This seminar will support your transition to college and introduce you to a topic in public health and health sciences. The first six weeks will provide foundational skills for students to thrive at UMass. The last seven weeks will focus on exploring a public health and health sciences topic.

This seminar will support your transition to college and introduce you to a topic in public health and health sciences. The first six weeks will provide foundational skills for students to thrive at UMass. The last seven weeks will focus on exploring a public health and health sciences topic.

Lasers are around us in many forms starting from day-to-day uses to advanced applications in research and medical fields such as barcode scanners, laser pointers, laser tag, holographic images, and laser shows in concerts. In this course, you will explore the underlying science of lasers, their components, history and key milestones in laser development and the diverse range of laser applications across various fields. You will learn theoretical concepts, visit different labs for practical demonstrations, and perform hands-on experiments in class with small lasers.

Lasers are around us in many forms starting from day-to-day uses to advanced applications in research and medical fields such as barcode scanners, laser pointers, laser tag, holographic images, and laser shows in concerts. In this course, you will explore the underlying science of lasers, their components, history and key milestones in laser development and the diverse range of laser applications across various fields. You will learn theoretical concepts, visit different labs for practical demonstrations, and perform hands-on experiments in class with small lasers.

We will explore the fascinating world of game design, and more importantly, the science behind why humans love games. In this course we will discuss the principles of psychology, mathematics, and game theory. You will learn how you can optimize what is known in these fields to design memorable games of your own. From Dungeons and Dragons, to Blackjack, to Elden Ring, this course will leave you with an understanding of how science has informed how we engage with games!

We will explore the fascinating world of game design, and more importantly, the science behind why humans love games. In this course we will discuss the principles of psychology, mathematics, and game theory. You will learn how you can optimize what is known in these fields to design memorable games of your own. From Dungeons and Dragons, to Blackjack, to Elden Ring, this course will leave you with an understanding of how science has informed how we engage with games!

We will explore the fascinating world of game design, and more importantly, the science behind why humans love games. In this course we will discuss the principles of psychology, mathematics, and game theory. You will learn how you can optimize what is known in these fields to design memorable games of your own. From Dungeons and Dragons, to Blackjack, to Elden Ring, this course will leave you with an understanding of how science has informed how we engage with games!

What does it mean to "solve" a puzzle or a game? How do we know that our solution always works? Which games can we always win? We will find some answers to these questions by playing a variety of games from tic-tac-toe to Go and examining riddles involving foxes, chickens, and truth-telling trolls. You will leave this course as a better game player, riddle solver, and also a more mathematical thinker.

What does it mean to "solve" a puzzle or a game? How do we know that our solution always works? Which games can we always win? We will find some answers to these questions by playing a variety of games from tic-tac-toe to Go and examining riddles involving foxes, chickens, and truth-telling trolls. You will leave this course as a better game player, riddle solver, and also a more mathematical thinker.

How do we forecast unpredictable natural hazards and prepare for possible disasters? What happens when our best guesses about what will happen are wrong? In this class we'll explore how we interpret geologic data, communicate risks to the public, and make public policy decisions based on that information. Then, you'll take on the role of a scientist, community member, government official, or journalist in a quickly-growing resort town facing a possible volcanic eruption. Your community must decide: do you abandon the town, needlessly risking livelihoods if the threat is false?