Free Online Classes and OCW - Open Courseware

Quantum Mechanics I

Lecture 1 of Leonard Susskind’s Modern Physics course concentrating on Quantum Mechanics. Recorded January 14, 2008 at Stanford University.

Lecture 19 - Introduction to Chemical Engineering XIX, Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Professor Channing Robertson of the Stanford University Chemical Engineering Department discusses the functioning of a kidney dialysis machine and clinic.

Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity V

Lecture 5 of Leonard Susskind’s Modern Physics concentrating on General Relativity. Recorded October 20, 2008 at Stanford University.

Lecture 1 - Recent Advances in Heart Surgery, Summer Science Seminar

June 12, 2007 presentation by Robert Robbins for the Stanford University Office of Science Outreach’s Summer Science Lecture Series. Dr. Robbins, Professor & Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of Stanford's Cardiovascular Institute, delivers information on the state of research, the newest studies, and the latest treatments for cardiovascular disease.

Lecture 1 - Building a Circuit-Diagram for the Brain (Jennifer Raymond), The Future of Human Health

Jennifer Raymond (Stanford University) is building a "wiring diagram" for the brain. By bridging the gap between individual synapses and whole-brain learning & memory, Raymond’s research offers new insights and strategies for medical rehabilitation and K-12 education.

Lecture 11 - Powering the Future with Sustainable Energy, Summer Science Seminar

August 21, 2008 presentation by Stacey Bent for the Stanford University Office of Science Outreach’s Summer Science Lecture Series. Meeting the world's growing energy needs in a sustainable fashion is one of the most pressing problems of our time. Professor Bent introduces the scope of the energy problem and some of the options for sustainable energy, then will focus on two main devices: solar cells and fuel cells. Solar cells convert the energy of the sun directly into electricity, while fuel cells convert chemical energy directly into electricity. Current research at Stanford is studying the use of new materials to develop the next generation of solar cells and fuel cells.

Lecture 8 - Archimedes: Ancient Text Revealed with X-Ray Vision, Summer Science Seminar

August 3, 2006 presentation by Uwe Bergmann for the Stanford University Office of Science Outreach’s Summer Science Lecture Series. Uwe Bergman, Physicist at the Stanford Linear Accelerator takes the viewer on a journey of a 1,000 year old parchment from its origin in the Mediterranean city of Constantinople to a particle accelerator in Menlo Park.

Lecture 7 - Deafness: Emerging Strategies for a Cure (Stefan Heller), The Future of Human Health

Stefan Heller is trying to create inexpensive ear drops that can cure deafness. In this short talk, Heller describes how his team of researchers at Stanford University is transplanting stem cells into the ear to "regenerate" damaged hearing cells.

Difference Between an Idea and an Opportunity

Tom Byers, professor at Stanford University and founder and a faculty director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP), stresses that "Entrepreneurs are not born, they are made". He discusses a framework that elaborates the difference between an idea and an opportunity.

Career: Learning from Failure Early On

Khosla talks about his early career development. He first tried to do a company in India based on milk from soybeans. He travelled to Carnegie Mellon, and then to Stanford University. He describes why persistence and evangelism are important. Although he was not admitted to Stanford at first, saught more real-world experience, and was not admitted again, through persuasion and persistence, he was finally accepted.

Introduction to Ancient Greek History

Financial Markets

Financial institutions are a pillar of civilized society, supporting people in their productive ventures and managing the economic risks they take on. The workings of these institutions are important to comprehend if we are to predict their actions today and their evolution in the coming information age. The course strives to offer understanding of the theory of finance and its relation to the history, strengths and imperfections of such institutions as banking, insurance, securities, futures, and other derivatives markets, and the future of these institutions over the next century.

Roman Architecture

This course is an introduction to the great buildings and engineering marvels of Rome and its empire, with an emphasis on urban planning and individual monuments and their decoration, including mural painting. While architectural developments in Rome, Pompeii, and Central Italy are highlighted, the course also provides a survey of sites and structures in what are now North Italy, Sicily, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, and North Africa. The lectures are illustrated with over 1,000 images, the majority from Professor Kleiner's personal collection.

Fundamentals of Physics

This course provides a thorough introduction to the principles and methods of physics for students who have good preparation in physics and mathematics. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and quantitative reasoning. This course covers Newtonian mechanics, special relativity, gravitation, thermodynamics, and waves.

Freshman Organic Chemistry

This is the first semester in a two-semester introductory course focused on current theories of structure and mechanism in organic chemistry, their historical development, and their basis in experimental observation. The course is open to freshmen with excellent preparation in chemistry and physics, and it aims to develop both taste for original science and intellectual skills necessary for creative research.