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Apr 16, 2024
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2019-2020 Graduate School Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
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EASC 5450 - Nanotechnology in Environmental Science (3)
Prerequisites: Entrance into the Earth Science M.S. program. Other participants made on a case by case basis. This is a graduate course that covers practical applications of nanotechnology concepts in real world cases as well as fundamental science and engineering concepts. Human activities have induced unexpected environmental consequences since the start of Industrial Ages, and their environmental and health impacts have reached unprecedented extent to the levels of threatening our survival. Consequently the demand from both academic and industrial sectors for trained groups who can handle the societal challenges in sustainable ways has been increasing. Among the areas impacted by pollution are hydrosphere and atmosphere including drinking water and air that are essential for the survival of humans as well as other living creatures on Earth. In this class, with a review on the history of the evolvement of nanotechnology concept, students will learn how nanotechnology concepts are applied locally, regionally and globally relevant real life environmental remediation cases such as coal ash pond spills, filtration of contaminated surface water and groundwater by industrial and agricultural chemicals, and air pollution and remediation. Students will also learn how industries practice for the reduction of exposure level before contaminants are released into the environment and what contingent technologies are available when environmental disaster happens. Among the exposure reduction methods that will be covered in the class, Sol-Gel method for the synthesis of photocatalytic nanomaterial will be utilized in the lab for students’ direct hands-on experience. For groundwater remediation, contemporary methods implemented in the state of California and other states with high water demand will be reviewed to better understand how nano concepts are applied to real life cases. This course will also provide students ample opportunities for making an objective assessment on controversial practices such as hydrofracking and how some potential technical problems may be overcome by contemporary nanotechnology concepts for improving safety and sustainability of the practice.
Click here for the Spring 2022 Class Schedule
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