CHI1 (ESP)

Chispas de genialidad: ¡Electrificando la química!

Raul Marquez-Montes | The University of Texas at Austin

Luis Carlos Rodríguez Pacheco | Centro de Investigacion en Materiales avanzados

¿Sabías que las grandes compañías buscan electrificar totalmente la industria en los próximos 50 años? Usar electricidad para llevar a cabo reacciones químicas es una de las formas más sustentables y eficientes para mitigar el cambio climático y la contaminación. ¿Estás listo para esta nueva revolución? En este club te introduciremos al mundo de la electroquímica, y te mostraremos cómo funcionan algunos de los dispositivos y procesos más relevantes, desde la síntesis de materiales sustentables hasta la producción de hidrógeno verde.  Para ello, construirás tu propio potenciostato totalmente funcional con la ayuda de Arduino y electrónica básica. Luego, lo usarás para sintetizar un electrocatalizador  y medir su desempeño para la producción de hidrógeno y oxígeno. ¿Quieres aprender sobre la electrónica y la electroquímica de manera divertida y práctica? ¿Quieres estar al día con las nuevas tecnologías que definirán el futuro de la humanidad?  ¡Entonces no te pierdas la oportunidad de ser parte de nuestro club y vivir una experiencia única de aprendizaje y descubrimiento!      

CHI2 (ESP)

Decoding the Human Brain: The beauty of how our brain works

Karen Malacon | Stanford University

Raúl Loera Valencia | Tecnológico de Monterrey

We each have approximately 100 billion brain cells, and their connections and how they relate to our behavior and health are still a mystery. Join us to learn about the building blocks of the nervous system and explore how they enable us to interact with our environment. Together we will learn about our nervous system’s anatomy, see and hear our brain activity through EEG, understand why a man might mistake his wife for a hat, learn about action potentials and how electrical pulses control every muscle in the body including the heart, learn how we can trick our brain into thinking we have more limbs than we actually do, and discover how doctors utilize their knowledge of these principles to treat patients. Are you excited to learn how our brain functions? Join us!

CHI3 (ESP)

NanoScientia: El nanomundo y sus posibilidades

Manish Kumar | University of Washington

Aurora Roxana Araiza Campos | Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados

Have you ever seen how small an insect or a grain of sand can get? Or even more, a cell! If you think that’s small, then you’ll be shocked at what can be seen at the nanometer scale. In this club you will get to know the fascinating world of nanotechnology, you will learn how nanomaterials are synthesized and how it is their size that gives these materials exceptional magnetic and piezoelectric properties, you will even be able to learn about some nanomaterial characterization techniques. In addition to exploring their technological applications, there is their application as antimicrobial agents, and at the club you will be able to learn about the level of toxicity that they can generate in pathogenic microorganisms through cell viability assays. Are you ready to be part of this adventure in the nanoworld and its possibilities?   

CHI4 (ENG)

Finding cures for cancer, one gene at a time

Katarzyna Zawieracz | University of Chicago

Efraín Alejandro Pérez Moreno | UNAM

Breast cancer is a devastating disease. Every cancer patient has slightly different gene expression and will respond to treatments differently. However, now we – researchers – have a tool to find meaningful patterns in the sea of those small differences on gene expression and predict who will respond to drugs well and who might benefit from some novel, targeted therapies. This tool is called transcriptomics. In this class we will set sail to analyze some publicly available breast cancer data. You will perform differential gene expression analysis using R programming and learn how to visualize your data. Along the way, you will find out why some patients are more similar to each other than others and how does it change their treatment options. You will search for potential biomarker genes and explore targeted treatment options that might help to stop breast cancer. You will also learn how to become a transcriptomics specialist using just publicly available tools and free software with the help of some online trainings. Get on board!   

CHI5 (ENG)

Good Bye Flat Biology and Welcome Human 3D cell-based Models

Hina Usman | The University of Chicago

Janette Guadalupe Moreno González | Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas

3D is a step forward! Do you know that differences between biology of 2D and 3D cell cultures could lead to different, sometimes opposite conclusions in research? 3D models better represent how cells behave in vivo. In this club we will learn to image, generate, count and select the miniaturized 3D cultures. 3D models allow us to recreate human organs and diseases in one dish and promise many applications: regenerative & precision medicine, drug discovery, cancer research, and gene expression.  3D cell culture is booming globally now. Join this club to eyewitness the beautiful 3D cell models that you have never seen before!  Furthermore, in this club, you will also learn why and how genetic diversity is involved in the development of diseases (such as Alzheimer disease). You will work with the genetic material (DNA) to know the lineage, and you can link it to various genetic diseases. Are you ready to learn this exciting biology?   

ENS1 (ESP)

Technology for sensory expansion: build your own superpower

Liliana Magdalena Vargas Arreguín | CICESE

Hannah Takasuka | Universidad de California, San Francisco

Imagine you could have a superpower like seeing the invisible, listening as a bat or detect smells like dogs do. Electronic devices can help us to do it. As examples, smoke detectors activate an alarm if a dangerous threshold is reached; and pulse oximeters measure signals to estimate blood oxygen levels and heart rate, etc. In the first days of this club, you will learn the basics of how to develop Arduino’s hardware and software components to make a smoke detector and reaction time videogame. With this knowledge, you will come up with the design for your own sensor device, build it, and pitch it to scientists! Are you ready to build your own superpower? 

*This club has been designed by Frank Wilczek, Nobel Prize of Physics (2004), in collaboration with ASU grad students, Harvard University, MIT Media Lab, and University of Illinois.

ENS2 (ENG)

From Benchtop to Business: La ciencia detrás de Innovar

Brendan Deveney | Dyson

Christian André Iñiguez Figueroa | CETYS Universidad

Calling all inventors, innovators, and future scientific founders! In this Club we will explore the art of scientific technology creation by taking apart several inventions, figuring out how they work, discussing their relevant physical principles, and designing our own inventions to address pressing global challenges! We will spend time in the lab reverse engineering technologies like electric motors, heat pipes, circuit components, and batteries to introduce fundamental concepts in electromagnetism, thermodynamics, solid state physics and electrochemistry. We will learn about patents: What they are, how to read them, and how we can use them; and write provisional patent applications for our own inventions. We will be joined in our Club by several panelists, including academic researchers, founders of scientific companies, staff scientists, and venture capitalists, who will speak to us about their careers and about technology innovation. At the end of our Club, we will showcase our inventions in a technology-focused pitch competition and, with luck, be joined by a virtual special guest, inventor James Dyson. 

ENS3 (ESP)

Sensores bioinspirados: Comunicando los sentidos con nuestro entorno

Kendra Ramírez Acosta | CNyN-UNAM

Fidel Ruiz | UNAM-CICESE

Have you ever wondered how our gadgets capture information from our surroundings and respond to it? When you snap a picture with your phone or when the fridge in your kitchen is always cool, are just a few examples of how sensors are essential to make them work. Beyond technological applications, we can also devise sensors to monitor our bodies. In this club, we will learn about how biosensors help improve our quality of life by helping us keep track of our health. We’ll become engineers to build our own glucometer and biochemists to measure our glucose levels while comparing our device to a commercial one. Join our club and expand your knowledge on sensory capabilities!

ENS4 (ESP)

¡Aguas con el Océano!: Explorando los efectos del cambio climático

Norma Lidia Méndez | Universidad Autónoma de Baja California

José Augusto Valencia Gasti | CICESE

Global climate change is altering our oceans. Have you ever heard it? Would you like to understand these changes with experiments and explore their alterations in our ecosystems with satellite images? The ocean absorbs heat and carbon dioxide and regulates our climate. Since the Industrial Revolution, the burning of fossil fuels and changing land use are increasing global warming and altering many properties of the oceans. Understanding of these changes is fundamental for taking action that will lead future generations to maintain ecosystem services from the ocean. Join us in this mission!   

GDL1 (ESP)

Adventures in AI: Exploring uses for machine learning in everyday life and self-driving laboratories

Brenden Pelkie | University of Washington

Joaquín Navarro Perales | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Are you interested in coding? Do you like ChatGPT?  Is artificial intelligence all just hype, or is it actually useful for something in the real world? In this club, we will explore the foundations of AI and how it can be used to solve real problems. You will learn the basics of machine learning theory and how to code using the Python programming language. You will see how practical AI can make your life easier using the model ChatGPT as an assistant in your activities. Finally, you will learn how machine learning is revolutionizing the search for new chemicals and materials, and put your new skills to the test by programming a robot to teach itself chemistry. 

GDL2 (ESP)

Desenredando las neuronas de la Inteligencia Artificial

José María Valencia Velasco | Centro de Enseñanza Técnica Industrial

Rolando Bautista | Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México

¿Te has preguntado cómo funciona la inteligencia artificial que utilizamos en nuestro día a día? ¿Sabías que su funcionamiento está basado en modelos computacionales inspirados en el cerebro? ¡Estos modelos se llaman “redes neuronales” y en este club aprenderás como se construyen! Además, explorarás las últimas tendencias tecnológicas en inteligencia artificial, aprenderás a utilizar herramientas y algoritmos de procesamiento de lenguaje natural, construirás y entrenarás tu propia red neuronal. ¡No te pierdas la oportunidad de sumergirte en el mundo de la inteligencia artificial y formar parte de la próxima generación de expertos en esta emocionante tecnología!      

GDL3 (ESP)

Technology for Sensory Expansion

Yanahi Posadas | CINVESTAV

Magda Carolina Sanchez Lopez |  CINVESTAV

Have you ever wondered how our eyes work? What is the color? What is beyond what our eyes can see? In this club, we will learn the chemistry behind our senses and introduce you to spectroscopy as an ally to understand what we cannot see. We will study the invaluable contributions of spectroscopy to medicine (X-rays, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence, etc.). We will measure the spectrum of color and know in 3D the proteins that allow us to see, hear and feel.  Join us! 

GDL4 (ESP)

La maravilla de las microalgas: biofábricas microscópicas

Luz Aurora Ramírez Ronzón | CIATEJ

Josmar Araud Vázquez Rodríguez | Universidad de Guadalajara

Did you know that microalgae and cyanobacteria are the largest transformers of carbon dioxide (CO2) to oxygen (O2) on the planet and produce a large amount of valuable pigments? In recent years, these photosynthetic and unicellular organisms have gained relevance due to their biotechnological potential in the environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and food sectors. In this club you will have a first approach to the wonderful world of microalgae and their versatility as biofactories. You will observe different species under the microscope and learn culture and long-term conservation technics. Additionally, you will have the chance to extract commercially valuable pigments, such as phycocyanin, and use a chromatography technique to separate them. Join us and discover all that microalgae have to offer!

GTO1 (ENG)

Nanoscience in Art: the Science behind Ancient Masterpieces

Nada Naser | University of Washington

Esmeralda Lizet Martínez Piñeiro | Universidad de Guanajuato

Have you ever wondered how ancient art and paintings survived thousands of years for us to enjoy today? The answer is nanoscience! Various nanoparticles have been used in stained-glass and decorations dating back to ancient Roman times, including purple gold in the Alhambra and Mayan blue. Join our club to explore nanoscience and its contribution to iconic artwork from around the world. You will learn how nanoparticles and colloidal emulsions are currently used to treat monuments and archaeological sites, enhancing and preserving them for years to come. By simply saving scraps from your kitchen like eggshells and shrimp shells, and using techniques you will learn, you can make a solution that restores and strengthens old stone monuments. Join our club now and discover the magic of nanoparticles!  

GTO2 (ENG)

AI-Powered Drug Discovery: Bringing Old Drugs Back to Life

Lucas Mateo Waldburger | University of California, Berkeley

Sandra Sánchez Barbosa | UASLP

Did you know that drugs can have more than one use? However, computers are here to revolutionize our lives, and one of the ways they can do that is to help us discover new uses for existing drugs. In this club, you will learn about the current strategies to find new uses for drugs already on the market, which are necessary because creating new drugs is complicated and expensive. You will learn where and how to search for new uses for medications in other diseases, test that they work in new contexts, and even design how to produce them differently! Are you ready to discover all this with us?

GTO3 (ENG)

Particle Fever: Discovering the Secrets of Particle Physics

Murali Saravanan | University of Washington

Elias Natanael Polanco Euán | Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM

Are you a science enthusiast looking to discover more about the incredible world of particle physics? Then this workshop is perfect for you! By using the power of Python, we’ll dive deep into the data collected by the CMS detector at CERN and uncover the mysteries of the universe. Imagine being able to manipulate and visualize scientific data using Python to study detector results and unlock information about the particles detected. But wait, there’s more. You’ll also get to learn about the Standard Model of particle physics and even work on a thrilling project to reproduce the analysis that discovered the Higgs boson. Join us for an unforgettable adventure and discover how Python and particle physics come together to help us discover the secrets of the universe.

GTO4 (ENG)

Drop it!: building at a micro scale with tiny droplets

Danaí Montalván Sorrosa | Instituto de Química UNAM

Alyssa Shapiro | UNAM 

The development of microfludic devices has permitted the miniaturization of an infinite array of experiments that normally require large amounts of space and materials. The term “Microfluidics” refers to technologies that manipulate fluids at a micro scale. For example, one application of said technologies is the preparation of microemulsions, or microscopic droplets with defined membrane-like borders that can allow or block the exchange of materials with the outside environment. These microdroplets can act as bioreactors. If we add cell culture media, we can use these microdroplets to grow living things, including bacteria, yeast, animal cells, and even microtumors. These droplets are easily monitored using microscopes, through which we can obtain results about the growth of these cells in a short time. Another application of microdroplets is that we can use them to grow artificial cells. By encapsulating basic biological components, it is possible to generate structures similar to real cells, capable of synthesizing biomolecules and communicating with their environment. In this club, we will explore the world of microemulsions, which can be made using microfluidic devices or simply by using a vortex. Students will learn the principles of encapsulation of different structures, and we will collect and encapsulate environmental samples. We will also learn the principal applications of these microemulsions, such as the development of biosensors and of microbioreactors for cell growth. We will observe the behavior of an encapsulated liquid crystal, including its response to light, using crossed polarizers. Finally, we will explore how can utilize paper to perform microfluidics at a low cost. We will move, mix, and manipulate fluids on paper without any electricity or complex technology.

PAZ1 (ESP)

Superbacteria or Mr. Micro-villain: a game between pathogen versus non-pathogen bacteria

Kyle Crocker | The University of Chicago

Isaac Younker | The University of Chicago

Lorena Rodriguez Orduña | Tecnológico de Monterrey

Microbial communities are ubiquitous in both plant and animal hosts, and their interactions with these hosts are necessary for both host health and microbial survival. So, what determines whether a microbial strain is beneficial or harmful? In this club, students will address this question both at the level of microbial physiology and ecological strategy. Using plant interactions with rhizosphere bacteria as a model system, students will learn how to isolate bacteria from soils, sequence and analyze their DNA, and characterize their metabolic capabilities. They will use this information to predict whether the bacteria will have a beneficial or harmful effect on a plant. Furthermore, students will learn about the ecological forces that drive bacteria into these groups and will be shown how these forces can be described by mathematical models.  Are you ready for this adventure? 

PAZ2 (ESP)

Pokémon BIOL! Los seres fantásticos de la vida real

Arminda Mejia | Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste

Uriel Rubio | Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste

¿Sabías que las características de los seres vivos son únicas y les permiten desarrollarse de la mejor manera dentro de su ecosistema? ¿Te imaginas todo lo que Darwin hubiera logrado si el desarrollo tecnológico fuera como lo que conocemos hoy? En este club podrás desarrollar tus habilidades de explorador “POKE BIOL” durante 3 días de trabajo de campo a distintos ecosistemas, además crear mapas digitales de distribución y hacer predicciones de cuáles serían los lugares en donde los distintos “pokebioles” (diversidad de seres vivos) puedan estar. Al ser integrante te conviertes en pionero de la comunidad POKE BIOL La Paz BCS. La oportunidad está en tus manos y el cielo no es el límite! ¿Estás listo? No lo pienses más regístrate y te esperamos.     

PAZ3 (ENG)

We are mutants!: understanding the variations of the genetic code

Xinyi Li | The University of Chicago

Brenda Anabel Lopez Ruiz | Instituto de Ecología

Did you know that some genetic variations in human genomes make them susceptible to developing complex diseases such as cancer or diabetes? And the same happens for other organisms in which some variations lead to differences in many traits that are part of the natural variation in the planet. In this club, you will learn how to discover these variations in the genome, how to associate them with a particular trait or disease, and how to experimentally validate these discoveries. We will provide a hands-on experience for you to analyze genetics data using bioinformatics tools to discover these mutations in humans and plants. In addition, we will perform DNA extraction, PCR, and DNA electrophoresis to characterize a mutant plant. We hope to see you in the club that we have prepared carefully for you! 

PAZ4 (ESP)

Bioplastix Innovators: Los materiales del futuro

Walter Alvarado | The University of Chicago

Alberto Ramírez Mata | Benémerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla

Join the Bioplastix Innovators Club and delve into the fascinating realm of renewable plastics to make a tangible impact on the environment! Our club is dedicated to uncovering the latest scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements in sustainable materials, with a primary focus on biopolymers, biodegradable plastics, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. By joining the Bioplastix Innovators Club, you’ll not only acquire new skills and knowledge, but also become a member of a community dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment. Get ready to unleash your inner eco-hero as we work together to create a more sustainable world!    

MID1 (ESP)

¡Hablando con la máquina!: ¿qué hay detrás de los algoritmos de lenguaje?

Carmen Amo Alonso | California Institute of Technology

Ahreel Noe Molina Chuc  | Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Have you ever wondered how algorithms generate text so convincingly? In this club, we will explore the capabilities and limitations of language generation algorithms, and learn how to analyze them using programming. We will discuss the different approaches used by language generation algorithms, as well as their current state and tasks they still cannot perform. Throughout the club, we will apply these ideas to implement language generation algorithms in search of interesting patterns. If you are still not convinced, let me tell you a little secret: everything above was written by one of these algorithms! Surprised? Join the club and discover how this is possible!   

Note: This Club will be taught in Spanish. However, the algorithms use English. For this reason it is recommended that students have a basic level of English.     

MID2 (ENG)

Protein Engineering: from fiction to your hands

Brianna Lax | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alex Isabel Sánchez | Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Proteins are complex biopolymers with many functions, from giving structure to our cells to protecting us against germs. The sequence for proteins is encoded in our DNA and cells contain special machinery to read the DNA and translate it into proteins. Just like Shuri recreates the DNA encoding proteins required to grow the heart seed in the new Black Panther movie, we will show you how to design, produce, and purify your very own fluorescent protein. ¡Join us!  

MID3 (ENG)

Detectives Médicos: Descubriendo enfermedades con ADN e Imágenes cerebrales

Debbie Burdinski | Harvard Medical School and MIT

Marisa Cruz | Instituto de Oftalmología Conde de Valenciana

Many of the diseases caused by changes in our DNA are not diagnosed or treated, and for others, such as psychiatric diseases, the diagnosis is complicated due to the diverse set of symptoms. Can you imagine being able to “read” DNA or use brain images to predict if a person is at risk of suffering any of these diseases? In this club, molecular biology and bioinformatics techniques will be carried out to decipher DNA sequences and identify causes of diseases. In addition, you will use artificial intelligence methods to analyze brain images of real psychiatric patients and help understand their disease. Come and join us in this biomedical challenge!         

MID4 (ESP)

Cazadores de moléculas: Descubriendo agentes antibacterianos en las plantas

Luis Miguel de Jesús Astacio | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) & University of Puerto Rico (UPR)

Juana Lisset Chan Naal | Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Calkiní en el Estado de Campeche.

Did you know that in 2050, antibiotic resistance is expected to account for 10 million yearly deaths? Bacteria adapt to pharmaceutical compounds, reducing their medicinal properties over time. Hence, it is important to find natural and sustainable sources of compounds with antibacterial properties. Together we will embark on this important task! In this Club we will discover the biotechnological utility of some regional plants by studying and analyzing their antibacterial properties. First, we will do field work to collect plants of interest with potential applications. Back in the laboratory we will use analytical techniques to isolate extracts from the foraged plants. Afterwards, we will perform bacterial growth tests using E.coli y Salmonella and the isolated extracts. Ultimately, we will be able to determine which plants offer better antibacterial properties, with potential medical applications. Let’s do science!           

MID5 (ESP)

Átomos pulverizados: el papel de los materiales en la energía solar

Reyes Alfonso Hernández Castillo | Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Itzel Trinidad Polanco Ortiz | Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Did you know that you can pulverize the atoms of a material to deposit them on a substrate in the form of a film? Did you know that by depositing and joining films of different materials on a substrate you get different optoelectronic properties than the materials by themselves? This club will focus hands-on on sputtering and spincoating deposition processes for materials science applied to solar cells and other scientific fields. Are you ready for this challenge?   

MTY1 (ENG)

Decoding the Human Brain: How our brain works

Kiarash Shamardani | Stanford University School of Medicine

Tita Lugui Pacheco Colin  | CINVESTAV-IPN

We each have approximately 100 billion brain cells, and their connections and how they relate to our behavior and health are still a mystery. Join us to learn about the building blocks of the nervous system and explore how they enable us to interact with our environment. Together we will learn about our nervous system’s anatomy, see our brain activity through EEG, learn about action potentials and how electrical pulses control every muscle in the body including the heart, understand the neuronal basis of how we know to interact with our environment through our senses and discover how doctors utilize their knowledge of these principals to treat patients. Are you excited to learn how our brain functions? 

MTY2 (ESP)

Las bacterias pintoras de Van Gogh: bioimprimiendo con color

Joshua Sampson | Stanford University

Luis Mauricio Salazar García | Tecnológico de Monterrey

Do you know the famous painting “The Starry Night” by Van Gogh? Would you like to create swirling pieces of art with glowing microorganisms? Imagine having a spectrum of brilliant colors of bacteria! In this club, we will use molecular biology to create microbial watercolors. You will transform bacteria to produce fluorescent proteins. You will make art with this bio-ink by hand and next by controlling a 3D bioprinter to precisely create the patterns you desire while you learn about one of the most recently used technologies for tissue engineering. Along the way you will acquire knowledge of microbiology, genetic engineering, 3D printing, simulating a bio-ink using bacteria creating your own fluorescent painting. Together, let’s paint this canvas with science!

MTY3 (ESP)

Bits y átomos: Computación cuántica y Machine Learning

Sergio Cantu | QuEra Computing Inc.

Javier Morlet | Tecnológico de Monterrey

The Promise of Quantum Computing: Is It Finally Here? Join our Club as we delve into the fascinating world of quantum computing! In this Club, we will explore the fundamentals of computing and take a deep dive into the cutting-edge technology of quantum computing. Throughout the week, we will explore the use of quantum simulators and delve into the world of neutral-atom arrays as a quantum computing platform and use a cloud-accessible quantum computer. In this Club, we will explore the potential of these NISQ machines and learn how to harness their power for Quantum Optimization and Quantum Machine Learning applications.

MTY4 (ESP)

Secretos ancestrales: revelando el poder nutricional de las semillas

Sara M Garza Aguilar | Tecnológico de Monterrey

Luis Martín Marín Obispo | Tecnológico de Monterrey

Seeds have been a source of life since ancient times. Did you know seeds provide essential nutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and vitamins to our diet? What is the function of these nutrients? Why are these crucial elements of living organisms? In this club, you will learn about incorporating healthy protein and lipid sources, such as seeds, into the diet. You will learn how to generate sprouts for dishes. We will discover how to extract and quantify proteins and lipids from the seeds and germ and know the amount of nutrients that these contribute to our diet. Listen to your curiosity and join our club! 

MTY5 (ESP)

Expansión sensorial: percibiendo a través de la tecnología

Rodolfo Ferro | Bisonic México

Sara Luisa Rodriguez de Luna | Tecnológico de Monterrey

Rolando Efraín Ramírez Garza | Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Did you know that there are materials with unique and exceptional optical and electronic properties that help us in the diagnosis and detection of diseases? These materials, when excited with ultraviolet or visible light, can emit radiation in the visible or infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which allows their application in the medical field as luminescent sensors or bioimaging devices. However, there are occasions where our senses are limited in perceiving the luminescent characteristics of these materials. In this club, designed with the help of Frank Wilczek, Nobel Prize in Physics 2004, we will learn how technology helps us to develop our senses to perceive and visualize the optical characteristics of some materials and take advantage of them to develop even more technology. Additionally, we will use programming to develop algorithms for identifying the luminescent characteristics of a material based on its color. Are you ready to expand your senses? 

OAX1 (ENG)

Technology for sensory expansion: a trip to other dimensions

Clark Alexander | Independiente

Pedro Mijangos  | Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Humans are the only species that has the ability to build tools which outperform us consistently.  Think about high definition and thermal cameras, microscopes, microphones which can pick up an incredible range of frequencies, etc. In this club we want to explore how we can use a small bit of technology to enhance our own senses (without becoming robocop).  We’ll make an in-depth exploration of our vision spectrum, colorblindness, and tetrachromacy.  We’ll even look at pictures with five color dimensions (the standard RGB plus Infrared and Ultraviolet) and explore how we can use a small piece of programming to see these images ourselves.  We’ll also explore how we can use hardware to help enhance colorblund persons to understand the variation in colors where they generally have trouble. We’ll use randomness and some clever dimension counting to enhance our sight and sound!

OAX2 (ESP)

Gravity: from Newton’s Apple to the frontier of Black Hole

Maxime Van de Moortel | Rutgers University

Haydee Pacheco | Rutgers University

Explore the mysteries of the universe with our exciting course on gravity and General Relativity! Delve into the fascinating world of astrophysics, and learn about the genesis of stars, galaxies, and black holes. 

From the basics of relativistic dynamics to the Einstein equations and the emergence of gravitational waves, our crash course will take you on a thrilling journey through space and time. With hands-on computer activities, you’ll even have the opportunity to write your own code to solve the differential equations of relativistic mechanics. We will conclude with a discussion of black holes and the groundbreaking work of Nobel Prize winner Roger Penrose on singularity theorems. 

This course is a must for anyone fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos.

OAX3 (ESP)

¡Hierba mala nunca muere!: medicina tradicional y tecnología

Itandehui Arriaga González | CIIDIR-IPN Oaxaca

Fabian Byléhn | The University of Chicago

“My stomach hurts, something has upset it!”, and immediately a familiar voice responds, “Have some chamomile tea to relieve that discomfort.” Well, traditional medicine draws upon the ancient wisdom of medicinal plants and their therapeutic benefit. But what compounds do they contain that are responsible for this effect, how are they extracted, and how can we verify if they really work against bacteria that cause infections?

In this club, you will learn to identify and extract some families of compounds in plants and evaluate their antibacterial effect using a mix of experimental techniques, such as an antibiogram, and computational tools, like Molecular Dynamics in Python. 

Come join our club to learn how that chamomile tea can help you feel better!

OAX4 (ESP)

Genética creativa: explorando el arte de la ingeniería genética

Isabel Alcazar | The University of Chicago

Edit Bernabe Perez | Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca

Genetic engineering is used by many scientists around the world. In this course we will cover the principles of molecular biology and genetic engineering and put them into practice by inserting the gene for “GFP”, a fluorescent protein, into an Escherichia coli bacterium. Once the protein is inside the DNA of the bacteria, it will fluoresce a bright green! In this experiment, we will also combine science with art, using the petri dish as canvases and bacteria as ink. We will have an exhibition of our creations, and we will address the issues of ethics in research and the implications that genetic engineering entails for future scientists. Are you ready to learn the techniques used in new scientific discoveries?  

OAX5 (ENG)

Artificial intelligence applied: data science for maternal health and cancer care

Julia Higgins | The University of Chicago

Dominique Cortés | UNAM

Jonatan Alejandro Mendoza Ortega | Instituto Nacional de Perinatología 

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have the power to alter the landscape of maternal health and oncological research; these tools are rapidly becoming indispensable in supporting the diagnosis, prediction, and prevention of disease.  In this course, students will learn data science fundamentals in R and ArcGIS, and apply their knowledge to fetal and oncological programming combining the principles of data science with evidence-based approaches for improving patient outcomes during pregnancy and cancer understanding. Additionally, geospatial analysis can help us understand patterns in our data and reveal important environmental determinants of health

XAL1 (ESP)

Ampere’s Amps: El poder de la electroquímica

Erick Espinosa Villatoro | Stanford University

Diana López López  | Universidad Tecnológica del Sureste de Veracruz

Are you a science and electricity fan? Do you want to make your own batteries and power gadgets? Do you want to have fun with electrochemistry and learn about energy? Then join Ampere’s Amps! Ampere’s Amps is a club for battery lovers who want to experiment with household materials, such as soda cans, lemons, coins, and more. You will make different batteries, measure their voltage, and current, and try to use them to light up LEDs, spin motors. You will also learn the history and science of electrochemistry, and how it connects to renewable energy and the environment. Ampere’s Amps is for who are curious and excited about science and electricity. No experience or knowledge needed, just bring your enthusiasm. 

XAL2 (ESP)

CiberManita: Replicando tus movimientos con IA

Diego Quevedo-Moreno | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Elsy Cruz | Centro de Investigación en Computación

Have you ever wondered how artificial intelligence works in robotics? If you are interested in learning about robotics, computer vision, signal processing, and machine learning, then this club is for you. We will explore the fascinating intersection of robotics and machine learning algorithms that bring artificial intelligence to life. We will learn the necessary programming language of Python and Arduino to develop a CiberManita: a robotic system that will be intelligent enough to identify the movements of your hand and replicate them. Join our club and delve into this amazing world of science behind technology!

XAL3 (ENG)

Polymers: The building blocks of the natural and synthetic world

Haley Beech | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Martha Isela Barragán Bonilla | Universidad Latinoamericana Mexico

Have you ever imagined how life is structured? In this club you will learn everything related to polymers found in nature and how scientists have taken advantage of their properties to create synthetic polymers that we use every day. Polymers are defined as structures that are produced by the union of hundreds of thousands of small molecules called monomers that form huge chains of different shapes. Knowing the different types of polymers, their structure, their organization and their nature, allows scientists to study diseases, create medicines and plastic products, and invent new materials! It is also important to evaluate the impact that polymer production has on the environment in which we live, as well as to propose sustainable alternatives.

Through a series of games and experiments, you will learn to identify some biopolymers and synthesize polymers of your own!. Each day’s topic will incorporate societal impacts and challenges, emphasizing how polymers play an important role in everyday life.

XAL4 (ESP)

Jugando con fractales: Analizando imágenes, música y datos

Jorge Arturo Romero Bustamante | UAM Azcapotzalco

Jazael Guadalupe Moguel Castañeda | Universidad Veracruzana

Have you ever asked what’s behind the songs you listen to, the images you find on the internet or the temperature changes in a day or even in a year? In this club, you will learn the importance of acquiring and analyzing images and time series through the concept of fractals. We will start capturing and analyzing data that you may find interesting, such as photos or songs. Later, it will be shown how this can be extended to the analysis of natural phenomena such as climate, the surface of some foods or temperature variations in industrial processes for the benefit of science. To do this, we will make use of technological tools like smartphones, computers or specific measuring devices. The secret to success is the ability to obtain and use information. Join us and you will discover it!           

XAL5 (ESP)

Biología sin escalas: Modelando los fenómenos de la vida

Manuel Razo-Mejia | Stanford University

Carlos Roberto Cruz Maldonado | Centro de Ciencias Genómicas

Have you ever wondered how a cell works? How can a few genes give rise to complex biological functions? This club aims to teach you how to think about biological problems from a quantitative and network point of view. Through simple mathematics, network theory, and basic programming, we will look at the biggest scientific challenge of the 21st century: understanding “what is life?” All you need is a passion for learning and some skills you will acquire here! You will learn how to mathematically model biological systems –from a small genetic circuit to a large genetic network– and how these abstractions have become indispensable tools for analyzing complex systems. We will explore how a cell processes information to respond and adapt to its environment and how the techniques for understanding and studying this phenomenon change with respect to the scale at which it is observed.