Nanoscience (Honours)

Never Stand Still Faculty of Science School of Chemistry

A Student’s PerspectiveDan BergerBSc (Hons) Nanotechnology I am currently working for Davies Collison Cave Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, who specialise in advising and securing a broad, diverse range of intellectual property sources. As a trainee attorney within the Engineering/Science team, I am involved in patent prosecution, patent drafting and related opinion matters. I chose UNSW for my studies because it had a reputation for being at the forefront of scientific education. At the time of my studies, it was the only university that offered a Bachelor of Science degree in Nanotechnology, which differentiated me from other prospective employees after graduation.

My UNSW degree has equipped me with a sound understanding of chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biophysics and material science. For my Honours year, I studied the attachment of biomolecules to medical device surfaces.

I realised early on that since Nanotechnology cannot be confined to a specific field of science there was a greater range of available career options. As the applications of Nanotechnology are rapidly expanding, there are also a range of opportunities outside the sphere of research, for example in providing support and advice to companies who are seeking to develop, commercialise or invest in nanotechnology.

Stephen ParkerBSc (Hons) Nanotechnology,current PhD studentThe world that surrounds us is complex and so knowledge in a wide range of science disciplines is required in order to understand it. The study of nanotechnology, being involved with manipulating systems on the atomic scale, encompasses many of these disciplines. As a nanotechnology graduate, I found that this diversity of knowledge I had acquired allowed me to select my career from a range of options. Furthermore, the research experience gained from completing an Honours thesis at the end of my degree gave me the confidence to undertake a PhD in order to continue to learn how this complex world around us works.

University Contacts

School of ChemistryFaculty of ScienceThe University of New South WalesUNSW Sydney NSW 2052 AustraliaT: +61 2 9385 4666F: +61 2 9385 6141E: nanotech@unsw.edu.auwww.chemistry.unsw.edu.au

General enquiriesT: +61 2 9385 7788F: +61 2 9385 4051E: science@unsw.edu.auwww.science.unsw.edu.au

International admissionsT: +61 2 9385 6996F: +61 2 9385 9907E: internationaloffice@unsw.edu.auwww.international.unsw.edu.au

©2016 Faculty of Science at the University of New South Wales. Information in this Guide is correct as

at September 2016.

The University and the Faculty of Science reserve the right to change any degree, admission requirements or other information herein without prior notice. We recommend that you check our websites for the most current information before making final selections or enrolling in any courses.

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Photo credits: Vera Kratochvil from Public Domain PicturesTim Knox – InHouse Communications The Australian National Fabrication Facility

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Degree Structure Nanoscience does not fit into one particular discipline, which is why we’vedeveloped a multidisciplinary course.Teaching is provided by the Schools ofPhysics, Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, with many of the lecturers considered world leaders in their field.

In the first year, students study Chemistry,Materials Science, Physics, Mathematicsand Nanotechnology. With the exceptionof the Nanotechnology classes, thesesubjects are taught to large numbers ofscience and engineering students and aredesigned to give you a strong foundation in these subjects.The degree was formerly called Nanotechnology and changed to Nanoscience to address the increasing importance of nanotechnology in all of the sciences. In the second year, more specialised courses are offered in Physics, Chemistry and Materials Science, as-well-as Biochemistry and Nanotechnology. In the third year there is a core of subjects that include specialist courses in nanotechnology. In the final year, you apply these skills to your own research, in the form of a research project thesis submitted as part of your Honours Year.

Much of the beauty, colour, strength and special functions found throughout nature comes from nature's precise control over nanoscience. The iridescence of butterf ies and insects is just one example.

Career Opportunities Nanoscience is an emerging growth industry worldwide. The intellectual property generated needs to be developed to create commercial products. This means that graduates from the nanoscience degree are highly sought by organisations looking to develop nanotechnology and its successful commercialisation. Many of our graduates pursue careers in academic research or research and development in the science and technology sector. Well known producers of nanoscientific devices and materials include the CSIRO, Adidas, Daewoo, DuPont, IBM, Intel, L’Oreal, Motorola, Microsoft, Nokia, and Samsonite to name but a few. These organisations employ nanoscience graduates because of their broad training, capacity to think critically and laterally, and their problem solving abilities.

Nanoscientists have created their own industry simply by rethinking the way we create everyday products. With atoms as your starting material, what will you revolutionise with a Bachelor of Nanoscience (Honours)??

The Australian Centre for NanoMedicine is right here at UNSW. With the best minds in nanomedicine as your inspiration, what disease will you go on to cure with a Bachelor of Nanoscience (Honours)?

NanoscienceWhat is Nanoscience?Nanoscience is all about the verytiny – around 1- 50 nanometres in size, or approximately 100,000 times smaller than this full stop. At these sizes strange things start to happen. Nano sized materials can become stronger, more conductive and, in the case of aluminium, explode! It’s these properties that Nanoscientists study and exploit. This is the briefest of introductions to the vast subject of nanoscience. It takes a degree to even cover the basics, however if you’d like further information feel free to use the contact details on the back, we’re happy to help.

In relation to chemistry, biology and physics, nanoscience is still a very young science, having been investigated over only the past 50 years. The definition of nanoscience changes almost daily to reflect the incredible discoveries that are made when looking at materials at such a tiny scale. Boundaries are expanded as new instrumentation such as the electron microscope enable us to see science with ever sharper resolutions. Nanoscience is revolutionizing biology, chemistry and physics.

Course OverviewFIRST YEARIn the first year you’ll undertake a wide breadth of physical and biological science courses, as well as materials science and nanotechnology courses to provide a strong platform for Nanoscience:

NANO1001 Nanotechnology 1

CHEM1011 or Chem (or Higher Chem) A: Atoms,CHEM1031 Molecules & Energy

CHEM1021 or Chem (or Higher Chem) B: Elements,CHEM1041 Compounds & Life

PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Physics or Higher Physics 1A

PHYS1221 or PHYS1231 Physics or Higher Physics 1B

MATS1192 Design & App of Materials

+ Electives in Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Materials Scienceand Engineering, Biology and General Education electives

SECOND YEARIn the second year you will study a core range of courses, supplemented by a nanotechnology course and additional studies in your chosen area of specialisation:

NANO2002 Nanotechnology 2

BABS 1201 Molecules, Genes and Cells.

CHEM2041 Analytical Chemistry:Essential Methods

CHEM2021 Organic Chemistryfor Nanotechnology

MATS 2003 Materials Characterisation

PHYS2111 Quantum Physics

BIOC2201 Principles of MolecularBiology (Advanced), or

MATS 2004 Mechanical Behaviour of Materials

+ Electives in Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Materials Scienceand Engineering, Biology and General Education electives

THIRD YEARIn the third year you will specialise with a greater number of nanoscience courses and other courses focused on your area of 4th year research:

NANO3001

NANO3002

Advanced Nanomaterials Nanomedicine

CHEM3011 Physical Chemistry: Materials,Structure and Function

PHYS3118 Solid State Physics

PHYS3113 Thermal Physics & Statistical MechanicsMATS3001 Mechanical Behaviour of Metals

MATS3004 Polymer Sci & Engineering 1

+ Electives in Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Biology and General Education electives

FOURTH YEAR (Honours Year)In your fourth year you will undertake a research project pitched at ground-breaking nanosciencechosen by you, in collaboration with one of the lecturers you would have had over the last 3 years.

NANO4004 Nanoscience 4 –Honours in Nanoscience

Why study Nanoscience at UNSW?The University of New South Wales is a recognised pioneer of Nanoscience, contributing greatly to the development of this new and exciting field. This outstanding platform led UNSW to develop one of the world’s first Nanoscience degrees in 2002. Few Universities worldwide can

match UNSW’s pedigree as one of the first places to offer a degree in Nanoscience.UNSW hosts the NSW node of the ANFF (Australian National Fabrication Facility) and is behind the ACN (Australian Centre for NanoMedicine) initiative. Students gain a thorough grounding in chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, as well as some biology. This offers students the broad range of knowledge required for modern multidisciplinary research. It culminates in the Honours year research

The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) at UNSW provides tools for the fabrication of semiconductor devices with feature sizes below 10 nanometres. Special lighting and clothing are used to protect the devices and instruments from the people! (Image courtesy ANFF-NSW).

project, which focuses on Nanoscience related to one of the disciplines mentioned above, as chosen by you. Lectures are delivered by teachers who are passionate about the benefits that this new science can bring to society. It is their passion and expertise coupled with extensive hands-on experience gained in our state-of-the-art labs and your enthusiasm in this new science that will both challenge and extend you as a budding Nanoscientist.