SIS 2011 - Nanotechnology

Imagine a machine that can fit onto the cross-section of a piece of hair.  This may sound like science fiction but is actually a major goal of the emerging field of nanotechnology.  Such small machines could potentially be put on spacecraft and sent to the farthest reaches of our solar system or used in humans to cure cancer. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basics aspects of the exciting and revolutionary new field of nanotechnology. Basic concepts from chemistry, biology, and physics will be introduced as needed to understand the tools used to create and study machines and structures on this very small scale. The course will then focus on selected technologies of commercial interest (e.g. carbon nanotubes, nanoelectronics, nanobiometrics).  The impact of this new technology on society will be highlighted by examining the role of nanotechnology in art, the impact of quantum computing on computer security, business and economic implications, and the potential effects of these new materials on the environment.
McDaniel Plan: Sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies; Scientific Inquiry with Laboratory