Title: NANO-ENGINEERING SEMINAR + PROJECT 3
Teacher(s): Prof. Maria Luisa Di Vona
Credits: 2
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course “Nano-engineering Seminar + Project” is conceived as a forum of exchange for new ideas emerging from the literature and lectures.
The goal is to teach students to work on project, to present its outcome correctly and to be able to defend it. In addition a revision session, where students can express their potential problems and discuss them with other students, under the professor/tutor guidance is planned.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
To integrate knowledge and handle complexity, and formulate judgments in situations characterized by incomplete or limited information,
To reflect on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments;
To acquire the learning skills which allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
To apply their knowledge and understanding, in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study;
To communicate their conclusions, the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
The ability to obtain and describe results from literature data, in order to arrive at the formulation of an interpretative judgment on the results acquired;
The ability to collect and process technical and safety information, taking into account the properties of the subject including any specific risk.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Direct interaction between researchers and students coming from different countries, with different cultural background will improve the communication skills and increase tolerance.
Their understanding of the foreign cultures and history will allow them for easier contact with people having different cultural background.
The necessity to cooperate with students and professors from different countries and cultures will increase their tolerance and politeness towards strangers.
LEARNING SKILLS
Assure an interdisciplinary training in the field of nano-engineering, which includes a profound understanding of the chemistry and the methods of synthesis and characterization of nano-materials and nano-systems.
Capacity to promote and to develop scientific and technological innovation.
Possibility of making a critical analysis of scientific information.
Capacity of technical and economic evaluation of a project of innovation and research.
Capacity to work effectively in a team project.
PREREQUISITES
There are no mandatory prerequisites for this course.
TOPICS
Introduction to nanoengineering; nanoscale fabrication.
Synthesis techniques, processes, microstructural control, and unique physical properties of materials in nanodimensions.
Nanowires, quantum dots, thin films, electrical transport, mechanical behavior, and technical applications of nanomaterials
Chemical interactions, classical and statistical thermodynamics of small systems.
Carbon-based nanomaterials, supramolecular chemistry, liquid crystals, colloid and polymer chemistry, surface functionalization, catalysis.
Nanoscale detection methods.
Understanding nanotechnology, broad implications, miniaturization.
EVALUATION
- Type: written examination; project evaluation.
- Description: Training will be completed by projects and specific seminars. The assessment will take place through oral tests and project reports.
For the oral test the competent use of a scientific language, the ability to synthesize, the clarity of exposition.
The oral exam consists in three theoretical questions (each contributes with 10/30 to the final vote). The exam evaluates the overall preparation of the student, the ability to integrate the knowledge of the different parts of the program, the consequentiality of the reasoning, the analytical ability and the autonomy of judgment. Furthermore, language properties and clarity of presentation are assessed, in compliance with the Dublin descriptors (1. Knowledge and understanding; 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding; 3 . Making judgments; 4. Learning skills; 5: Communication skills).
The final vote of the exam is expressed out of thirty and will be obtained through the following graduation system:
Not pass: important deficiencies and / or inaccuracies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited capacity for analysis and synthesis, frequent generalizations and limited critical and judgment skills, the arguments are presented in an inconsistent way and with inappropriate language,
18-20: just sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible generalizations and imperfections; sufficient capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment, the topics are frequently exposed in an inconsistent way and with inappropriate / technical language,
21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; ability to analyze and synthesize with sufficiently coherent logical argument and appropriate / technical language
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; good analysis and synthesis skills with rigorously expressed arguments but with a language that is not always appropriate / technical.
27-29: Complete knowledge and understanding of the topics; remarkable abilities of analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics exposed rigorously and with appropriate / technical language
30-30L: Excellent level of knowledge and in-depth understanding of the topics. Excellent skills of analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment. Arguments expressed in an original way and with appropriate technical language.
ADOPTED TEXTS
Literature articles delivered in class.
DELIVERY MODE (Presence/e-learning)
Precence.
TEACHING METHODS
Different teaching approaches will be used during the course. Teacher-centered approach will be applied in teaching fundamental skills across the chemical areas. Student learning will be measured through written tests.
The student-centered approach will be applied during the classroom exercises. Here students will play an active and participatory role in their learning process. Student learning will be measured through both formal (final exam) and informal (class discussions) assessment forms.