I am currently in the third year of my PhD studying geophysics at Stanford. My research involves using recordings of earthquakes from all over the world to make images of the structure of the earth. I am also interested in the geology of other planets in our solar system, and hope to one day record earthquakes on Mars. In my spare time I enjoy reading, writing, baking, and dancing. I taught myself to decorate cakes in high school with a simple cake decorating kit. Since then, I've made two wedding cakes and many cakes for birthdays and other events. I also coordinated an effort among the 2008 LPI interns to make the entire solar system out of cake, uniting my love of baking and of astronomy.
Take a walk around campus and learn about some of the many awesome trees that surround us! Stanford's campus is home to a diverse array of trees from the local area and around the world. We will learn about the history and properties of various trees and how to identify them so that you will know when you see them again. Which trees are poisonous, which trees are not really trees, and which trees will produce fruit that you can eat? Come to this class to find out (and maybe eat some fruit from the last category)!
Do you like to bake? Have you watched shows like Ace of Cakes and wanted to know how to make your own cake masterpieces? This class will teach basic techniques of cake decorating, including how to make and color icing, how to evenly cover a cake, and how to make designs like stars, ribbons, and flowers. All supplies will be provided, and each student will decorate a small cake to take home at the end of the class. No previous knowledge of baking or cake decorating is required.
Learn the fabulous and delicious art of cake decorating! With a few simple techniques, you can impress your friends and family with your edible creations. I will show you how to mix and color icing, tricks for covering your cake smoothly, and how to use various decorating tips to make stars, flowers, and other designs. After I discuss the basics, it's all hands on! Use what you learn to decorate your own personal cake to take home and share. I will provide cakes and decorating supplies.