ESP Biography



JANINE BIRNBAUM, Stanford Junior studying geophysics and geology




Major: Geophysics

College/Employer: Stanford

Year of Graduation: 2018

Picture of Janine Birnbaum

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Janine Birnbaum is a junior majoring in geophysics with a minor in geology and an interest in scientific communication. She loves teaching and is passionate about mathematics, physics, chemistry and the earth sciences. She is also interested in music, dance, and loves to bake/cook.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

R5593: Understanding Plate Tectonics in Splash Spring 2017 (Apr. 22 - 23, 2017)
We will learn about the formation of the Earth and the processes that shape what we see at the surface. We will discuss the mechanics behind plate motion and why it makes the Earth so unique in the solar system. Additionally, we will cover the rock cycle and the composition of the Earth.


R5379: Understanding Plate Tectonics in Splash Fall 2016 (Dec. 03 - 04, 2016)
We will learn about the formation of the Earth and the processes that shape what we see at the surface. We will discuss the mechanics behind plate motion and why it makes the Earth so unique in the solar system. Additionally, we will cover the rock cycle and the composition of the Earth.


E4180: Sailboat Physics: Lecture and Workshop in Splash Spring 2015 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2015)
How do sailboats use geometry and physics to turn wind into usable energy? In the first part of this three hour class, students will be introduced to some of the basic physics of fluids and statics as they apply to sailing. We'll learn about buoyancy, Bernoulli's principle, center of mass, and moment of inertia. We'll also talk about the role of an engineer in balancing design constraints within a project. In the second part of the class, students will use what they've learned to build balsa-wood model sailboats and test them in a simulated wind environment. Students will work in teams to make engineering decisions in the process of designing, constructing, and testing their boats.