Course Syllabus
Seminar Selection Information:
Students who are interested in applying for FYSEM 58C should read the additional information below. We welcome curious students from all backgrounds.
When you apply for the seminar, you will be asked to identify a Genuinely Hard Problem that speaks to your own personal curiosity and interests. You can either select one of the suggested Genuinely Hard Problems (GHPs) listed below, or propose one of your own. Choose a problem based on your future passion and interest, not your past background.
If you have questions about the seminar or the application process, please contact instructor Dr. Logan McCarty, mccarty@fas.harvard.edu.
Additional Syllabus Information:
Class Schedule and Location: Wednesdays 9:15–11:15am, Northwest Labs 243
Readings: We will build an essential skill throughout the seminar. Working with the latest tools of Generative AI, you will learn how to find relevant and trustworthy readings on a topic of interest, interact with that reading in a way that makes it accessible to you, and then assess your own understanding of the key conceptual points. You will learn to use AI tools in a way that ensures you are actually learning correct information, not hallucinations. At the start of the term we will help you find readings that speak to your level of interest and background knowledge, and ensure that your sources are reliable. By the middle of the term, you will be able to find these kinds of sources and vet them yourself. Before each class, you’ll submit an assignment that specifies what you read, how you assessed your understanding, and the results of that assessment (e.g. a chat transcript).
Student hosts: Each week, three students will serve as “hosts” for the faculty member(s) who will be presenting the topic of the week. The hosts will work as a team to prepare a list of questions that they would like their guest to address. These questions will be drafted collectively and should address issues of broad interest and importance. During the seminar, the hosts will take turns asking questions and lead discussion with the rest of the seminar.
Midterm paper: In Week 5, we will examine how physicist Erwin Schrödinger provided several key conceptual insights that ultimately led to the discovery of the structure of DNA and its role in heredity. In a paper of roughly 2500 words, you will reflect on this discovery, identify the aspects of heredity that made it a Genuinely Hard Problem, and examine how Schrödinger contributed to its solution. We expect you will use Generative AI to help brainstorm but you must add your own insights that go beyond AI.
Final presentation: By the end of the term, you will have chosen a faculty mentor and a GHP that you could use as the skeleton to construct your undergraduate curriculum. In a 10-minute presentation, you’ll share why this problem excites you, explain why it hasn’t been solved, and make a case for how the skills you propose to develop will help you work towards solving your GHP.
| Course component | Grading percentage |
|---|---|
| Attendance and active participation | 20% |
| Weekly reading self-assessments | 20% |
| Midterm paper (including reflection on AI use) | 20% |
| Participation as host (2 weeks) | 20% |
| Final presentation | 20% |
Academic Integrity and AI Policy: We will be explicit about how you may (and should!) use Generative AI in various parts of the course. You will only use the Harvard-provided AI tools that we recommend and support, and will provide complete chat transcripts as requested. The weekly reading self-assessments, midterm paper, and final presentation are meant to be solely your work, using AI tools as appropriate but not working with other students or using outside sources without proper attribution. The preparation of questions as student hosts will require group collaboration, and each group member will be asked to assess their own contribution to the group effort. Deviation from these policies will be considered misconduct and referred to the Honor Council.
Accessible Education: Harvard University values inclusive excellence and providing equal educational opportunities for all students. Our goal is to remove barriers for disabled students related to inaccessible elements of instruction or design in this course. If reasonable accommodations are necessary to provide access, please contact the Disability Access Office (DAO). Accommodations do not alter fundamental requirements of the course and are not retroactive. Students should request accommodations as early as possible, since they may take time to implement. Students should notify DAO at any time during the semester if adjustments to their communicated accommodation plan are needed.
Tentative Weekly Schedule (definitely subject to change!)
Week 1 (Sept 3): Introduction to Genuinely Hard Problems in Science
This week introduces the concept of "Genuinely Hard Problems" (GHPs) in science, exploring the difference between technical challenges and conceptual gaps. Case study: sequencing the human genome (technically challenging, difficult to execute, ended up leading to new technical methods) versus discovering the causes of prion diseases (couldn’t find infectious agent, needed truly new insight).
Broader discussion of the goals of the GHP program: we are hoping that students will decide to build their undergraduate education around a chosen GHP. Outline of the seminar for the rest of the term. Selection of student hosts for each week.
Week 2 (Sept 10): The Origin of Life
How did life emerge from non-living matter? We'll discuss key challenges in this problem, including the definition of "life," reconstructing early Earth conditions, and finding plausible chemical pathways to self-replicating systems. How can we take our understanding of life on Earth and use it to study the potential for life on other planets?
Week 3 (Sept 17): The Evolution of Multicellularity
For over a billion years, only single-celled organisms lived on Earth. How did single cells evolve into complex life forms? We'll explore the mechanisms behind cell cooperation, division of labor, and the emergence of "self" recognition. Understanding this transition could provide insights into complex biological systems and diseases like cancer.
Week 4 (Sept 24): The Biological Mechanisms of Aging
What drives the aging process? We'll delve into the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and time that lead to aging. Can we identify universal aging mechanisms or potential interventions to slow or reverse the process? The implications for human health and longevity are profound.
Week 5 (Oct 1): Solving a GHP: Schrödinger's "What is Life?" and the Mechanism of Heredity
This week examines a historical case study of how conceptual analysis led to a major scientific breakthrough. We'll explore how Schrödinger's insights about the physical basis of heredity influenced the discovery of DNA's structure, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary thinking in solving GHPs.
Week 6 (Oct 8): The Evolution of Human Cognition
What set human cognitive abilities apart? We'll examine the interplay of biological and cultural evolution that led to uniquely human traits. How did language, self-awareness, and abstract reasoning emerge? This exploration has implications for fields ranging from psychology to artificial intelligence.
Week 7 (Oct 15): The Biological and Physical Mechanisms of Mental Illness
What's happening in the brain during mental illness? We'll investigate the complex interplay of genetics, neurobiology, and environmental factors. Why has identifying specific neural circuits and molecular pathways for disorders like schizophrenia and depression been so challenging?
Week 8 (Oct 22): Causal Inference in Complex Systems
How do we determine causality in interconnected systems? We'll explore methods for inferring causal relationships from observational data. What are the challenges of dealing with confounding variables, feedback loops, and hidden influences in fields like medicine and economics? Even defining what we mean when we say “X causes Y” is not as simple as you might assume.
Week 9 (Oct 29): Clay Millennium Problems: The Navier-Stokes Equations and Turbulence
Mathematicians have proposed their own list of GHPs: the Clay Millennium Problems. One of these problems centers on the equations that describe fluid flow. Despite their apparent simplicity, mathematicians cannot prove that they have solutions that describe turbulence. Yet turbulence is ubiquitous in our world, with applications ranging from weather prediction to aerospace engineering.
Week 10 (Nov 5): Tipping Points in Earth's Climate and Ecosystems
How can we predict abrupt changes in complex systems? We'll explore methods to identify early warning signs of critical transitions in climate and ecosystems. What are the challenges of modeling nonlinear interactions and quantifying uncertainty in these high-stakes scenarios?
Week 11 (Nov 12): The Quantum Nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
How do we study components of the universe we can't directly observe? We'll examine the challenges of bridging quantum mechanics and cosmology to understand dark matter and dark energy. What approaches are scientists using to develop testable theories about these elusive substances? Perhaps this challenge is related to our still-unsolved attempt to reconcile quantum mechanics and gravity.
Week 12 (Nov 19): Quantum Foundations and the "Measurement Problem"
What happens when we “observe” quantum systems? Does the universe split into multiple realities as proposed by the “many worlds” interpretation of quantum mechanics? We'll tackle fundamental questions about the nature of reality and measurement in quantum mechanics. How do scientists approach the challenge of reconciling quantum theory with our classical understanding of the world?
Week 13 (Dec 3): Final Presentations
Students will present their selected GHPs, explaining their importance, current conceptual gaps, and potential approaches to making progress. They will discuss their initial conversations with potential mentors and outline an academic plan to develop the skills and knowledge needed to tackle their chosen GHP.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|