Nanotechnology – Introduction to Molecular Programming Summer School

Molecular programming is a multidisciplinary field that combines physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. This summer course introduces the future of computing and nanotechnology for anyone interested in the field.

You’ll learn how the behaviour of physical matter can be “programmed” using biological building blocks such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. These molecules can be designed to assemble, disassemble, heal, adapt, and even communicate with their environment.

Instead of using electricity like traditional computers, this new form of computing operates through chemistry. In chemical computers, information is encoded in molecules, often via changes in their concentrations. Because the outputs of these systems are themselves molecules, chemical computers can directly influence physical materials. This allows them to power soft robotics, guide tissue growth, or control the release of therapeutic drugs.

Additionally, chemical computers can interface with the outside world. They can sense and respond to environmental cues such as light, heat, and electrical or magnetic fields.