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Life, Health and Radiation
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 13 hours
  • Course by The University of Sydney
  • Offered by

About

Radiation is all around us - without it we wouldn’t exist. Yet the word has become synonymous with danger, death and disaster. This MOOC will allow the world to see radiation in a new light, to expose its benefits as well as its risks. X-ray radiation, for example, is a scientific and medical discovery that has improved or prolonged billions of lives. Most of us have had an X-ray at some point in our life, at the Dentist, in a hospital or clinic. Yet few people really understand what X-rays are or where they come from. In this course, we will travel along the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from unimaginably long to infinitesimally small wavelengths. At each significant point along the way we will stop and consider: What is the wavelength and frequency of this radiation? Is it ionising or not? Who discovered it and how? What are the uses of this radiation and What are the risks associated with it? Through this we hope to clarify a topic that is often confusing and concerning for many.

Modules

The journey begins

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Course introduction

2 Readings

  • How to navigate the course
  • Overview of the assessments and activities

Pre-course quiz and self-assessment

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test yourself: Pre-course knowledge quiz

1 Discussions

  • Introduce yourself

1 Videos

  • Pre-course self-reflection exercise

All the small things

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Introduction to Module 1
  • Atomic structure

Understanding waves

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Understanding waves
  • Understanding electromagnetic waves

What is radiation?

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • The electromagnetic spectrum
  • Radiation interacting with matter, Part 1
  • Radiation interacting with matter, Part 2
  • Alpha and beta particles

1 Readings

  • A map of our journey across the electromagnetic spectrum

Module 1 wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 1 - Module 1 quiz

1 Videos

  • Module 1 conclusion

1 Readings

  • Module 1 further readings

Introduction to Module 2

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Introduction to Module 2
  • Who discovered radiation?

Radio waves

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • ELF radiation
  • Radio frequency radiation
  • Microwave radiation

2 Readings

  • The wonderful world of radio waves
  • What is the Cosmic Microwave Background?

Infrared radiation

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Infrared

Module 2 wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 2 - Module 2 quiz

1 Discussions

  • Debunking fears of longwave radiation

1 Videos

  • Module 2 conclusion

1 Readings

  • Module 2 further readings

Introduction to Module 3

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Module 3

Visible radiation

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • The power of sight

1 Videos

  • Visible radiation

2 Readings

  • Rainbows of the night
  • Why is the sky blue?

Ultraviolet radiation

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Ultraviolet radiation

2 Readings

  • Gene mutations and natural selection
  • Why do people have different skin colours?

Impact of ionising radiation on our biology

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Biological effects of ionising radiation
  • Biological repair pathways

Module 3 wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 3 - Module 3 quiz

1 Videos

  • Module 3 conclusion

1 Readings

  • Module 3 further readings

Introduction to Module 4

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Module 4

The ionising radiations

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays

1 Readings

  • Can black holes emit radiation?

The importance of radiation protection

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Radiation Protection
  • Personalised risk
  • Encouraging the practice of justification

2 Readings

  • What does "radiation dose" mean?
  • Cultural perspectives on cancer

Module 4 wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 4 - Module 4 quiz

1 Discussions

  • Controlling your risk from ionising radiation

1 Videos

  • Module 4 conclusion

1 Readings

  • Module 4 further readings

Introduction to Module 5

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Module 5

1 Readings

  • What is the right radiation dose for me?

Ionising diagnostic examinations

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • X-ray examination
  • CT examination

1 Readings

  • DEXA, Angiography and Fluoroscopy

Radiation in medicine

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Nuclear medicine
  • Radiation therapy

Non-ionising diagnostic examinations

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Ultrasound

Module 5 wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 5 - Module 5 quiz

1 Discussions

  • Representation and discoveries in science

1 Videos

  • Module 5 conclusion

1 Readings

  • Module 5 further readings

End of course quiz and course wrap up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Assessment 6 - End of course quiz

1 Discussions

  • Take-home messages

1 Videos

  • Summary of course

Auto Summary

Discover the fascinating world of radiation with the "Life, Health and Radiation" course, designed for those eager to understand both the risks and benefits of this omnipresent phenomenon. Offered by Coursera and taught by leading experts in the Science & Engineering domain, this foundational course demystifies radiation by exploring the entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, from long wavelengths to tiny ones. Over a comprehensive 780-minute duration, you will delve into key aspects of radiation such as its wavelength, frequency, ionizing properties, historical discoveries, practical uses, and associated risks. The course emphasizes the critical role that radiation, including X-rays, plays in scientific and medical advancements—enhancing and saving lives daily. Ideal for beginners, this course offers a "Starter" subscription, making it accessible for anyone interested in gaining a clear and balanced understanding of a topic that often evokes fear and confusion. Join us to see radiation in a new, enlightening perspective and empower yourself with knowledge that is both scientifically robust and practically relevant.

Mark McEntee
Instructors

Mark McEntee

Ernest Ekpo
Instructors

Ernest Ekpo