Course Calender

Course Calender

SAYT2003 From Bio-Insights to Technology - Credit-bearing Course on Bionics 仿生學大學學分課程 ── 道法自然

Bionics is the branch of science dedicated to the studying of the characteristics, structure or functions of bio-systems for innovations in developing new technology, it is also known as "Biomimicry" or "Biomimetics". Since its invention in the 1960s, bionics has developed quickly and widely applied in various fields of science and technology. This credit-bearing course on Bionics aims to introduce to the students the history, methodology and chief applications of bionics. Students will also gain hands-on experience in the process of bionics through participating in laboratory activities and in the group project.

本課程取名自中國著名經典《老子》當中的一句:「人法地,地法天,天法道,道法自然」,「道法自然」意指效法自然之道,這亦正正是仿生學的重點。形形式式的生物為了生存,進化出一系列適應方法,以解決在自然界面對的種種挑戰,人類從這些生物中得到啟發,然後通過學習和模仿,將生物的智慧融入科學之中,研發出各種創新科技,使人類文明一日千里。

 

Organising units:
  • Centre for Promoting Science Education, CUHK
  • School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, CUHK
Category:   Category I – University Credit-Bearing
Learning outcomes:   Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
  1. understand and appreciate the processes of how insights from nature are studied and transformed into technology to solve technical problems in various fields;
  2. have a broad understanding of the scope of bionics and its applications in various fields;
  3. appreciate the characteristics, complexities and adaptiveness of materials built by nature, and how they can tackle the challenges encountered in the course of evolution;
  4. evaluate critically the superiority of designs made by nature over that by humans;
  5. have a thorough understanding of the various mechanisms of animal flight;
  6. discuss, develop and apply concepts and principles in solving a range of problems encountered in designing and constructing a high-performance glider plane.
Learning Activities:
  1. Lectures
  2. Lab
  3. Discussion of case
  4. Project
  5. Other demos
Medium of Instruction:   English and Chinese
Assessment:
  1. Essay test or exam
  2. Short answer test or exam
  3. Selected response or exam
  4. Presentation
  5. Others
Recognition:   No. of University unit(s): 1
*A Certificate of Attainment will be issued to student with excellent performance.
 
Expected applicants:   S4-S6 students
Organising period:   Summer 2011
Application method:   SAYT Online application
Others:   Participant who satisfied the attendance requirement will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by HKAGE. Participant who satisfied the attendance requirement and meet the programme requirements for credit exemption will receive a Certificate of Attainment issued by the Faculty of Science, CUHK.