70 world-class scientists create free course to explore extremes of the Universe

More than 70 world-class physicists from Université Paris-Saclay have developed a new free programme called a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), an online course with unlimited numbers of students and open access, to explore the Universe at its most extreme scales; from particles to stars.

Students will learn how the Universe was formed, and has evolved, as the researchers present the scientific and technological challenges they face in the study of the infinitely small and the infinitely large.

Participants will be shown what societal applications can be gained from this research, such as advances in medical imaging, image recognition, nuclear energy, and supercomputing.

It’s the first MOOC from Université Paris-Saclay, an institution established by 19 of France’s biggest names in science, engineering, business and humanities, including the French National Centre for Scientific Research and top-ranked engineering school École Polytechnique. The university welcomed its inaugural class this month.

Frédéric Déliot, course coordinator and physicist at Université Paris-Saclay, says: “70 physicists working on one MOOC is unusual – coordinating them is tough – but this is one of the first times that we’ve had a common project under the name of the new university, and our doctoral school is much bigger now.

“The course offers a great picture of the huge range of on-going, pioneering research in our laboratories. It’s a chance to discover today’s hot research topics, as well as unite the institutes of Université Paris-Saclay.”

The MOOC starts on November 16. It is intended for PhD students, as well as master students, undergraduates and those who are curious about fundamental physics and its applications. English subtitles are available throughout the ten-week course.

For more information or to register for the MOOC ‘From Particles to Stars’ click here: https://www.france-universite-numerique-mooc.fr/courses/ParisSaclay/71001/session01/about

For more information or to speak to Frédéric Déliot, contact Stephanie Mullins at BlueSky PR on smullins@bluesky-pr.com or call +44 (0)1582 790 706.