This class explores how to use game theory to study social interaction, from concepts of trust and bias to cooperation and betrayal and any other human social institution you can think of! Here we will discuss different types of games, explore the background and theory, then build your own games that you get to play in class!

Come learn about rockets! We'll cover the basics of rocketry, mission planning and some of the crazy things people have tried to get off the ground. We'll detail what missions to the Moon, Mars and perhaps beyond might look like. No background knowledge is required as we'll cover the basics in each area as needed. And yes, it _is_ rocket science.

Did you know that game theory and social psychology can be used to experimentally test cultural norms that we don't understand? In this course we will discuss how the principles and foundations, compatibility, and how to use game theory to better understand social phenomena like reputation and judgment of peers.

Nonsense isn't as crazy as it seems. Nonsense has linguistic, cognitive and logical bases. Nonsense follows rules! Sometimes. From syntax, literature and cognition, we explore the little known and largely ignored structure of nonsense literature and speech. Using examples from the poems of Lewis Carroll and Finnegan's Wake, come learn fun facts about strange stories.

For those interested in Russian literary history, come explore perhaps the greatest story to come out of Stalinist Russia. "Suppressed in the Soviet Union for twenty-six years, Mikhail Bulgakov's masterpiece is an ironic parable on power and its corruption, on good and evil, and on human frailty and the strength of love. This book combines fable, fantasy, political satire and slapstick comedy." The Master and Margarita was Mikhail Bulgakov's deathbed masterpiece. We will discuss the story and everything that made it so controversial at the time, pointing out the sarcasm, satire, subtle nods, and quirky translations. An excellent primer for anyone interested in Russian literature, and a fun exploration for those who already know the book.