Evaluation KJM5610/9610 - 2016
The course had an official long list of attendees, who actually never showed up at lectures. Last year a similar problem occurred, I fear there is a major error in the informatics system, which has not removed (or falsely attributed) students to the course. Practically, the course was originally followedby three Master students (two of which exchange students) and one PhD student. A third Master student (also an exchange student) joined the course after few weeks from the beginning of the course.
With proceeding of the class, it has been clear that the exchange student did not have the right background to follow the class. In particular, one of them was missing the most basic fundaments quantum mechanics, and left the class after the first couple of weeks. The other two attended all the classes but found that the interactive project was too demanding for their competences and thus withdrew at that stage, thus not giving the final exam.
As already pointed out last year, I have difficulties finding KJM5610 a course that is appropriate for the chemistry students at UiO. Its contents are too specialised, and thus it limits the number of students that are interested in it. Moreover, proper understanding would require very solid bases of quantum mechanics, quantum chemistry, physics, and computational skills.
This year I tried to extend its contents to properties in the condensed phase, introducing significant more elements of statistical mechanics. The students that completed the course particularly appreciated those contents.
This convinces me that the two KJM5630/KJM5610 courses require a serious reshaping.
I propose to cancel them, and substitute them in the future Master program with the following two courses:
1 – Master course in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics
2 – Master course in multi-scale molecular modelling
The first course will address the fundamental theory for complex systems that is required and appears in all disciplines of chemistry, complementing quantum mechanics. In particular, the course should be mandatory for those students entering a physical chemistry oriented master, but it should be accessible to students interested in materials, energy and any other related problems.
The second course will cover some of the aspects today in KJM5630 related to modeling tools, and KJM5610 related to calculation of properties. In particular, two modules should be implemented: the first related more to quantum molecular structure and properties determination, and the second related to dynamical models in the condensed-phase, and properly named multi-scale approaches.