Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2501922 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | OT | 4 | 0 |
2504235 Science, Technology and Humanities | OT | 4 | 0 |
Not required.
This subject provides students with a general overview of nanotechnology, beyond the scientific content developed during the degree. The main goal is to offer a cross-training which will allow students to identify what are the fields of application of nanotechnology, its impact on society, and what will our society look like in the near future. This will enable students to uncover areas in which a nanotechnologist can have a place but have so far been unknown. The subject is organized into five units: 1) Nanotechnology in perspective. 2) Scientific development of nanotechnology. Large areas: future challenges. 3) Technological development of nanotechnology. Patents 4) Economic development of nanotechnology. Analysis of indicators. 5) Nanotechnology and society. The idea is to explore beyond the science itself so that, after the multiple possibilities nanotechnology fits into society and labour market are disclosed, students become aware that greatest potential for labour market integration happens when the scientific training acquired during the degree couples to transferable skills.
1. Nanotechnology in perspective
Why nanotechnology has grown so rapidly?
Role of policymakers. Promoting technology transfer from universities and research institutes to private sector.
The NNI in USA and the Communications of the Commission of the European Communities. National initiatives. Nanotechnology in Spain and Catalonia.
2030 Challenge: Knowledge-based economy.
Nanotechnology: One of the 5 key enabling technologies for society and economy.
2. Scientific development of nanotechnology. Large areas: future challenges
Scientific basis of nanotechnology: scientific publications and citations.
Manufacturing, characterization and tools; Importance of instrumentation.
Advanced materials: next-generation materials and devices.
Medicine and biotechnology: nanotechnology to revolutionize medicine.
Electronics and microsystems.
Energy and environment: nanotechnology to overcome the energy problem, produce clean water, etc.
3. Technological development of nanotechnology. Patents
Industrial innovation, from knowledge to technology.
Gartner's Magic Quadrant and hype cycle.
Problems in industrial scale-up. Instrumentation and quality control.
Scientific production and intellectual protection in nanotechnology.
Patents. Conditions of patentability.
Creation of EBTs.
4. Economic growth of nanotechnology. Analysis of indicators
Commercialization of nanotechnology; market share.
The global nanotech race: public investment and private investment.
Venture capital investment in high-tech research.
Economic impact assessment.
5. Nanotechnology and society
Public health, safety and environmental protection and consumers.
Regulations: Nanomaterials and REACH regulation in nanotechnology. EU legislation.
Potentials risks of nanotechnology. FDA and EMEA.
Risk management in nanotechnology. Securing nanoproducts.
Investment in human resources: education, training and employment opportunities.
Integration of the social dimension: public concern and science communication. Observatory on nanotechnologies. Ethics and nanotechnology.
The persuasive “nano” prefix.
Perspective and gender dimension in science, and nanoscience in particular.
Onsite teaching will be delivered, unless health authorities impose virtual teaching. In this case, the TEAMS tool will be used.
Lectures
The teacher will introduce and develop the theoretical contents of the subject using ppt. Supporting material will be delivered to students.
Classroom debates (forums) and exercises
Debates and exercises (in the broadest sense of the word) will serve to consolidate and see how the knowledge acquired during theory classes is put into practice. They will be intercalated with the theory classes to reinforce specific aspects or at the end the thematic units. The debates will be carried out under the guidance of the teacher and with the proactive participation of the students.
Seminars
Seminars will be given by renowned experts in specific areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology to tackle social aspects of nanotechnology. Students are encouraged to actively participate in these sessions, so that they can address the speaker any question they consider appropriate and relevant, in order to trigger a forum around the nano world, ranging from its applications to social and ethical implications.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Bibliographic search | 10 | 0.4 | 16, 24, 17, 14, 3, 18, 20, 22 |
In-class exercises and case studies | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 16, 5, 6, 9, 13, 18, 20, 23, 26 |
Lectures | 30 | 1.2 | 6, 9, 8, 13 |
Seminars | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 2, 16, 4, 24, 19, 17, 14, 15, 3, 18, 20, 22, 11, 26 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Mentoring | 18 | 0.72 | 2, 24, 6, 9, 17, 12, 13, 3, 25, 20, 21, 22 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Problem solving | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 16, 4, 24, 15, 3, 25, 18, 20, 23, 26 |
Reading articles | 5 | 0.2 | 1, 16, 14, 3, 18, 20 |
Self-study | 25 | 1 | 1, 16, 4, 24, 14, 15, 3, 18, 20, 22, 11, 26 |
Essay: the student will have to demonstrate critical thinking regarding the contents of the reading material (10% of the mark).
Oral presentations: they represent 65% of the final mark. Two oral presentations are planned: an individual and a group (2-3 students) presentations. For each, the oral presentation will be followed by a discussion with the classmates. Oral presentations are compulsory, as well as attendance at the presentations delivered by the other students. The technical and formal quality of the presentation as well as the answers given during the discussion phase will be considered. There will be two qualifications, one corresponding to the individual presentation (35%) and another to the joint presentation (30%).
Exam covering the theory content of the subject and the aspects addressed during the practical sessions and seminars. It represents 25% of the final mark and it is mandatory, otherwise the subject will be considered non-assessable.
Attendance at seminars delivered by experts in the field is also mandatory.
The proactive attitude in the classroom will be taken into account for the final grade of the subject.
Re-assessment for this subject requires the student must previously have done a minimum of two-thirds of the course-assessment items.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Essay on manuscript / newspaper article | 10% | 2 | 0.08 | 4, 13, 14, 20, 11 |
Exam | 25% | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 6, 7, 9, 8, 10, 12, 13, 21, 22 |
Individual oral presentation | 30% | 8 | 0.32 | 1, 2, 16, 4, 5, 24, 6, 7, 9, 8, 10, 19, 17, 12, 13, 14, 15, 3, 25, 18, 20, 21, 22, 11, 23, 26 |
Joint oral presentation | 35% | 9 | 0.36 | 1, 2, 16, 4, 24, 6, 9, 10, 19, 17, 13, 14, 15, 25, 18, 20, 22, 11, 26 |
There is not a dedicated textbook. Relevant works in the field will be indicated in the ppt slides and lecture notes given by the teacher.
Not applicable.