Nanotechnology has emerged as a broad, exciting, yet ill-defined field of scientific research and technological innovation. There are important questions about the technology’s potential economic, social, and environmental implications. We discuss an undergraduate course on nanoscience and nanotechnology for students from a wide range of disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and engineering. The course explores these questions and the broader place of technology in contemporary societies. The course is built around active learning methods and seeks to develop the students’ critical thinking skills, written and verbal communication abilities, and general knowledge of nanoscience and nanoengineering concepts. Continuous assessment was used to gain information about the effectiveness of class discussions and enhancement of student understanding of the interaction between nanotechnology and society.
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May 01 2006
Nanotechnology and Society: A discussion-based undergraduate course
Charles Tahan;
Charles Tahan
a)
Department of Physics,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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Ricky Leung;
Ricky Leung
Department of Sociology,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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G. M. Zenner;
G. M. Zenner
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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K. D. Ellison;
K. D. Ellison
Graduate School,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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W. C. Crone;
W. C. Crone
Department of Engineering Physics,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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Clark A. Miller
Clark A. Miller
LaFollette School of Public Affairs,
University of Wisconsin
, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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a)
Electronic mail: charlie@tahan.com
Am. J. Phys. 74, 443–448 (2006)
Article history
Received:
July 26 2005
Accepted:
January 27 2006
Citation
Charles Tahan, Ricky Leung, G. M. Zenner, K. D. Ellison, W. C. Crone, Clark A. Miller; Nanotechnology and Society: A discussion-based undergraduate course. Am. J. Phys. 1 May 2006; 74 (5): 443–448. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2178845
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