GRANMA ENGLISH DAILY
November 6, 2005

New Science Courses in Cuba's 'Open University' TV Broadcasts

Two new courses will be available to Cubans, starting next Sunday,
November 6, in the science program of the Open University TV
broadcasts. "Technology, Management and Perspectives" and "Human
Genome Project" are the titles of the courses that, as with previous
ones, will be accompanied by printed booklets.

Cuba's Open University (Universidad para Todos) is an integral part
of the 'Battle of Ideas' program to enhance the socio-cultural
awareness of the whole Cuban nation.

These two courses will be on the air on TeleRebelde national coverage
TV network from 10 o'clock in the morning to 12 noon on Sundays,
during the time frame previously used by the courses "Towards the
development of an energy awareness" and " Radiation and Life," which
ended last week.

The first hour, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. will be used to broadcast
the course "Technology: History, Management and Perspectives" and the
11:00 a.m. to 12 noon slot will be used to broadcast the course
titled " Biotechnology: The Human Genome Project.

"Technology: History, Management and Perspectives" was preceded by
the course "Basics of Modern Sciences" and will comprise of twenty
hours on the air. Its contents will allow viewers to learn about the
most representative aspects of the history and development of
technology, making emphasis on the history of the technological
development of our country in the areas of Health Care, Civil and
Hydraulic Engineering, Shipbuilding and Telecommunications, among
others.

Basic aspects of the management of technological development and the
social implications linked to it will also be taught, including among
them the impact of New Information and Communications Technologies.
The course will also contribute to answering the most relevant
questions about the main tendencies of technological development
expected to happen during the twenty first century, especially in the
areas of Energy, Biotechnology and Brain Research Technology. During
the course, viewers will also learn about the use of the so called "
New Materials" during the twentieth century, Nanotechnology including
its present applications, perspectives and tendencies in the
development of computer design and construction.

Lessons of this course will be delivered by a prestigious group of
professors from the Higher Institute of Technology and Applied
Sciences, the University of Havana Institute of Materials and
Reagents, the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, among
other institutions.

The course "Biotechnology: Human Genome Project" forms part of the
series structured as a follow up of the course "Introduction to
Biotechnology". Its contents will allow the public to learn about
this project, what it is about, its experimental development, as well
as its impact and importance in the areas of Medical Sciences,
Biology, Agriculture and life in society.

Starting from the origins of life on planet Earth and the evolution
of the species and of man, the course will present in an easy to
understand way the evolution and functions of the DNA molecule, the
molecule that constitutes the genome of all species carrying the
coded genetic information.

This topic has been divided into eight parts and twenty one lessons,
and will be taught by a group of Professors, from the Center of
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the University of Havana
School Of Biology, and the Neurosciences Center of Cuba.

This courses, following the same pattern as previous ones delivered
by the Open University programs will be complemented by 32 page
printed booklets, that will be sold all over the country.

By making these courses available, the Open University program
places, within reach of all the Cuban people, important knowledge
that will contribute to the continuous development of a general,
comprehensive knowledge. They will make it possible to learn about
concrete phenomena of these sciences, helping in the understanding of
human history and the reality of the present day world.







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s.e.anderson (author of "The Black Holocaust for Beginners" - Writers  
+ Readers)