Transcript The curriculum in Computational Physics at the University of Udine

The course in Computational
Physics at the University of Udine
Alessandro De Angelis
on behalf of the Consiglio di Corso di Laurea
Email [email protected]
A new cross-disciplinary course
in the spirit of the Bologna agreement
• Starting from 2001, a new specialized degree in
Computational Physics has been opened in Udine.
The course is organized in cooperation with SISSAISAS (International School for Advanced Studies,
Miramare - Trieste) and University of Trieste.
• Its legal duration is two years (120 ECT credits)
• Students can enter this course after completing a 1st
level three year degree in Physics, Astronomy,
Mathematics, Computer Science
• Students who have already obtained the old-system
degree are admitted as well.
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About Computational Physics
• The method of Physical Sciences is based on the
observation of the natural phenomena and on the
elaboration of mathematical theories to describe their
mechanisms and predict the outcomes.
• In the last 30 years, a third paradigm has joined the
two traditional ones of Experimental and Theoretical
Physics: Computational Physics.
– Thanks to computers, today is possible not only to solve
equations of Theoretical Physics that could not be faced
otherwise, but also to perform virtual experiments
(simulations) on properties of matter not accessible in
laboratory: an example is given by cosmology, were we can
imagine universes different from the one in which we live!
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Skills and Professional Opportunities
• The specialized degree in Computational Physics in
Udine is meant to give skills to be spent in the fields
of industrial research and development, and of pure
and applied computational research.
• Computational Physics allows to master many
modeling and simulation techniques, and requires
creativity and flexibility of thought. Such qualities and
skills find a natural use in research and in all modern
technical and scientific jobs; they can be applied in
meteorology, seismology, ecology, optimization of
production processes, and even on the control of
risks in the financial markets, not to mention all the
possible applications in the biomedical area.
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Organization of the studies
• The studies are a balanced mixture of
theoretical and experimental physics, as well
as of advanced techniques of numerical
calculation. The legal duration of the course
is two years. A first period of 16 months is
mostly dedicated to the instruction, ranging
from computer science to quantum
mechanics; particular emphasis is given to
data acquisition laboratories and to on-line
data analysis. The last eight months require a
training in research, concluded by a thesis.
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Curricula
• To maximize flexibility of the input in the Bologna
spirit, two different curricula: one for students
coming from Computer Science/Mathematics, one
for students coming from Physics
• Four research paths in the second year:
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Complex Systems
Computational physics applied to (Astro)Particle Physics
Dynamics of Fluids
Quantum Computing
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Tutoring and Quality Control
• Students and teachers are a team (1 tutor
every two students, large student
representation in the decisions)
• Detailed (and anonymous) feedback
required for each course
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To know more…
http://www.fisica.uniud.it/~deangeli/laureainfisica/
• In Italian for now, but by June 2004 should be in
English (as most of the courses, since we were
chosen by three exchange students)
• Detailed web descriptions for each course;
lectures can be downloaded via www
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