Key facts

Overview

Nanotechnology is the identification, application and use of novel behaviour that occurs at the nano-scale to solve real-world problems. The discipline requires a breadth of understanding that is much wider than just the equations and scientific principles that underlie that behaviour. This introductory course gives an overview of the current state of the technology as well as introducing the implications of these new technologies for safety, regulation, innovation. The course will give an overview of the societal and environmental implications of nanotechnology.

The Wider Context of Nanotechnology online course can be taken alone, with or without credit, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology.

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Description

Nanotechnology has received much attention from scientists and journalists in the last few years raising hopes of revolutionary developments in a wide range of technologies on an increasingly small scale, dramatic improvements to standards of living, and solutions to a variety of environmental, medical and communications problems. These have gone hand in hand with fears that a new technology will disrupt the markets of existing business sectors and that machines are running out of control.

The result has been a high degree of confusion at all levels of society as to the ethics, safety and business implications of this emerging series of technologies. The course addresses these issues and others in emphasising the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology. This is important because students who specialise in nanotechnology must be trained to appreciate a range of issues beyond the confines of pure science. Nanotechnology has applications in a broad range of fields and sectors of society. A student trained in electrical engineering, for example, who goes on to specialise in nanotechnology, may undertake a research project developing nanosensors that will be implanted in human subjects. He or she will therefore need to develop new skills to appreciate the broader ethical, societal and environmental implications of such research.

The development of interdisciplinary skills involves not only learning methods of reasoning and critical thinking, but also gaining experience with the dynamics and development of effective multi-disciplinary function. Technologists must become comfortable addressing various issues as an integral part of doing advanced research in a team that might draw upon the expertise of not only engineers, but also biologists, doctors, lawyers and business people. As the project evolves, knowledge of the place of nanotechnology in business, becomes increasingly important. The module teaches an understanding of the basic workings of how nanotechnology innovation is exploited, together with an understanding of the dynamics of entrepreneurship.

Programme details

The wider context of nanotechnology begins in October and runs for ten weeks. The course comprises two parts: a two-week induction period followed by eight weeks of study. The induction is designed so that students can confidently maximise their on-line learning experience. We appreciate that students starting the course face a number of challenges:

• Studying at masters level: this may be your first opportunity to take a course at postgraduate masters level, and it may have been a while since you studied in a university environment.
• Studying part time: this brings its own challenges as you try to get the best from both your online and the face-to-face study modes.
• Fitting studying into your life: combining this programme with full-time work means there are even more issues to think about and plan for.

The induction module is designed to help you deal with these factors, as well as containing practical resources to help you in a number of areas as you study the programme. These materials will be available to you for the duration of your study, so that you can dip into them on a ‘need to know’ basis.

The second part of the course looks at the ethical, societal and business considerations that are necessary to understand nanotechnology. In particular, the module focuses on the following themes:

• Ethics and nanotechnology
• Society and nanotechnology
• The health and environmental impact of nanotechnology
• Business and nanotechnology

The course emphasises and addresses the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology. Students who have taken the course have a good in-depth understanding of the numerous issues facing nanotechnology today.

Staff

Dr Christiane Norenberg

Role: Director

Christiane is the Nanotechnology HEIF Manager at the University of Oxford's Begbroke Science Park. She received her DPhil in Materials Science...more from the University of Oxford in 1998 and continued with postdoctoral research. In 2001, Christiane was awarded the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship for her work on the growth and characterisation of nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces. After a period as a lecturer at the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre at Swansea University, Christiane returned to Oxford in 2007 to take up her present post.

Her interests and expertise are in the areas of surface science, growth and characterisation of nanostructures on surfaces, and nanotechnology in general. Christiane also teaches nanoscience and materials science at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

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Dr Keith Simons

Role: Tutor

Dr Keith Simons, a chemist by training is an independent innovation consultant who works as an interim manager in business development and...more fund-raising for high-technology start-up organisations. He also works for Regional, National and European governments in evaluation and monitoring of publicly-funded research. Keith is also the tutor for our first course to feature Adobe Connect Professional, the Post-Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology.

He has previously been the Business Development Manager for the Crystal Faraday Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation, backed by the British government and responsible for advancing innovation in Green Chemical Technologies for the chemical and allied industries. Prior to Crystal Faraday, he worked for Avantium Technologies in Amsterdam a start-up company that developed high throughput technologies for the chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. This built upon his experience as development chemist at Johnson Matthey in the UK where he developed accelerated techniques for catalyst development and process optimisation for pharmaceutical manufacture.

Keith has degrees from the Universities of Hull and Liverpool. He has also performed post-doctoral research at the ETH, Zurich.

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Course aims

The overall purpose of the course is to:

• Acquire a basic understanding of the current state of the development of nanotechnologies
• Explain the safety issues concerning naturally occurring nanoparticles and those arising from the development of new products relying on nanotechnolgies
• Explain the interrelation of nanotechnologies and the environment – by providing a reference framework for risk assessment of nanotechnologies in the context of current and possible future disassociated technologies used for end life processing of materials in which nanotechnologies are incorporated.
• Provide an overview of the interrelation of nanotechnologies and health
• Acquire an understanding of innovation in the nanotechnology sector
• Acquire an understanding of the regulation that applies to nanotechnology products and companies
• Acquire a basic understanding in the societal implications of nanotechnologies

Certification

Short course participants who do not wish to undertake the assessed work required for academic credit but who do satisfy the course participation requirements will receive a certificate of completion. The pdf sample above is an illustration only, and the wording will reflect the course and dates of study.

Those successfully completing the couse for credit can apply to receive a CATS point transcript.

Scholarships

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Short course fee: £2370.00

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Programmes including this module

This module can be studied as part of these programmes:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology
• Short courses in Nanotechnology