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Why is the topic of Molecular Nanoscience important today? Can you name one or few real-world examples of fields where it's beneficial to know about the topic?

Upto 400 million terabytes of data is created every day. As a result, data storage requirements have seen a sharp increase. DNA offers unparalleled storage capabilities. For example, in 2020, all the world's data could have been stored in just one gram of DNA. Moreover, due to DNA stability, the data could be stored in a DNA molecule for thousands of years. The programmability of nucleic acids enables unique solutions for technical problems. Beyond data storage, molecular nanoscience has broad applications in fields such as computing, nano-technology, and medicine. By applying self-assembled molecular systems, researchers are developing chemical computers, functional nanodevices, and biomaterials with groundbreaking potential. 

What inspired you to design this course? 

For the past few years, I have been an editor for an international collaborative textbook called The Art of Molecular Programming. I have had a front-row view of it all coming together. Seeing how this field is evolving and how much potential it holds inspired me to design a course that brings these cutting-edge concepts into the classroom for the first time.

What key topics and hands-on experiences can students expect from this summer course?

The students will learn about the possible applications of self-assembled devices and molecular programming. Furthermore, you will learn how to design and program molecular devices from nucleic acid building blocks. Throughout the course, you will explore essential processes behind constructing chemical computers, where information is encoded in molecular concentrations. You will also engage with fundamental topics such as thermodynamics, experimental techniques, and the design of nucleic acid-based circuits. Hands-on sessions will allow students to work with common computational tools for nucleic acid sequence design and to analyse how these structures interact with external stimuli.

How does this course prepare students for future careers or research opportunities in nanoscience and related fields?

The course provides the students with the foundation to further expand their knowledge and expertise in self-assembled nanoscience and molecular programming, which is a vast field that branches into many scientific disciplines. With applications in material science, synthetic biology, and computing, this interdisciplinary field offers numerous career and research opportunities. Students will gain problem-solving skills and a strong foundation in designing molecular systems, making them well-equipped for further studies or professional paths in biotechnology, nanotechnology, or computational chemistry.

What would you say to a student who is interested but unsure whether they have the right background to take this course?

The field is thoroughly interdisciplinary and requires many expertise and points of view.  You can dive in if you understand the basic scientific concepts, whether you are, for example, a computer scientist or biologist. The course welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, including chemistry, physics, biology and computer science. A fundamental understanding of scientific principles is enough to get started, and students will be introduced to key topics like molecular self-assembly and thermodynamics. Whether you are interested in building biology-based devices or exploring the future of chemical computing, this course offers an excellent starting point.

The application period for Molecular Nanoscience is open until 31 May 2025.