NEWT Core Course

The NEWT Core Concepts Seminar (aka NEWT core course) introduces graduate students to the overall goals of NEWT and the basic scientific concepts behind the center’s main research thrusts.  It is also intended to develop a common language for NEWT students in different research areas, and to contribute to the development of a center culture.

All NEWT graduate students must complete the core course, ideally during the first year of their program.  The one-semester seminar consists of a series of guided discussions on the topics listed in the table below.  Readings and other materials are assigned in advance and discussed during class.

As part of the core course, students are also required to attend the NEWT Boot Camp the first week of January.

The course is coordinated by Dr. Jorge Loyo from NEWT Education Program (jorge.loyo@rice.edu) in collaboration with NEWT faculty members.

Spring 2021

With the exception of the boot camp (see agenda below), all sessions take place on Wednesday from 1:30 – 2:30 PM Central Time (12:30 – 1:30 for ASU and UTEP, 2:30 – 3:30 for Yale).  ASU students only: please note that meeting times will change to 11:30 – 12:30 starting on March 24th because of daylight savings time starting in the rest of the country.

Session

Date

Topic

Boot camp

Jan 6-8

Introduction to NEWT

1

Jan 20

Intro to core course and NEWT education program

2

Jan 27

Safety

3

Feb 3

Diversity, equity and inclusion

4

Feb 10

Innovation ecosystem

5

Feb 17

Ethics and misconduct in scientific writing and research

6

Feb 24

Global water issues

7

Mar 3

Social aspects of new technology adoption

—

Mar 10

Spring break

—

Mar 17

Spring break

8

Mar 24

Systems thinking

9

Mar 31

Sustainability

10

Apr 7

Thrust 1: Multifunctional materials for removing target pollutants

11

Apr 14

Thrust 2: Nanophotonics-enhanced water treatment and desalination

12

Apr 21

Thrust 3: Interfering species and fouling control

Boot Camp 2021

The purpose of the NEWT boot camp is to allow first year students from the four NEWT partner universities to meet each other to facilitate future collaborations, to meet NEWT Center staff and some of the professors and researchers working in the different thrusts, and to provide an overview of the center.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s boot camp will take place virtually from Wednesday, January 6th to Friday, January 8th, 2021.

 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Time (CST)

We, Jan 6

Th, Jan 7

Fr, Jan 8

1000-1030

Welcome & intro

Thrust 1

Publishing high

1030-1100

NEWT context

Thrust 2

impact papers

1100-1130

Innov Ecosyst

Thrust 3

Safety

1130-1200

D&I

S&S

 

1200-1230

  

Social event

1230-1300

   

1300-1330

Testbed tour

  

1330-1400

   

Recordings of previous core course sessions can be accessed at:

https://vimeo.com/showcase/4346054 (password required, please contact Jorge Loyo).

For questions and registration info, please contact Jorge Loyo.  

Recorded sessions of the course can be accessed at: https://vimeo.com/manage/albums/4346054