Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Familiarize with materials that are processed either chemically or mechanically from trees or other plants, such as cellulose fibres, fibrils (micro- or nano-structured), lignin, bark extractives and novel combinations of these
• The ability to develop innovative ideas through hands-on prototyping and experimenting with materials
• Awareness of the main sustainability issues related to this field
• Understand the principles of scaling the ideas towards innovations and even commercialisation
• Experience of an interdisciplinary working environment in practice

Credits: 6

Schedule: 04.08.2025 - 15.08.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Tapani Vuorinen, Pirjo Kääriäinen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Nordic Biomaterials by CHEMARTS inspires students to combine design and material science for new cellulose-driven concepts and ideas. Combining natural materials with advanced technologies offer new possibilities for sustainable development within existing and emerging industries.

  This graduate-level course teaches students with varying backgrounds (design, science, engineering, business) to combine design with material research. It introduces a broad spectrum of biomaterials, especially wood-and plant-based. During the course, students familiarise themselves with practice-based material research, experience how interdisciplinary material research happens in practice, and explore how raw materials could be turned into innovative business ideas in the context of the circular economy.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The passing of the course requires active participation individually and in teamwork, and a report of the working process.

   

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The total course workload of 160h (6 ECTS) is divided as follows:

  • • 25h Self-paced orientation and Laboratory Safety course
    • 25h Lectures, discussions and presentations
    • 35h Class preparation and reflection
    • 40h Laboratory work
    • 10h Excursion
    • 25h Post-work assignment

DETAILS

Study Material

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Kääriäinen, Tervinen, Vuorinen and Riutta (Eds.), The CHEMARTS Cookbook, Aalto ARTS Books, 2020.

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

12 Responsible Production and Consumption

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Teaching Language: English

  Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Summer
  2025-2026 Summer

  Registration:

  The course is organized under Aalto University Summer School. In maximum 24 students will be accepted based on applications.  A course implementation may be cancelled if the number of students enrolled to the course implementation does not meet the required minimum of five students. In the case of cancelled course implementations, the students enrolled to them must be provided with an alternative way of completing the course or be advised to take some other applicable course.

Description