Unit information: Core Aerosol Science II in 2019/20

Unit name	Core Aerosol Science II
Unit code	CHEMM0016
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Reid
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	Core Aerosol Science I
School/department	School of Chemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Aerosols are particles dispersed in a gas phase with sizes ranging from molecular clusters (>1 nm) to large droplets (>100 um). Aerosol science is core to a broad range of disciplines extending from drug delivery to the lungs, to disease transmission, aerosol routes to the manufacture of new materials, combustion, environmental science, and the delivery of consumer and agricultural products. This unit will deliver a comprehensive and broad-based training in the core physical science of aerosols, transferable across all domains. Topics across the Core Aerosol Units will be: the formation of new particles and nucleation; aerosol mechanics and statistics; droplet condensation/evaporation; particle sources; sprays; aerosol deposition; coalescence and adhesion; sampling; filtration; analysis techniques; optical properties; electrical properties; aerosol thermodynamics; chemical composition; chemical reactions; and biological aerosols. The syllabus will be taught in eight 2-day short courses delivered by academics, industry partners and researchers in the public and governmental sectors. This will be augmented by a weekly research webinar and journal club designed to broaden the horizons of students. Students will also attend one 2-day focus meetings on specific areas of research in aerosol science hosted by the UK and Ireland Aerosol Society. Each topic will be taught using research-based instructional strategies, for example Team-Based Learning, small-group problem solving and discussion, and peer-instruction.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a secure grasp of the key concepts underpinning the physical science of aerosols, such as in aerosol filtration, aerosol analysis techniques, optical properties, electrical properties, aerosol thermodynamics, chemical composition, chemical and reactions, and biological aerosols.
• Apply the theoretical knowledge gained in these areas of aerosol science across a range of research problems of a chemical, physical, biological or technological nature, such as the approaches to analyse aerosol particle size distribution and chemical composition.
• Develop or adapt advanced methodological approaches in aerosol science to contemporary problems, recognising the complexity and tolerating the ambiguity that arises in real-world systems, such as develop approaches to quantify the infectivity and viability of bacteria and viruses in the aerosol phase and their dependence on the physicochemical processing of the aerosol.
• Function effectively and confidently in multidisciplinary teams, acting autonomously and taking responsibility for the scientific activity of others, working within a team-based learning environment to tackle problems in aerosol science, such as the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to understand the factors that govern aerosol inhalation and disease transmission.

Teaching Information

E- learning:
Pre-class learning materials (powerpoints, videos, reading lists) to be provided on the CDT portal.

Breakdown of contributing activity:
Aerosol fundamentals: 120 hours of contact time (eight 2-day courses in aerosol science, 7.5 hours / day).
Self-study and online tests (individual or group): 80 hours
Research highlights: 25 hours of contact time (webinar) and pre-webinar reading
Journal club: 30 hours of group activity and pre-club reading
Focus meetings: 25 hours of contact time and pre-meeting reading

Assessment Information

Prior to and following each 2-day short course (each focussed on a different core concept), students will have time for self-study, supported by materials available on the CDT web-portal. In accordance with best practice for assessing higher level cognition and competencies, assessment will be by continuous multiple-choice ‘two-stage’ problem-based on-line tests following individual training modules. The two-stage tests will involve, first, an individual-based assessment followed by a team-based assessment (based on the same material). The eight short courses will each be assessed equally (12.5% each, continual assessment throughout TB 2). Assessment will be designed in collaboration with the course contributors and will address each of the learning outcomes.

Reading and References

Text-books covering most aspects of the course:
Aerosol Science: Technology and Applications by Colbeck and Lazaridis, Wiley-Blackwell, 1st edition (2014).

Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles by Hinds, Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd edition (1999).

Specialist text-books for thematic areas:
Aerosol Measurement: Principles, Techniques, and Applications by Kulkarni, Baron and Willeke, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition (2011).

The Mechanics of Inhaled Pharmaceutical Aerosols: An Introduction by Finlay, Academic Press, 2nd edition (2019).

Analytical Chemistry of Aerosols: Science and Technology by Spurny, CRC Press (2000).

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change by Seinfeld and Pandis, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition (2016).