processing abilities in clinical populations, such as individuals with developmental language disorder, aphasia, or William’s Syndrome. Committed to STEM outreach and education, Anna is involved with research projects at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville. Anna enjoys hiking, biking, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.
Grades 9-10
Negotiation: Resolving Conflict and Distributing Resources
AVAILABLE
Negotiation is a critical method used to resolve conflict and distribute resources. Because other people affect our ability to reach our goals-that is, we are interdependent with others-we often have no choice but to negotiate if we want to succeed in business and in life. As negotiation is ubiquitous and unavoidable, the question for each of us is “how can we negotiate effectively?”. This class is designed to impart the knowledge and practice necessary to develop your negotiation skills. We will explore strategies for effectively advancing our interests, while maintaining (and even strengthening) valuable relationships.
Kendall Park is a Pathways Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, where she teaches courses on Negotiation, Social Enterprise, and Women in Leadership. Kendall obtained her Ph.D. in Sociology at Princeton University, and her research focuses on social business models, corporate social responsibility, and leadership.
Grades 10-12
Sensors and Data Analysis
AVAILABLE
Sensors are embedded in so many systems that we interact with, that we can take for granted how much we rely on them. A normal garage door system can have up to 10 unique sensors inside! Sensors are also used to collect large amounts of data about the world for research purposes. Analyzing this sensor data can help us make important decisions about our lives, cities, and environment. In this class you will 1) learn about sensor and data technology, 2) assemble real sensor prototypes, 3) program microcontrollers to record data, and 4) perform analyses on that data to draw conclusions about a research question. You will get hands-on experience with electrical engineering, data analysis techniques, and programming.
Will Barbour is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Institute for Software Integrated Systems. His interdisciplinary research is focused on transportation, big data, sensing, and artificial intelligence. He is passionate about the sustainability and public policy implications of his research. In his free time, Will enjoys woodworking, cycling, kayaking, and hiking with his dog. He is also an Eisenhower Transportation Fellow and an Eno Leadership Fellow. He graduated with an M.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Destabilizing History
AVAILABLE
The “post-truth” age is not just about outright lies. It often refers to the growing awareness in today’s society of the power and scope of human subjectivity. With an increasingly diverse society and information more accessible now than ever before, the incredible variability on display in how individuals construct the “truth” has become impossible to ignore. How best to handle this new epistemological reality is one of the most pressing issues of our time, one that historians should productively and eagerly engage. For a history book, even a textbook, is not what you may think it is. It is not simply the “truth” based on facts. It is, instead, an argument for the truth based on the prioritization of some facts over others. In this course, you will look at the rise of the United States as a global superpower from multiple and complex perspectives. Through this analytical process that challenges reigning narratives, develop your own historical understandings while becoming better prepared to handle the formidable intellectual challenges of the present day.
Kevin Vanzant received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in 2013 and now teaches history at Tennessee State University. He believes that the central challenge facing history teachers today is how to keep historical instruction current and relevant in an ever-changing world. His classes are always experimental, and he is constantly gathering feedback from students about how they see a history class fitting into their world. The result has been history classes that are far from frozen in time but change dramatically from year to year. History classes, as Vanzant has learned, can be whatever teachers and students want them to be or, alternatively, whatever the world, no matter how much it changes, needs them to be. Vanzant is full of optimism that historical instruction can be as important today as ever.