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Prerequisite: Upper division or graduate standing in the sciences/engineering.

The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the rapidly developing field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.  It will emphasize cooperative learning approaches involving strong student participation with team assignments, class activities, select lectures and laboratory visits.  

The class will be divided into five streams (Nanomedicine/nanobiology, Nanoelectronics, Nanomagnetics, NEMS and Nanotubes) and in addition to general readings each stream will have specialized readings addressing specific topics. These include: characteristic length scales determining the behavior of physical and biological systems; fundamental phenomena as a function of size and reduced dimensionality; the role of surfaces; different synthesis and organizational  approaches including self-assembly and lithography; and characterization of nanostructures by scattering, spectroscopy and imaging.  The latter part of the course will discuss novel properties and applications of nanoscale systems including electronics, information storage and bioengineering.
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The course is also divided into five modules (each of two-week duration) addressing the following learning objectives.
1. Why nanonscience and nanotechnology?  In other words – what is this all about ?
2. What is the difference between miniaturization and nanotechnology ? What are the critical length scales involved? What is the role of dimensionality in determining the behavior of physical and biological systems?
3.  How do we make such small things ?
4.  How do we measure the properties of such small things? How do we visualize them? How do we make the connection from our macroscopic world to the nanoworld ?
5.  What new technologies and applications can one envision at the nanoscale ?
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The goals of the writing assignments are to synthesize related readings and present a precise and coherent narrative answering the thematic question of each module.  The target audience will be the educated but non-technical reader.  The course will be supported by the staff of the Engineering and iSchool Writing Center
( http://www.uwtc.washington.edu/research/ewc/mission.html ) who will assist the students individually, if necessary, with their writing assignments.  All students will be required to meet with EiWC staff to write their first module report and after it is graded with the instructor who will provide individual feedback.   A detailed outline of the format for the written report is available here.  This course will also satisfy the University intensive writing requirement.

Each module (two weeks) will be organized with the following content:
Week 1:     
-  An overview presentation on the topic. Distribution of 1st handout to each group (5 different, but related)
-   Students turn in individual 1-page summary of reading before class. Students discuss and teach each other (within the group).
-   Groups rearranged (include 1 person from each group). Students receive 1-page summary back.  Students discuss and teach each other from related readings.
Week2:     
-  Students turn in 2-page summary of all related primary readings. All the students receive the same advanced (2nd) reading on the topic. An all-class discussion or lecture or laboratory visit.
- Students receive 2-page summary back.  Students discuss the advanced reading and activity in their original groups.
-  Students turn in their 5-page report  Students make class presentation (10 minutes each; 1 from each group in turn).
(Note: If a holiday falls on the first Monday of the module, the students will turn in only one summary after the first week’s reading).

The class of 25 students will be divided into five groups. Discussions will be carried out within the groups, but all reports and presentations will be submitted individually.  There will be no exams and grades will be assigned based on 5 reports (each 5 pages maximum) and one individual presentation (10 minutes).

Five separate course-packs (one for each stream/group) containing the readings will be available at the beginning of the quarter.

There are no official textbooks but the following books are recommended:
M. Ratner and D. Ratner, Nanotechnology - a gentle introduction to the next big idea, (a very basic and readable introduction).
G. Timp, Nanotechnology , (advanced reading suitable for the graduate students
Understanding Nanotechnology (a collection of papers from Scientific American) .
M. Gross, Travels to the nanoworld, (a good introduction emphasizing biology)

Additional readings for the interested student include:
R. Turton, The quantum dot (deals with the future of electronics)
G.J. Milburn, Schrodinger's machines (the role of quantum mechanics in emerging technologies)
R. Ball, Designing the molecular world, ( emerging issues in chemistry)
R. Ball,  Made to measure (forefront issues in materials)
Madou, Fundamentals of microfabrication ( a state of the art book on the current technology)

All these books will be available in the Engineering Library (reserve section).