Coursera
Free Online Course (Audit)
English
Certificate Available
4-10 hours a week
selfpaced
Overview
Class Central Tips
Nanyang Technological Universityand Coursera are proud to offer Beauty, Form & Function: An Exploration ofSymmetry that caters to both non-specialists via a non-academic credit on-demand version (https://www.coursera.org/learn/symmetry) and specialists through this academic credit fixed-session version. Below can be found the:
Syllabus • Grading Scheme • Recommended Readings •
Required Background • Essential Resources • Student Responsibility • FAQs
Symmetry is everywhere. In thegrand scheme of things it is the blueprint by which the universe operates. Wesee symmetry in nature, art, architecture, science and engineering. This courseexplores the Beauty, Form and Function of Symmetry in common objects, thenprogresses to investigate tiling and tessellation, gems and crystals, andfinally its indispensable role in technology. Symmetry and asymmetry are also key factors that ensure the successfulreproduction of plants and animals. For example, the bilateral symmetry oforchids is widely admired and this geometry is essential for insects to pollinatethese flowers.
Duration: 8 weeks
Time Commitment: 7-10 hours perweek
Target Group: Scientists andEngineers (current and prospective NTU students)
Recognition: Verified Certificate through Signature Track enrollment
NTU Academic Units: VerifiedCertificate Students earn 3 Academic Units
NTU Course Type: Unrestricted Elective or General Elective
This course gives you the means to address several fundamental questions.
- What tags do we recognize in decorative arrangements?
- What guidelines shape the patterns in the world around us?
- What functions do these symmetrical patterns serve?
- How are drug and materials design engineered throughatomic scale symmetry?
- How is the internalarrangement of atoms reflected by crystal faceting?
- How does symmetry manipulation create polytypes, polymorphs and polysomes?
To amplify these ideas, you willundertake field-exercises and be introduced to specialists - botanists,artists, geomancers, historians, scientists and engineers - that work withsymmetry, and who will provide their personal insights into its ‘magic’ andimpact on their disciplines.
The option of earning AUs is opento all students. It is not necessary to be already enrolled at NTU. Once earned, the AUs remain valid for 3years.
Course Difficulty
This is a challenging course with 65% of students rating the material as Difficult to Very Difficult, but many find the subject matter stimulating.
Syllabus
Class Central Tips
Nanyang Technological Universityand Coursera are proud to offer Beauty, Form & Function: An Exploration ofSymmetry that caters to both non-specialists via a non-academic credit on-demand version (https://www.coursera.org/learn/symmetry) and specialists through this academic credit fixed-session version. Below can be found the:
Syllabus • Grading Scheme • Recommended Readings •
Required Background • Essential Resources • Student Responsibility • FAQs
Symmetry is everywhere. In thegrand scheme of things it is the blueprint by which the universe operates. Wesee symmetry in nature, art, architecture, science and engineering. This courseexplores the Beauty, Form and Function of Symmetry in common objects, thenprogresses to investigate tiling and tessellation, gems and crystals, andfinally its indispensable role in technology. Symmetry and asymmetry are also key factors that ensure the successfulreproduction of plants and animals. For example, the bilateral symmetry oforchids is widely admired and this geometry is essential for insects to pollinatethese flowers.
Duration: 8 weeks
Time Commitment: 7-10 hours perweek
Target Group: Scientists andEngineers (current and prospective NTU students)
Recognition: Verified Certificate through Signature Track enrollment
NTU Academic Units: VerifiedCertificate Students earn 3 Academic Units
NTU Course Type: Unrestricted Elective or General Elective
This course gives you the means to address several fundamental questions.
- What tags do we recognize in decorative arrangements?
- What guidelines shape the patterns in the world around us?
- What functions do these symmetrical patterns serve?
- How are drug and materials design engineered throughatomic scale symmetry?
- How is the internalarrangement of atoms reflected by crystal faceting?
- How does symmetry manipulation create polytypes, polymorphs and polysomes?
To amplify these ideas, you willundertake field-exercises and be introduced to specialists - botanists,artists, geomancers, historians, scientists and engineers - that work withsymmetry, and who will provide their personal insights into its ‘magic’ andimpact on their disciplines.
The option of earning AUs is opento all students. It is not necessary to be already enrolled at NTU. Once earned, the AUs remain valid for 3years.
Course Difficulty
This is a challenging course with 65% of students rating the material as Difficult to Very Difficult, but many find the subject matter stimulating.
Taught by
Tim White
