FUN

Understanding Nanosciences (FUN)

Offered by Université Paris-Sud,
Understanding Nanosciences (FUN)

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are at the heart of many objects in everyday life. Nanoscience is the science of infinitely small objects. But what else do you know about nanotechnology?

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are at the heart of many objects in everyday life. Nanoscience is the science of infinitely small objects, a billionth of a meter in size. But what else do you know about nanotechnology? The goal of this MOOC is to provide you with useful knowledge about the nanoscale in different disciplines ranging from Chemistry and Physics to Biotechnology and Medicine. We will answer your questions about the societal, health and environmental issues associated with nanotechnology.

Over 50 professors and researchers from the Université Paris-Saclay, all specialists in their field, are keen to share their knowledge with you through numerous videos and experiments filmed in the laboratory. Testimonials from key players in the field of nanotechnology and supplementary documents complete the course. Don’t miss the participation of the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2007: Albert Fert.
Format
The MOOC "Understanding Nanoscience" is 6 weeks long.
The courses are composed of videos of 5 to 10 minutes each and their accompanying documents. Videos are followed by quizzes which will let you test yourself and will emphasize for you the key concepts.
You can build your personal course of study based on your background, expectations, and goals. Three courses of study of increasing difficulty are proposed: beginner, average, and expert. The contents are colour-coded, and you are free to navigate between the 3 different streams as you wish.
All along this MOOC, you will also have access to videos and interviews about university studies, research and industry in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnology.
LANGUAGE : all content is available in French and English.
A glossary is also available which defines the scientific terms used. You can ask all your questions via a forum which will allow you to interact with the experts and other participants. Many activities and additional documents about the field are also proposed.

Course plan
Theme 1: Introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology - Let's lay the foundations and discover the key concepts of this field.
Theme 2: How can you “see” and fabricate nano-objects? We will discover what tools are used to observe matter at these scales and what techniques the scientist can use to make objects that are only a few billionths of a meter in size.
Theme 3: Nanochemistry - From carbon to porous solids and nanoparticle synthesis; applications of the field.
Theme 4: Nanophysics - Quantum effects and nanoelectronic devices; optical nanostructures: the confinement of light and emission; nanosensors; applications of the field.
Theme 5: Nanobiology, Nanomedicine, Micro-nanofluidics - The study and manipulation of molecules; treating diseases with nanomedicine; the on-chip manipulation of liquids for medical diagnosis; applications of the field.
Theme 6: Nanoscience and Society: Are Nanotechnologies dangerous? Societal, health and environmental issues.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Physics of silicon solar cells (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Physics of silicon solar cells (Coursera)

The first MOOC “Photovoltaic solar energy” is a general presentation of the solar photovoltaics technologies in the global energetic context, without extensive details. In particular the description of the solar cell operation is restricted to the ideal case. In contrast this second MOOC allows a deep understanding of the properties of solar cells based on crystalline semiconductors.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Conversion Thermodynamique de la Chaleur : Modéliser et Simuler (FUN) FUN
Institut Mines-Telecom

Conversion Thermodynamique de la Chaleur : Modéliser et Simuler (FUN)

La Conversion Thermodynamique de la Chaleur joue un rôle essentiel dans nos sociétés car elle permet de répondre à des besoins fondamentaux comme le chauffage, la production de froid, l’éclairage, la mobilité, la fourniture d’énergie mécanique, etc. Les systèmes énergétiques qui seront étudiés dans ce MOOC ont donc un impact direct sur notre vie quotidienne à tous. Ce MOOC propose une méthode originale qui permet de dépasser les limites que rencontre l'enseignement de la discipline par les approches classiques.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FUN) FUN
Université Lille

Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FUN)

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) phenomenon is currently exploited for many purposes, including medical imaging using the MRI technique as well as the characterization of the structure and the dynamics of matter at atomic scale by NMR spectroscopy, which is a key tool in chemistry, structural biology, pharmacology and material sciences. NMR is also employed for oil exploration or the inspection of artworks. "Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance" is the first course of a comprehensive three-part online learning programme on NMR.

Oct 5th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 2 (Coursera) Coursera
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - KAIST

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 2 (Coursera)

An appreciation of thermodynamics is required to become a chemical and biomolecular engineer. Thermodynamics can assess the viability of a process and is one of the curriculum's most essential topics. The principles are utilized in following engineering courses (kinetics, mass transfer, design, materials) and are applicable to numerous engineering disciplines. The increased emphasis on energy usage and transformation as a result of rising demand, diminishing supply, and global warming necessitates that the engineers who will tackle these issues have a firm grasp of thermodynamics.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Sun and the Total Eclipse of August 2017 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

The Sun and the Total Eclipse of August 2017 (Coursera)

A total eclipse is one of the most spectacular sights you can ever see! It looks like the end of the world may be at hand. There is a black hole in the sky where the sun should be. Pink flames of solar prominences and long silver streamers of the sun's corona stretch across the sky. It gets cold, and animals do strange things. People scream and shout and cheer, and remember the experience their whole life. But total eclipses are important scientifically as well.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Conceptos y Herramientas para la Física Universitaria (Coursera) Coursera
Tecnológico de Monterrey

Conceptos y Herramientas para la Física Universitaria (Coursera)

Este curso provee al estudiante con conceptos y herramientas matemáticas para modelar problemas en física, que al aplicar podrá enfrentar con éxito los cursos de física universitarios. Así pues, la filosofía de este curso consiste en cubrir temas conceptuales relativos a la Física y desarrollar tu capacidad de aprender y aplicarlos en tu vida profesional.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Tesoros de la Física y sus Descubridores I (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad de los Andes

Tesoros de la Física y sus Descubridores I (Coursera)

¿Sabes cómo vuelan los aviones, tan pesados y no se caen mientras vuelan? ¿Sabes que viajamos por el espacio sobre el planeta Tierra que se traslada y gira muy rápido y no lo percibimos? ¿O acaso, notas efectos de su movimiento? ¿Cuál es nuestro lugar en el universo? ¿Podemos viajar en el tiempo? ¡Preguntas, muchas preguntas! Con espíritu de descubridores nuestra curiosidad nos motiva a buscar respuestas, a explorar nuestro entorno, a entrar a lo desconocido y hallar nuevo conocimiento.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks