ESP Biography



KEN SOONG, does physics and other stuffs




Major: Applied Physics

College/Employer: Stanford

Year of Graduation: G

Picture of Ken Soong

Brief Biographical Sketch:

As a kid, I was always interested in taking things apart. By taking things apart, I felt like I was slowly unraveling a complex puzzle, and by the time the 'thing' was fully dissembled, I usually understood enough to put it back together. I didn't realize it at the time, but this was essentially physics - the compulsive need to understand how and why things happen.

But I would likely go insane if I just sat around pondering the nature of the universe all day, so I do stuff, lots of stuff. I work on a very complex experiment using lasers, particle accelerators, and nanofabricated structures. I also play tennis and volleyball, climb rocks, cook, bake, run, and bike.



Past Classes

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

W3285: Origami & Cookie Hour in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
Drop in and learn origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. We'll have plenty of origami paper and instructions for all. + cookies to keep your paper folding energy up


W3344: Fly like a Paper Plane! in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
Learn about paper airplanes! Or if you’re already an expert, come for a paper airplane battle royal! We’ll talk briefly about the forces at work when a paper airplane is in flight, and then apply this knowledge to your own paper airplane. Come in ready to engineer! There will be an ongoing competition to see who can make the paper airplane that: 1) Flies the furthest or 2) Stays in the air the longest No prior experience needed!


W2659: Planet Earth! in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
In this class you will sit back and enjoy watching the marvels of Earth through the award winning BBC series Planet Earth. Drop by at any time to learn about nature and wildlife!


L2704: Gourmet Microwave: Never Starve Again! in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
Come learn how to make delicious food using only your microwave. Together we'll make: potato chips, cake, baked potato, eggs, and ramen.


W2784: Why wait? Meditate! in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
Come join us as we practice the art of relaxation! We'll do three sets of short relaxation exercises (10 minutes) followed by short breaks (5 minutes). Feel free to drop in! (It's also okay to come in and just nap.)


E2357: Fly like a Paper Plane in Splash! Fall 2012 (Nov. 03 - 04, 2012)
Learn about paper airplanes! Or if you're already an expert, come for a paper airplane battle royal! We'll talk briefly about the forces at work when a paper airplane is in flight, and then apply this knowledge to your own paper airplane. Come in ready to engineer! There will be an ongoing competition to see who can make the paper airplane that: 1) Flies the furthest or 2) Stays in the air the longest No prior experience needed!


P2625: Planet Earth! in Splash! Fall 2012 (Nov. 03 - 04, 2012)
In this class you will sit back and enjoy watching the marvels of Earth through the award winning BBC series Planet Earth. Drop by at any time to learn about nature and wildlife!


P2067: Magic! meets Physics! in Splash! Spring 2012 (Apr. 21 - 22, 2012)
In this class I’ll demonstrate some awesome fool-proof magic tricks. No illusions or slight-of-hand here; these magic tricks are all backed by physics! After each trick, I’ll unravel the secrets (physics) and show you how you can perform these tricks yourself. There will also be a hands-on aspect of this course, where you will learn 3 magic tricks that you can use to impress your family and friends the next time you’re at a restaurant. No prior knowledge required!


P2068: Magic! meets Physics! in Splash! Spring 2012 (Apr. 21 - 22, 2012)
In this class I’ll demonstrate some awesome fool-proof magic tricks. No illusions or slight-of-hand here; these magic tricks are all backed by physics! After each trick, I’ll unravel the secrets (physics) and show you how you can perform these tricks yourself. There will also be a hands-on aspect of this course, where you will learn 3 magic tricks that you can use to impress your family and friends the next time you’re at a restaurant. No prior knowledge required!


E1766: Build your own Mousetrap Car! in Splash! Fall 2011 (Oct. 29 - 30, 2011)
Come and learn physics and engineering with your hands as you compete against your fellow classmates to design and build the best mousetrap car! Each student will receive a basic kit to build their very own mousetrap car, which we will race at the end of the class. Ambitious students can also bring in their own components (wheels, axels, gears, etc.) to gain the extra edge.