Teaching & Pop Science

TEACHING & SCIENCE POPULARIZATION

Prof. Franco is highly committed with high quality and interactive teaching as well as with science popularization. He develops interactive lectures (aiming to make students to feel like in a movie!), using also serious games and Virtual/Mixed Reality for practices.

Knowledge

Sharing the latest scientific discoveries specific to the taugh disciplines. Making the students to feel themselves as main actors of scientific research.

Transdisciplinarity

Teaching transdisciplinary approaches to undertake modern science, encompassing physics, chemistry, maths, computer science and epistemology.

Curiosity & Creativity

Estimulating students' curiosity and creativity through open scientific questions in the Energy field. Engaging constructive scientific debates between students.

Team Work

Engaging students with collaborative serious games, including practices with Virtual and Augmented Reality. Developing team work spirit among the students.

     1/3. Lectures at the Master & Doctoral School Levels

Masters MESC+ & CD MAT
(Université de Picardie Jules Verne)

The Energy Multiverse (formerly known as Fuel Cells and Beyond) (2013-today)

This is a 24-hours course, taking place once a year, fully designed by Prof. Franco, which focuses on the recent research progresses and technological development of modern fuel cells and next generation rechargeable batteries. On a multidisciplinary basis, enriched with epistemological thoughts, serious games and scientific curiosities aiming to stimulate the students’ creativity, this course provides a complete and comprehensive critical review on topics related to fuel cell and battery materials, electro-catalysis, transport phenomena and degradation. Furthermore, the program provides the students with novel and practical methodologies for the multiscale modeling,  numerical simulation and AI (machine learning) applied to fuel cells and batteries, jointly with demonstrations and exercises carried out with Prof. Franco's team computational software, in an environment of strong interactivity. At the end of this lecture-series, the students are being asked to propose, in the format of short oral presentations, the schematics of improved designs or operation conditions of electrochemical energy devices vs. given technical constraints in a “challenge exercise” which is being presented in the inaugural lecture of Prof. Franco (“Students’ Challenge”). Since 2016 Prof. Franco implements in his course practical exercises based on cutting-edge Virtual/Mixed Reality-software technology with the aim of reviewing some of the taught concepts in an interactive and immersive environment.

Link to some of the recorded Prof. Franco's  lectures will be available through a dedicated YouTube channel. The videos below show some Prof. Franco's Virtual Reality activities in practice. 

Master Automotive Engines
(IFP School)

Multiscale Modeling of Batteries (2014-2020)

This was a 6 to 9 hours course, taking place once a year, fully designed by Prof. Franco, which focuses on the computational modeling of rechargeable batteries for automotive applications. Lectures cover different simulation techniques, including the pseudo-2D model by Prof. John Newman, 3D-resolved models, the simulation of lithium ion battery manufacturing processes, and the modeling of next generation batteries (including Lithium Sulfur and Lithium Sulfur Batteries). Since 2016 Prof. Franco implemented in this course practical exercises based on cutting-edge Virtual Reality-software technology with the aim of reviewing some of the teached concepts in an interactive and immersive environment.


Lectures for PhD students
(Université de Picardie Jules Verne)

Non Equilibrium Thermodynamics (2014-2018)

Most of the systems found in the Universe are not in thermodynamic equilibrium, thus they are changing or can be triggered to change over time, and are continuously and discontinuously subject to flux of matter and energy to and from other systems. Systems not in thermodynamic equilibrium offer a large diversity of intriguing behaviors, such as choatic dynamics, self-organization processes arising from "disordered" systems, and the autocatalytic reactions in biological systems. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is a modern scientific theory which aims to describe systems that are not in thermodynamic equilibrium. This theory already offers a very powerful tool for the understanding of the dynamic physicochemical mechanisms and processes in a large diversity of application domains in Chemistry, Physics and Biology.

This multidisciplinary UPJV Doctoral School module created and given by Prof. A.A. Franco, introduces the fascinating Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Theory and aims to teach the PhD students on how to use it in their day-by-day scientific work to describe, analyze, understand and predict physicochemical mechanisms and processes. Within a highly interactive and comprehensive approach, the lectures aim stimulating the students to think "out of the box" and to develop their creativity within a transversal view of sciences.

Prof. A.A. Franco's lectures are enriched with epistemological concepts and practical application exercises, including numerical simulations on cases of interest for the students' PhD thesis.

Other Masters
(Université de Picardie Jules Verne)

Diverse Lectures (2013-2020)

Beyond the Masters mentioned above, Prof. Franco has delivered/been involved in several lecture-series in other Masters in the 2013-2020 period. Some of them are listed below and others are listed in the detalied Prof. Franco's CV.

  • Multiscale Modeling of Energy Materials (Applied Mathematics Master, 2nd year MSc. students, 10 hours/year): 2016-2020. In this lecture-series, fully designed by himself, Prof. Franco have taught about multiscale modeling techniques for the computational simulation of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, including batteries and fuel cells. Different simulation techniques explained included Coarse Grained Molecular Dynamics and Finite Element Method. 
  • Mathematics for Chemists and Biologists  (Master on Transformation and Valorisation of Natural Ressources, 1st year MSc. students, 10 hours/year): 2013-2014. This was an introductory course  combining both theoretical and practical aspects of mathematics, with strong application to both Chemistry and Biology. Concepts revisited include vectorial calculus, differential calculus, differential equations, matricial calculus and Fourier/Laplace transforms. Exercises were solved in strong interaction with the students, on a large diversity of relevant applications, including exciting examples on the analysis of Fourier spectra of chemical clocks, the description of the dynamics of predator-pray systems (Lokta-Volterra-like systems) and diffusion-reaction equations describing, for example, why zebras have stripes.
  • Nanocatalysis (Master on Transformation and Valorisation of Natural Ressources, 2nd year MSc. students,  4 hours/year): 2013-2016. This course introduced the fundamentals of the use of "nano-objects" in catalysis and electro-catalysis. The fascinating chemical and physical properties of such nano-objects were explained in relation to some of their important application domains, including energy generation, environmental chemistry and biology. Experimental and modeling methods to characterize their activity, selectivity and stability towards a large number of catalytic reactions of interest were explained in detail. This course concluded by highlighting challenges and opportunities on the use of these nano-objects for catalysis and electro-catalysis in both academics and industry.
  • Electrochemical Devices for Energy Conversion and Storage (Master on Transformation and Valorisation of Natural Ressources, 2nd year MSc. students, 10h): 2014. This course introduced the operation principles and application areas of batteries and fuel cells. The main scientific and technological challenges in relation to their performance, cost, durability and safety were in particular discussed. For batteries, special focus is on lithium ion, sulfur, air batteries. For fuel cells, special focus was on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. At the final lecture, a puzzle game called "Find your component" was proposed to the students  bringing them to solve a real technological problem with these technologies. 
  • Epistemology (Master on Teaching, Education and Training Careers, 2nd year Master students, 10 hours): 2013. This was a course on Epistemology in relation to the Chemistry and Physico-Chemical Sciences. An historical perspective of the evolution of the scientific ideas and approaches in these disciplines was provided. The role that Chemistry historically played in the Human imaginary in search of the understanding of the Cosmos is also studied. The course also analyzed the sociological impact of Chemistry and revisited pedagogical aspects within different educational paradigms. 

     2/3. Lectures at the Undergraduate Level

Diverse Undergraduate Courses
(Université de Picardie Jules Verne)

Diverse Lectures (2013-2016)

Prof. Franco has delivered several lecture-series at the undergraduate level in the 2013-2016 period. Some of them are listed below and others are listed in the detalied Prof. Franco's CV.

  •  History of Science (University 2nd Year Students, UPJV, 20 hours/year): 2014-2016. This was a course fully-designed by Prof. Franco on the History of Science and of the Scientific Method. The lectures cover several aspects, from the steam machine to the artificial intelligence, from the fire discovery to the LHC at CERN, the theories of the origin of life, the evolution of our view of the Universe all along the centuries...Quantum Mechanics, Particles Physics, Relativity, Big Bang, Gödel Theorem, Thermodynamics, Chaos, Fractals...are some of the keywords representative of what is explained in this lectures-series. The course was enriched by epistemological concepts aiming to develop the students' creativity. Onsite and online games were also proposed all along the lectures aiming to develop a strong interaction with the students. At the final lecture, the students were requested to make a short oral presentation and provide a short report on a scientific topic of their choice, but under some "formal constraints" explained in hte inaugural lecture.
  • Oral and written expression (University 1st year students, 24 hours/year): 2013-2014. Many students entering in the University suffer timidity and thus have difficulties to communicate in front of an audience. This interactive course provided hints to succeed in oral presentations, to manage the stress and to prepare scientific reports. The students were in particular asked to prepare a research project on a topic of their choice, in the form of a report, a poster and an oral presentation. Technical tips for the preparation of good reports and presentation materials through the use of specific software (e.g. Word and PowerPoint) were also provided.
  • Practices on Equilibrium Chemistry (University 1st year students, 40 hours): 2014. This was a practice on Equilibrium Chemistry, Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry related concepts covered through comprehensive exercises. 

     3/3. Scientific Popularization Events.

Prof. Franco regularly participates in Science Festivals and other Science Popularization Events (list provided below). He also uses his Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) serious games to engage the large public with the fascinating energy sciences.

[29] A.A. Franco, "Digital Twins for the Optimization of Battery Manufacturing", Flash Conference, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, (February 28, 2023, Amiens, France).

[28] A.A. Franco, "Virtual Worlds and Digital Twins: Towards the Metaverse of Energy Sciences", Erasmus+ Master on Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion (MESC+) Gala Dinner  (September 14, 2022, Amiens, France).

[27] A.A. Franco, "Fabriquer des batteries à l'aide de la réalité virtuelle et augmentée", Festival Pint of Science (May 9, 2022, Amiens, France).

[26] A.A. Franco, "Un cientifico en Francia", Secondary School "Ciclo Basico", Bahia Blanca, Argentina (March 29, 2022, online)

[23-25] A.A. Franco, "Entering the Augmented Era: Virtual Reality for Battery Education and Research". Three oral presentations and battery virtual reality serious games demonstrations at the "Atelier d'Innovation Pédagogique dans la Médecine" (Workshop on Pedagogy Innovation for Medical Training) at SimuSanté (June 3, 2021, Amiens, France).

[13-22] A.A. Franco, several oral presentations (webinars) within the European Science is Wonderful! 2020 Festival within the Research and Innovation Days, following the selection of Prof. Franco’s ERC Project “ARTISTIC” to participate in this event (September 22-24, 2020, online because of Covid-19 pandemics, Europe).

[12] A.A. Franco, “Faire des meilleures à l’aide de l’intelligence artificielle”, Festival Pint of Science (September 7, 2020, online through YouTube because of Covid-19 pandemics, France).

[11] A.A. Franco, “L’Energie: Dompter Cette Force Mystèrieuse à l’aide des Batteries”, Festival Pint of Science (May 20, 2019, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France)

[10] A.A. Franco, “ARTISTIC: Un Nouveau Paradigme dans l’Ingénierie des Batteries”, Ceremonie de Mise en Lumière of my ERC Project ARTISTIC, organized in my honour by the CNRS and the UPJV (October 23, 2018, Amiens, France).

[9] A.A. Franco, “L’Energie: Dompter Cette Force Mystèrieuse à l’aide des Batteries”, Collège Guy Mareschal (October 18, 2018, Amiens, France).

[8] A.A. Franco, “L’Energie: Dompter Cette Force Mystèrieuse à l’aide des Batteries”, Festival Pint of Science (May 16, 2018, Beauvais, France).

[7] A.A. Franco, “Projet ERC ARTISTIC : Une Usine Virtuelle des Batteries Lithium-Ion”, Ceremonie des Créateurs d’Avenir 2018 (February 22, 2018, Amiens, France).

[6] A.A. Franco, “L’Intelligence Artificielle et la Réalité Virtuelle comme Outils de Découverte des Batteries du Futur », Conférence Flash Tout Publique Invitée, UFR des Sciences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne (February 19, 2018, Amiens, France).

[5] A.A. Franco, “Que La Force Soit Avec Vous“, Association ASTEP (November 9, 2017, Amiens, France).

[4] A.A. Franco, "Que La Force Soit Avec Vous", Festival Pint of Science (May 17, 2017, Amiens, France).

[3] A.A. Franco,"La modélisation mathématique comme vecteur d'innovation dans le stockage de l'énergie", invited lecture at the ARI Picardie (Picardie Regional Agency for Innovation) within the event "Témoignages sur la résolution de problèmes industriels par les Mathématiques Appliquées" (February 10, 2017, Amiens, France).

[2] A.A. Franco, "The Picardy Dream...", invited talk by Region Picardie (France) in the "Semaine de la Recherche et de l'Innovation de Picardie" (the invitation is because Prof. Franco is one of the three laureates by the Region Picardie within the 2013-2014 projects programme "Accueil Chercheur Haut Niveau" -"New Hosted High Level Researchers"-(November 26, 2014, Laon, France).

[1] A.A. Franco, "Theory vs. experiments: the eternal debate?", seminar given at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne (April 25, 2013, Amiens, France).

+  participations in La Fête de la Science and other numerous seminars in French research institutes and universities in the period (2002-2013).

Interested in Prof. Franco's services for science popularization events?

Contact him !
Share by: