Physics for technologies and innovation
Claudio Giannetti describes its main characteristics
The Master in Physics for Technologies and Innovation is a two-year programme designed for talented physicists and students with a background in STEM disciplines who want to develop top-notch and multidisciplinary skills to enter the new business context. The goal of the programme is to merge basic knowledge in hardcore science with soft and hard skills in data science and innovation/entrepreneurship.
The specific learning objectives of the course will be:
- Deep knowledge of the physical principles driving the development of the next-decades leading technologies, with particular focus on the fields of electronics, photonics, nanotechnologies, optoelectronics, photon and energy harvesting, quantum technologies.
- Core knowledge of the most widespread coding tools to manage big data and of artificial-intelligence-based techniques to tackle technological, strategy and business problems.
- The ability to recognise the potential for innovating products and processes and to transpose fundamental knowledge in hard science into innovative technological ideas and original approaches to solve problems.
- Core knowledge of the entrepreneurial instruments necessary to create value from novel technologies and data management.
- Relational skills for operating in technology-oriented non-academical contexts that are intrinsically multidisciplinary and highly international.
- Strategic vision of the market and trends in technology.
Master's degree in Fisica (Physics)
The programme in Physics for Innovation and Technologies, entirely taught in English, is a curriculum of the master's degree programme in Fisica (Physics).
Why physics?
In a technology-driven world that is growing and changing faster and faster, the future players will base their success on:
- the capacity of applying fundamental scientific knowledge to real problems in a flexible way;
- the intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn new concepts and solve complex and multidisciplinary problems;
- the openness to the challenge and the capacity to lead technology-oriented changes.
In this context, the breadth of the concepts, ideas and methodologies developed during a physics programme provides a compass, which is way richer and flexible than any specific and focused university programme.
Planning of educational activities first semester a.y. 2020/21
Underlying principles
Given that a more detailed premise for what choices the Faculty intends to make can be found in the document entitled “20-21 Teaching Guidelines SMFN”, I would like to underline here the principle that to maintain the quality of the teaching in our Faculty, which by reputation is very high, there must be a point where the experience of academic staff, which it is important to recognize a leverage, the health-related constraints which may need to be applied, and students’ needs and expectations need to be balanced.
With regard to the subdivision into four pillars, our Faculty has left it up to the individual professors/instructors to decide on their own teaching method, certain that their decisions will result in the highest quality of delivery.
Although they are fully aware of the importance of physically attending courses, most professors/instructors will follow the methodology tried and tested in the semester just ended, using ‘talking heads’ (video-recorded lessons accessed asynchronously) or online interactive lectures, in some cases with the use of "Voice over presentation" mode. To these, however, weekly or twice-weekly "intensive meeting places" will be added with the aim of allowing for professor-student and student-student interaction. These "intensive meeting places" may take place both in dual mode and in remote synchronous connection.
Some classes will also be held in dual mode. The hope is that we will be able to have all attending student physically present on campus, so that interaction can be simplified, although classes will in any case be recorded. Issues such as classroom capacity, being able to reach the campus by public transport and other logistical constraints linked to the emergency situation will be critical.
Holding practical courses in the Physics field is a separate question. It is very important for students to be physically present for these courses (in compliance with the regulations), although it will always be possible to access them remotely should this be absolutely necessary.
How course exams will be held during the autumn exam session
Except for a couple of courses, the exams will take place remotely in the same way as for the semester just ended. The two exceptions regard courses for which there are few students with outstanding exams or which are expected to have very few enrolments for the exam dates in the next session.
How final exams will be held
Given the usual numbers of our Faculty, we expect to be able to hold final exams during the upcoming autumn session with students being physically present. This will obviously entail strict limits to the number of accompanying family members and friends and all necessary measures will be implemented to guarantee the social distancing required by current regulations.
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Further information on the course contents
Prof. Luigi Sangaletti and Claudio Giannetti are happy to provide any further information about the program Physics for Technologies and Innovation.
You can contact them using the following email addresses: luigi.sangaletti@unicatt.it or claudio.giannetti@unicatt.it.