How to Train Your Demogorgon: The (Pseudo) Science of Stranger Things

During this trying time, UC San Diego Extension remains committed to helping you achieve your goals. In an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have moved this summer’s Sally Ride Science Junior Academy workshops online. These online STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) workshops for students entering 4th-12th grade will be conducted through virtual class meetings using the Zoom conferencing system and the learning platform Canvas.
 

Explore the Pseudo Science Behind Stranger Things

Grab a box of Eggos and join us for a brief transdisciplinary tour of 1980s Hawkins, Indiana, as we delve into the (pseudo) science of the popular Netflix series Stranger Things. We will explore the biology and chemistry of the Upside Down and look at parallels in real-world science.

The course will survey the history and culture of late 20th century America, including advancements in
engineering, science and technology. We will look at how Stranger Things’ world parallels concepts in fields
such as ocean and space science, parapsychology and neurobiology, including extrasensory perception and
psychokinesis. Students will explore the idea of using STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and
math) as a foundation for imaginative problem solving and creative storytelling.
 

What You Will Learn

• Review the history of late 20 th century America and the era’s advancements in science and technology.
• Develop an understanding of how the show’s concepts relate to marine biology, chemistry, space science and other real-world scientific fields.
• Learn how Stranger Things draws on the fields of neurobiology and parapsychology.
• Gain an understanding of how STEAM concepts can be applied to creative problem solving and
  development of narratives.

Return to the Sally Ride Science Junior Academy website here.