ESP Biography



AVERY NGUYEN, hey, i didn't know this box was here




Major: NSE

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: G

Picture of Avery Nguyen

Brief Biographical Sketch:

paolo adajar bullied me online



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S15973: Let's Talk about the Weather! in Spark 2024 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2024)
Have you ever wondered how hurricanes or tornadoes form? Or why thunder snow exists? What is a Nor'easter, and why do they occur? Together, we'll explore the basic physics that create the weather we observe every day, as well as look into some ways to forecast weather yourself! May involve a short walk outside to see what we can learn from the sky!


S15515: Let's Talk about the Weather! in Spark 2023 (Mar. 18 - 19, 2023)
Have you ever wondered how hurricanes or tornadoes form? Or why thunder snow exists? What is a Nor'easter, and why do they occur? Together, we'll explore the basic physics that create the weather we observe every day, as well as look into some ways to forecast weather yourself!


E14471: How To Make Mediocre Furniture in Spark 2021 (Mar. 13 - 27, 2021)
Making beautiful designer furniture is very hard. You would need years of practice, a workshop space, and some very expensive tools. Making mediocre furniture is much easier! In this three-class sequence, I'll teach you how to design and make furniture that's functional, cheap, and relatively pretty. I learned everything I know from hours of googling and screwing up; now I'll teach you and save you the time. You CAN try this at home!


H13958: The Explosion of the Poem in Spark 2020 (Mar. 14 - 15, 2020)
How did we go from the strict structure of sonnets to the wild world of free verse? From a dreamy movement in love with the natural world to modernist poems that find meaning in nothing at all? From lengthy epics to Anne Carson's "novel in verse"? In short - how did poetry become what it is today? Let's read some poems, talk about it, and maybe find out.


H13963: Women Writing Poems: A (Very) Abridged History in Spark 2020 (Mar. 14 - 15, 2020)
Tired of only ever reading male authors? Me too! Let's read some female poets instead. Some authors we might cover: Sappho, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Anne Carson, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, and many more. We'll learn about some of the technical elements of poems, but we'll also take time to just enjoy the beauty of some well-written words.


S13724: Politics for the Modern Era in HSSP Spring 2020 (Feb. 29, 2020)
You may feel as a young zoomer that you have nothing to offer the American government. But as zoomers ourselves, let us tell you that you should not think about what the government can do for you, but what you can do to change your government for the better. How does it work? Why does it work that way? What kind of ancient, outdated garbage still floats around in our bloated bureaucracy? It's like an archaeology mission, but all the trash from the past still affects us today! Join us on a thrilling expedition.


Z13191: American Political Process in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Ever wonder how people get elected to the American government? Ever wonder how much your vote actually counts? Come learn about the American political system at Splash! Includes things like "How do you register to vote?", "Where do our laws and systems come from?", "What is a caucus / primary?", and "What is gerrymandering?"


S13284: Geoengineering: "Hacking" Climate Change in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Ever heard that we can seed clouds to create rain? Spray sulfate particles into the sky to reflect sunlight combat climate change? Capture carbon in the earth? Let's learn the truth about these technologies, examine the science behind them, and uncover the real consequences of attempting to treat the symptoms of climate change, rather than the causes.


A13669: Fancy Paper Structures in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Turns out we can fold a flat sheet of paper into a cool, geometric, 3D form. Here is an example: https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/284234863.webp. The idea behind these types of compacting folds has made their way into telescopes, satellites, and architectural forms! I will have various templates available.


C12869: Learn to Make Maps! in Spark 2019 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2019)
Want to learn how to make interesting, informative, or just plain funny maps? Come learn how using ArcGIS software! We'll use a variety of datasets to create different maps that students can print out and take home.


H12999: Writing Workshop: The Personal Essay in Spark 2019 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2019)
Ever had an experience you can't quite get out of your head, or a feeling that you just can't shake? In this class, we'll explore why our moments and memories matter, and how we can communicate that meaning to others. Through writing!


X13003: Shoe? No, choux! - A pastry introduction in Spark 2019 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2019)
A brief introduction into making choux pastry. We'll make cream puffs, religieuse, and maybe even a croquembouche!