FRS 002K —
Sec. 001 —
(2 units) — CRN 55910 — W 10:00 – 11:50 am —
163 Kemper
A Cradle to Grave Look at Materials in Society
Instructor: Subhash Risbud, Department of Chemical Engineering &
Materials Science, College of Engineering
Description: This course addresses the role of
materials in technological
societies and their huge impact on our way of living. We will talk
about how materials
are extracted from the earth, processed, and shaped into products. The cradle
of materials selection and choices will be illustrated by choosing
examples selected
from consumer products (cars, aluminum foils, and plastics), hi-tech
devices (computers,
TV), and the fashion industry (clothing, creams and powders used for
cosmetics).
Disposal of materials into graves (landfills) and preferably their re-use will
be discussed by citing examples from glass bottle and plastic. Information will
be presented through informal lectures, readings, discussion, and
laboratory visits.
Format: The seminar will meet for one hour a week of lecture
and three hours of laboratory each week for eight weeks. The time
will be divided
between lecture presentations, discussion, laboratory work and demos,
and student
presentations. Reading material will be provided. There is no text
for the course.
Grading: Students will be required to prepare a short
paper on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor. The course
grade will be based on the quality of their written (1/3) and oral
(1/3) presentations
and on the frequency and quality of their participation in class discussion and
laboratory work (1/3).
About the Instructor: Professor Risbud is a member
of the faculty
in the Department of CHMS. His research interests include the
science, engineering
and utilization of materials in products for the consumer and in
technology. His
teaching interests include increasing the awareness of everyone that attention
to the cradle to grave "materials cycle" is fundamental to
our survival
and society depends on how we make, shape, and discard materials.