City University of Hong Kong

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1 City University of Hong Kong Information on a Gateway Education Course offered by Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering with effect from Semester A in 2014 / 2015 Part I Course Title: Our Life in the Nuclear Age Course Code: Course Duration: GE semester Proposed Area: (Please insert 1 for the single primary area, and 2 for the secondary area if applicable. Students will only earn credit units from the primary area.) Arts and Humanities Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations Science and Technology No. of Credit Units: 3 Level: B1 Medium of Instruction: English Medium of Assessment: _English Prerequisites: (Course Code and Title) Precursors: (Course Code and Title) Nil Nil Equivalent Courses: (Course Code and Title) Nil Exclusive Courses: (Course Code and Title) Nil

2 Part II 1. Abstract Nuclear technology is widely used in modern day society, ranging from simple smoke detector to more sophisticated PET scan medical equipment. Also, nuclear energy is considered as the only non-greenhouse gas-emitting power source that can effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy global energy demand. The key element of all these different applications is radiation. Radiation has led to the creation of many useful applications and hence brings many business and career opportunities. However, like many great inventions, it also comes with its risks and controversies. Through examples commonly found in our daily life and visits to some relevant organisations such as Daya-Bay Nuclear Power Station, this course help students from different disciplines, including business, law and social science students, to appreciate the pros and cons of nuclear technology. It will also facilitate students to recognise the opportunities and the risks associated nuclear technology in order to benefit their own future careers. 2. Course Aims This course aims to introduce the roles of nuclear technology in the modern society. Some typical examples will be used to illustrate how the nuclear technology can be used to enhance our quality of life. Students will also learn the brief history of nuclear technology and the issues of nuclear proliferation. As Hong Kong is using over 23% nuclear energy, and 77 new reactors are under construction and planned in mainland China, the course will discuss why nuclear energy is essential for modern society, even after several severe nuclear accidents in the past. The course is designed to help students to appreciate the basic principles of nuclear energy generation, radiation, medical radiation, radiation protection, nuclear safety, nuclear waste, maintenance engineering, risk engineering, crisis management, nuclear controversy and nanotechnology for nuclear applications. Through real-life examples, aforementioned topics and fieldtrips, students would be able to comprehend the opportunities and also the risks associated technology in modern society. 3. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: No. CILOs Weighting (if applicable) 1. Describe the roles of nuclear technology in modern society 2 2. Explain the basic principle of nuclear energy generation, the impact on environment and radiation shielding 3 3. Evaluate radiation technology used in different application areas 3 4. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear technology 2

3 4. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) (designed to facilitate students achievement of the CILOs - Some TLAs may address more than one CILO.) TLA Large Class activities: Lectures delivered by MBE staff and industrial guest speakers Watching relevant films Small group discussions Student presentations Possible Fieldtrips: Nuclear power plant (e.g. Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station), Renewable energy plant (e.g. Hong Kong Electric Lamma Wind Power Station), Traditional power plant (e.g. Black Point Gas-fired Combined Cycle Power Station) or Other nuclear related facilities (e.g Hong Kong Observatory, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine Department of Princess Margaret Hospital). CILO No. Hours/week (if applicable) hours per week for a total of 26 hours trips for a total up to 13 hours

4 5. Assessment Tasks/Activities (designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs Some assessment tasks/activities may address more than one CILO.) Type of Assessment Tasks/Activities CILO No. Weighting% (if applicable) Small group discussion & quizzes CILO1,2,3,4 10, 14, 14, 10 (total 48%) Wikipedia web pages using Wikis CILO1,2,3,4 5, 9, 9, 5 (total 28%) Oral presentations CILO1,2,3,4 5, 7, 7, 5 (total 24%) Remarks Small group discussion & quizzes Two quizzes will be conducted to assess the students basic factual knowledge s For the small group discussion, the area of discussion and reading list will be given to students at least one week before the discussion session. During the discussion session, 4 to 5 different topics in the selected area will be given to students to discuss. A group of students will be selected for each topic and the topics will be discussed sequentially. During the discussion, the teacher will take up the role of facilitator to ensure that each student in the group can participate in the discussion. Marks will be given to students according to the performance assessment rubric and also their ability in applying the knowledge effectively in the discussion and capability in drawing conclusions beyond textbooks or classroom experience. Other student audiences are encouraged to give constructive feedback to the students participating in the discussion. Teacher will also give formative feedback to students after each discussion session. Wikipedia web pages using Wikis and oral presentations Students are required to work in teams to complete a mini-project. The topic of the mini-propject is chosen by the students themselves on any related fields. Instead of writing a report, the findings of the mini-projects will be presented in the form of Wikipedia. Relevant pictures, videos, texts, newspaper articles, animations, technical drawings, etc can be included in the Wikipedia to demonstrate their understanding s. Each group s Wikipedia page will be assessed in around the middle of the semester and formative feedback will be given to students about their performance and areas which can be strengthened. In addition, oral presentation will be conducted to allow students to present their min-project results. The presentation will be in the form group presenation but each student is required to present part of the findings or results. Both Wikipedia page and presentation will be marked according to the performance assessment rubric.

5 6. Grading of Student Achievement: Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations. Grading Pattern: Standard (A+AA-..F) in accordance to the CityU Academic Regulations. The grading is assigned based on students performance in assessment tasks/activities. The performance assessment rubric of work done/submitted by a student is as follows: Achievement Excellent Good Adequate Marginal Failed Letter Grade A+/A/A- B+/B/B- C+/C/C- D F CILO 1 Able to identify on the roles of nuclear technology with the necessary details. Able to organise the above points to provide a comprehensive and cohesive overview on the subject Able to identify on the roles of nuclear technology with the necessary details. Able to organise the above points to provide a comprehensive and cohesive overview on the subject Able to identify a number of with some details. No evidence of a comprehensive overview of technology Able to identify and write about limited points on the roles of nuclear technology; Unable to identify and describe the roles of nuclear technology in modern society Able to describe the latest development in the field and also the related enabling technologies for driving such development 2 the latest development in the field and also the related enabling technologies for driving such development a number of with some details Marginal subject Little subject

6 3 Able to evaluate and discuss a full range of relevant points Able to organise the above points to provide a comprehensive and cohesive overview on the subject Able to evaluate and discuss a full range of relevant points Able to organise the above points to provide a comprehensive and cohesive overview on the subject Able to evaluate and discuss a number of with some details Marginal subject Little subject the latest development in the field and also the related enabling technologies for driving such development 4 Able to use real-life applications to explain the points more clearly Able to take into account the limitations in real-life applications a number of with some details Marginal subject Little subject

7 Part III Keyword Syllabus: 1. Effects and Uses of Radiation such as for food industry and non-destructive testing industry 2. Nuclear medicine and medical radiation 3. History of nuclear technology development 4. Nuclear proliferation, weapons & arms, and nuclear waste 5. Nuclear controversy 6. Introduction to energy, energy sources, electricity generation 7. Energy impact on environment 8. Fundamentals of Nuclear Power 9. Nuclear Fuel & Nuclear waste 10. Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Accidents 11. Maintenance Engineering and Non-Destructive Testing techniques 12. Risk engineering and crisis management, especially on issues related to Natural disaster, Technological crises, Organizational misdeeds, and Terrorist attacks/man-made disasters 13. Nanotechnology for nuclear applications Possible Fieldtrips: Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, Hong Kong Electric Lamma Wind Power Station, Hong Kong Observatory, Black Point Gas-fired Combined Cycle Power Station, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine Department of Princess Margaret Hospital etc Recommended Reading: Text(s): Richard Wolfson, Nuclear choices : a citizen's guide to nuclear technology, Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, c1993 Frank L. Bouquet, Nuclear energy simplified : an overview of the nuclear technology of reactors, space, and medicine, Graham, Wash. : Systems Co., c1992. Charles D. Ferguson, Nuclear Energy: What Everyone needs to know, Oxford University Press 2011 Ian Hore-Lacy, Nuclear Energy in the 21 st Century : the World Nuclear University Primer, World Nuclear University Press, 2 nd ed., Hinrichs and Kleinback, Energy: Its Use and the Environment. 3 rd edition, Nuclear Energy 2006

8 Online Resources: Nuclear proliferation, Detroit, Mich. : Gale, : rtal&prodid=gic&queryid=locale(en,us,):fqe=(pi,none,5)g1168%24&portalid= &version=1.0&source=gale&usergroupname=cuohk International Atomic Energy Agency: