Powstik Varsity

Run experiments and show the data.

Natural Sciences. Free science courses. Run an experiment at every step.

What you'll prove

Varsity

Business & Management Computer Science & Data Health & Medicine Social Sciences, Law & Humanities Natural Sciences Engineering Education & Social Work Creative & Design Sport & Performance Mind & Wellbeing Powstik Incubator Powstik Research

What is the Natural Sciences Department?

It groups free courses on this subject, in order, as Powstik paths. You build something at each step and show it.

Who is it for?

It is for anyone who wants to learn a subject by doing it. You can start at any level.

What costs money?

Nothing. Learning on Varsity is free: courses, books and self-checks.

How does verification work?

A real person who knows your work signs in and checks each proof. You can never check your own proof. Your standing grows as more people check your work.

Varsity curricula

Finish every path in a Program. Then pass a blind review of your final project to earn Honors.

Mathematics

The full OSSU maths map, free. People check every proof you write.

29 milestones in the core, plus electives · About 2 years at 18–22 hours a week: 1455 hours of core course time, plus electives and your capstone paper.

Advanced electives

Finish one outcome in each of the 6 areas, then 3 more in one area you choose to go deep in.

How this works

Take each free course and write your solutions up in LaTeX.
Pass its free self-check.
Show your work as a proof. People who saw the work check every argument.
Courses you finished in the Computer Science or Data Science curriculum count here too.
Finish the core and the electives, then pass a blind review of your capstone paper to earn Honors.

Related paths

Optional practice. Not needed for Honors.

Modelled on a typical 4-year undergraduate program. Course map adapted from OSSU Math (MIT License)

Start Mathematics

Physics

The core of a physics program, free, from mechanics to quantum and statistical physics.

40 milestones in the core, plus electives · About 150 weeks of core courses (1738 hours), plus 336 hours of electives and your capstone paper.

Before you start

Math prerequisites: reused from the Mathematics curriculum (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra) and Data Science (probability).

Mathematics

Advanced electives

Finish both electives: Astrophysics and Particle and Nuclear Physics.

How this works

Use the free MIT courses and OpenStax textbooks linked in every unit.
Solve each unit's problems, check them against the free answer key or solutions, and post the write-up.
Each course ends with your own piece: a simulation, an open-data analysis or a safe home measurement.
Finish the core and both electives, then pass a blind review of your capstone paper to earn Honors.

Related paths

Optional practice. Not needed for Honors.

Physics & Applied Mathematics

Modelled on a typical 4-year undergraduate program. Course map adapted from MIT OCW (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Start Physics

How standing works

Permanent and earned only from verified work. Never bought, applied for or handed out. Separate from the weekly team league.

Member
Joined any path in this Department.
Varsity Letter
5 verified outcomes here, each checked by 3 different people.
Honors
Finish a Program. Then Faculty you didn't pick review your final project blind.
Opens as Faculty join

Faculty

People who check others' work in this Department.

No Faculty in this Department yet. Seats fill as people verify work here.

Powstik paths in Natural Sciences

AdvancedUndergraduate

Biology & Life Sciences Research

Real biology produces real data. Design the experiment first — then collect, analyse, and report.

Skills

2 required + 4 opt52w

AdvancedUndergraduate

Chemistry & Materials Science

Chemistry produces data you can verify. Whether in a lab or from an authenticated database, every proof here is a real artifact with documented methodology.

Skills

1 required + 4 opt44w

ExpertUndergraduate

Physics & Applied Mathematics

Physics is mathematics applied to reality. Build the mathematical foundation first — then apply that rigour to real data from CERN, LIGO, and NASA.

Skills

1 required + 4 opt52w

AdvancedUndergraduate

Environmental Science & Ecology

Environmental data surrounds you. Government networks, citizen science platforms, and satellite feeds mean the data exists. Your job is to collect it rigorously and turn conclusions into action.

Skills

1 required + 5 opt52w

ExpertPostgraduate