insight on their self-directed learning

Grant Sheft: The Philosophy of Hope

My independent study is on the philosophy of hope. Specifically I have studied whether hope is necessary or is a detriment to action. I have analyzed this question through the study of three philosophers: Kierkegaard, Camus, and Cornel West, which led me to determine the vitality of communal hope, in a post-pandemic world. Whereas individualistic hope is subject to failure, with an unrelenting workforce, a shared hope can transcend any individual, rendering communal hope immortal.

Lamia Chowdhury: Examining Human Intelligence Using Psychobiology

This study has allowed me to investigate a number of topics related to defining, quantifying and enhancing human intelligence. I took a look at psychological theories, psychometric testing, gender and its effect on self-perception of intelligence, biological, genetic and mathematical models used to describe intelligence and educational neuroscience. I gained valuable skills regarding experimental and curriculum design, research and flexibility. I have also learned so much from my peers.

Harry Cotrell: The Akkadian Language and Cuneiform Culture

This year I studied the ancient language Akkadian, using a textbook to learn basic vocabulary and grammar. From there I produced some original translations of Neoassyrian Texts and studied the culture surrounding them. I also learned a lot about the process of translation and the blurriness of the line between direct translation and original work. It was an amazing experience, and I plan to continue studying Akkadian in college. It is a fascinating language!

Madison Xu: Child trafficking in China

Looked into child trafficking in China and examined personal stories of victims.

Dean Zweiman: Analog Synthesizers

This year, I designed and built my own analog (without microprocessors or code) synthesizer from scratch, and learned how to transform the electrical power from the wall into musical sound.

Harry Lowy: Parametric and Generative Design

I’ve been studying the usage of parametric and generative design as an artistic medium. Both parametric and generative design generally refer to the idea of using mathematical functions and more complex algorithms to derive form and color.

Raydris Espacia: Understanding Bioethics With a Focus on Research and Clinical Ethics

This year I got to learn how to combine biology and medicine with the study of philosophy and ethics. I was able to understand how ethics might fit into my goals for the future as a student and physician.

Rohan Mahajan: Exploring the Theory and Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Generative Models

With the recent surge of artificial intelligence models such as Dall-E and ChatGPT, many of which are visual or language-based, I wanted to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of these A.I. algorithms as well as replicate the processes myself. I studied the mathematical formulas and conceptual ideas behind neural networks, a popular A.I. framework, and why they are particularly exceptional at analyzing and replicating large sets of data. To wrap up my independent study, I decided to learn more about the practical capabilities of such A.I. as well as the political and social implications that they may bring.

Gisele Mitchell: The Psychology Behind Humans’ Obsession with Violence

Over the course of this year I spent time covering a plethora of topics which ranged from the reasons behind why we consume true crime media to the psychological ramifications of pornography consumption. My project began as an investigation into the subfield of forensic psychology (psychology’s intersection with the law) but it quickly changed into an interdisciplinary research project. Keeping in line with forensic psychology, while investigating why we consume true crime media, I also compared those results to actual crimes committed. In regard to the psychological effects of pornography consumption, I looked into how it contributed to real life sexual violence. For my final project I have designed a study that examines the link between pornography consumption and sexual violence using participants who have been arrested for sexually violent crimes and participants who have not.

Sherlyn Almonte: Computer Architecture

My independent study evolved throughout the year, but ultimately, I discovered that I was interested in computer architecture. Because this is a very complicated topic, I opted for a more traditional route: I found a college-level course on OpenCourseWare named “Computation Structures.” I completed the first half of the course, which included readings, watching lectures, and doing problem sets. For my final project, I produced a report that incorporated everything I learned, where I designed a traffic light, from its theoretical functionality to an actual circuit schematic using nothing but transistors as a base.