TEACHING

Course Overview:

The science and technology at nanometer dimension has the ability to fundamentally change the way almost everything is produced in our society, ranging from human medicine to rocket science, computer technology, and environmental monitoring and regulation. Imagine the possibilities: supercomputers with 1000 times more computing power than those currently available and only a small fraction of the weight; detecting cancerous tumors when they are only a few cells in size; shrinking all the information housed at the Library of Congress into a device the size of a sugar cube; cleansing badly contaminated water and air almost effortlessly. Fundamental advances in these fields demand an understanding at the nanoscale level as well as, in many cases, self-assembly processes that generate novel structures and morphologies, and as a result, functionalities. Academic, government, and industrial laboratories are in great need of scientists and engineers trained in nanoscience and engineering who have fundamental and interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding. In addition, future entrepreneurs will benefit from a molecule to device perspective.
This integrated understanding only is achieved with an interdisciplinary presentation of concepts where chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, environmental science, medicine, engineering and mathematics uniquely come together to explain phenomena at the nanoscale. Nanoscale technologies will also require a critical assessment of societal and environmental implications, and correlation of public perception with science is paramount to ensure success. This course is the introduction for a new undergraduate degree program in nanoscience; however, this course is also open to all students pursuing science and integrated science degrees.

Class Learning Outcomes:

1. To understand and present unique phenomena of matter at the nanoscale.
2. To understand and present the chemical transformations and chemical processes that are involved in nanoscience especially related to community concerns regarding the impact of nanoscience on our lives.
3. To formulate fact-based positions on societal issues of nanoscience and provide interdisciplinary understanding to support ones position.
4. To increase ones awareness of the scientific literature dealing with nanoscience and to be able to apply structure-property relationships to continually learn about the emerging field of nanoscience.
5. To present in both written and oral forms a factual based opinion regarding the relative merits of the nanoscience literature.

Course Overview: