"Nanotechnology is a group of emerging technologies in which the structure of matter is controlled at the nanometer scale, the scale of small numbers of atoms, to produce novel materials and devices that have useful and unique properties. Some of these technologies impose only limited control of structure at the nanometer scale, but they are already in use, producing useful products. They are also being further developed to produce even more sophisticated products in which the structure of matter is more precisely controlled."  -- Foresight Nanotech Institute

Running July 8 to August 4, 2007, this course studies the techniques and scientific principles underlying control of matter at the nanometer scale.  Lead instructors Mark Akeson and Miguel F. Aznar are joined by guest lecturers Joel Kubby, Ali Shakouri, and Jonathan Trent.  The course is also supported by Teacher Fellow Brian LoBue, TA Ji-Wung "Karl" Choi, and Nanorex Engineers Eric Messick and Ninad Sathaye.

The course is an intensive introduction and has been designed for bright, highly-motivated students willing to focus four weeks of their lives on a vast field.  Lectures will provide an overview of the field and introduce areas of advanced research.  Homework readings will prepare for upcoming lectures as well as cover areas unaddressed in lecture.  Students will use a sophisticated tool for the design, simulation and analysis of atomically precise molecular machine systems: NanoEngineer-1 (PC / Mac).  Engineers from Nanorex, developer of the tool, will support us in computer lab and online via wiki and email.  The final project will be a design and simulation of a nanogear project using NanoEngineer-1.