Overall objectives:

1 - Make the integration of advanced knowledge in nanoscience and nanotecnology, obtained from the other curricular units, with fundamental knowledge from previous study cycles. The goal is to promote a broad vision of the state of the art on this field.
2 - Complement the scientific knowledge with information from other areas, in order to create a vision of potential applications, social, economic and technological benefits, without losing sight of the legal, ethical and political issues.
3 - Make contact with the industrial, business and entrepreneur vision of nanoscience and nanotechnologies.
4 - Allow students to develop additional skills and competences that foster greater autonomy for the application of knowledge and also to manage and transform complex and unpredictable academic and work situations, that require new strategies, as well as to take up responsibilities for contribution to knowledge and professional activities, or to review strategic team work performance.

Syllabus:

1 - New areas of research and application with emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach (ex: chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, biochemistry, microfabrication, electronics and medicine).
2 - Social and economic issues linked to the implementation of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials to new products and applications (ex: social impact; economic benefits; challenges and market opportunities; analysis of the main worldwide actors).
3 - Analysis of the legal, ethical and political issues, which hinder or drive the development of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials (ex: national, European and international legislation, focusing on environmental issues, consumer protection, industry, R&D, occupational health and safety; EU related policies, European directives and R&D framework programmes).
4 - Analysis of issues related with industrial scale implementation (ex: from the R&D lab to production, scale-up; economic, legal and logistic issues).
5 - Preparation of a master thesis project proposal, including the state-of-the-art analysis, tasks planning, time plan, direct cost analysis (work effort, materials, subcontracting) and indirect costs (overheads).

Literature/Sources:

several authors , General bibliography on nanoscience and nanotechnology ,
several authors , Scientific papers from the nanotechnology and nanomaterials domain ,
several authors , Public reports and deliverables from European projects related to thenanotechnology and nanomaterials domain ,
several authors , Documents on legal and political issues related to nanotechnology and nanomaterials ,
several authors , Documents with information on the European R&D framework programmes ,

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The methodology to be used on the classes is based on a combination of: lectures and debates on several topics and case studies; bibliographic research, individual and group work, around topics proposed by the teacher and the students. A sound and free debate of ideas and arguments will be promoted. The students will be also directed to development of autonomous activities, complementary to normal classes. Assessment will be based on four components: a) Oral presentation and discussion of a scientific paper (20%) b) Individual preparation of a research project proposal: definition of the state-of-the-art, description of objectives and work methodology, project management, budget and dissemination (40%) c) Participation on the collective evaluation of the colleagues? proposals, following a model similar to what is used on competitive calls for funding (20%) d) Assessment of the student?s role on normal classes and participation on the group tasks (20%).