91818 Environmental Biotechnology
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91142 Biotechnology
Description
The environment supports the globe that society depends on for both the resources we consume and the sustainable removal of waste from production. We exist in cities and towns with wastewater issues, energy needs, industries and pollutants. Environmental biotechnology is defined broadly as the application of biotechnology to the natural environment. Biotechnologists need to understand the environment so they can invent tools to generate sustainable raw materials for industry and consumption. This includes the use of biological systems to remediate contaminated environments, generate renewable energy, conduct environmental monitoring, or generate valuable products or biomass.
This subject focuses on understanding how to improve environmental quality through the use of microbes in the remediation of soils and in the clean-up of industrial waste and contaminated water. By understanding the basics of the microbial ecology of various microorganisms, and the various habitats, a strategy for bioremediation can be adapted. In addition, the emerging bioeconomy (eg biofuels) is explored in this course, and the valuable products that can be generated.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Explain the characteristics and dynamics of microbial habitats and the strategies employed by organisms in their adaptation to various habitats. |
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| 2. | Identify and explore biological solutions to environmental contamination issues, including the tools needed to monitor environmental systems. |
| 3. | Compare and contrast different bioremediation strategies, and identify strengths and limitations of using microbial communities for environmental remediation. |
| 4. | Apply the principles of engineering designs in environmental biotechnology. |
| 5. | Use and bring together several chemical, microbiological and molecular protocols, in order to conduct experiments to formulate and investigate your hypothesis. |
| 6. | Apply bioinformatic and microbiological techniques to environmental remediation problems. |
| 7. | Clearly communicate and analyze experimental findings in light of hypothesis, by using primary literature to support own evidence, and write up the findings in the form of a peer-reviewed journal article. |
| 8. | Critically evaluate the potential commercial prospects from the novel products that can be produced, keeping in mind the overall environmental impact and economic feasibility. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Explain how current and emerging molecular biotechnologies can be used to pioneer better health care or help solve or otherwise address environmental issues, and to evaluate and integrate economic and scientific strategies that influence the translation of new biotechnology products to the marketplace. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate information from sources such as databases and published literature to identify novel research ideas and apply strategic and creative reasoning to find solutions or articulate issues related to biotechnology. (2.1)
- Articulate the role and place of bio-business in the economy, with due consideration of global risk perceptions and the legal and regulatory requirements in biotechnology. (3.1)
- Demonstrate a confident independence to identify problems or unmet needs and act to find innovative and creative solutions with an understanding of the social, disciplinary, economic, and contextual barriers. (4.1)
- Display effective and appropriate professional communication skills (oral, written, visual) in order to pitch ideas, generate defensible, convincing arguments or transmit research findings within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary knowledge
- Applying the practice and application of biotechnological solutions to environmental problems.
- Novel approaches for production of products using microorganisms in biotechnology
- Bringing together understanding of microbial systems with industrial applicable uses.
2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking
- Testing hypotheses, using scientific method to answer the question, present data in a clear manner, bringing together the various lines of evidence to form a coherent argument.
- Critical to scientific practice is the development of logical thought and problem solving skills in experimental work. These skills are learned via laboratory exercises and data collection to answer questions in practicals.
- Research skills: gathering, evaluating and using information from sources such as databases, research and review articles, textbooks, catalogues and technical reference books through research for major report. Criteria for marking the report directly assess this attribute.
3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility
- The application of biotechnology processes for environmental issues. Translation of the microbial processes to tackle remediation problems and to develop novel products. Understanding how to scale systems to be commercially viable and economically feasible.
- Self-discipline is also learned through active participation in lectures, which require you to take notes and read online material in order to complement your understanding of the subject concepts. The extent to which you attend lectures and take notes is indirectly assessed through the final exam.
- Teamwork is developed as you work in groups through collection, collation and analysis of data. Tasks must be delegated among the group each week to enable all students time to complete various practical components. Group discussion of experimental data at the final data collection stage will help to develop group contribution to interpretation of findings.
- Ethics and professional conduct in science are learned through lectures and the manual. This includes a full discussion on the reasons against and consequences of data fabrication and plagiarism. Assessment of these concepts is made via the formal exam and reports will be tested for originality using plagiarism detection software.
4. Reflection, Innovation, and Creativity
- The ability to engage with and act on feedback from your peers regarding your own performance will be developed during the commercial group project.
- You will receive feedback during and after completion of your assignments, which will aid you in your further career.
5. Communication skills
- Excellence in written scientific communication is developed through the process of writing comprehensive scientific reports in the form of a peer-reviewed article. Clear and logical writing that follows standard practice in scientific communication is assessed via detailed report marking criteria.
- Oral communication skills will be developed through a company pitch in which students will work together to make a recommendation for the best possible algal technology for a specific need. This will be communicated to a panel of experts via an oral pitch followed by a Q & A session. Several criteria will be assessed including clarity of delivery, presentation style and ability to deal with questions.
Teaching and learning strategies
You will learn by way of and independent learning activities, lectures, workshops, and practical classes.
Independent learning activities: Relevant readings, videos and lab protocols will be made available online relevant to the lecture/practical of the week. You are expected to come to class/practical prepared. These will enhance your ability to follow the practical and lectures, and are highly encouraged. The online material aims to enhance your understanding of the topic or delve deeper into a more specific area. As well as the subject manual, information and links to all these learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. You will need to check the announcements at least once a week.
Lectures: Enthusiastic lecturers who are experts in their field will be delivering the material to you in weekly 1-2 hour lectures. You are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions on the content, and are expected to take notes throughout. Some of the lectures will include discussions and debates based on the online material provided before class. Lecture notes corresponding with each lecture, including any associated electronic material or links, are uploaded to Canvas. You are expected to participate in class in order to get the most of it.
Workshops: There will be a set of workshops run on certain weeks to help you understand the results from the practicals, give feedback on your results, and assist with the analysis needed for the scale up algal assignment. These workshops are for your benefit, though attendance is not mandatory (except for the week when presenting data).
Practical classes: Practicals will explore some of the issues discussed in lectures. This includes investigating the microbial degradation of diesel and how that affects microbial community structure (including chemical analysis and community analysis using bioinformatics). You will also be looking at the components of bioreactor design and operation for algal growth. This will build upon previous classes taken in your degree, including the Biotechnology pre-requisite. There will be opportunities for feedback in your hypotheses and analysis on the practicals which should aid in guiding your assignment. You will be working in groups and will be sharing data, although are ultimately responsible for your own assignment and work.
Given the fundamental importance of laboratory work in this subject to your future career as a scientist, you are expected to attend at least 80% of the practical classes. Practicals are run each week, and build upon each other. You are responsible for catching up any work missed if you miss a week. You will be given a detailed protocols for each week’s practical; you are expected to read the given practical prior to coming to that practical every week.
Feedback: You will receive feedback from both submitted reports via REVIEW. There will also be informal feedback sessions before the reports. Throughout the practicals you will be interacting with staff who will be available during class for feedback on the activities.
Assessments: There are a variety of assessments, including:
- Study for quizzes and the final exam, which assesses disciplinary knowledge.
- Writing of scientific reports, which assesses communication of scientific information
- Competency throughout the practicals and worksheets from the practicals
- Business pitch, selecting the best algal production system for a commercial use
You should be spending at least 9 hours per week on face-to-face, online activities, and on your own revision of the content.
An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills to succeed at university and in the workplace. During the course of this subject, you will complete a milestone assessment task that will, in addition to assessing your subject-specific learning objectives, assess your English language proficiency.
Content (topics)
- Microbial ecology and the diverse habitats
- Tools and sensors to monitor environmental conditions, and the application of these in bioreactors
- Bioreactors (both in situ and ex situ), delving deeper into algal biotechnology and bioreactors
- Genetic modification of microorganisms
- Environmental remediation using microorganisms. Practical will focus on microbial degradation of oil, looking at the different soil communities and how they are adapted to degrade oil. This will also involve looking at the community structure (which will involve some molecular biology and bioinformatics)
- Emerging uses of environmental biotechnology (e.g. biofuels, pharmaceuticals, high value products etc)
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Quiz and worksheet
| Intent: | This assessment task aims to give regular feedback throughout the term on students' understanding of the subject material. The final exam assesses how well the students understand the material in class. This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 3.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
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Assessment task 2: Business pitch
| Intent: | This assessment task aims to give students a chance to develop a proposal to an ongoing environmental problem that is both scientifically and commercially feasible. This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Thorough guidelines on writing the report are laid out in the practical manual, along with the assessment criteria that will be used for marking the reports and how each contributes to graduate attribute development. You will be assessed on your ablity to:
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Assessment task 3: Practical report
| Intent: | This assessment task looks at the process to solve a bioremediation problem. This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Criteria: | Thorough guidelines on writing the report are laid out in the practical manual, along with the assessment criteria that will be used for marking the reports and how each contributes to graduate attribute development. This means that you have access to the criteria required to complete a high quality. If these criteria are met to sufficient standard according to the demonstrator marking the report, it will be possible to obtain full marks for the report. The total report is worth 35%. Although the laboratory work for this project is carried out as a team, your report will be marked individually. |
Minimum requirements
You are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures during the semester.
Practical classes in subjects offered by the Faculty of Science are an important and integral part of your learning in this subject. In addition to assisting students’ understanding of application of concepts, practical classes develop hands-on laboratory skills and experience, including safety skills and specialised techniques related to the assessment tasks. These also contribute to the development of essential graduate attributes desired by employers. Thus, students are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled practical sessions.
If you cannot attend a scheduled practical class, please contact your subject coordinator as soon as possible to discuss your situation.
English language proficiency: It is a requirement of this subject that you complete Assessment task 3. Should you receive an unsatisfactory English language level, you may be required to complete further language support after the completion of this subject.
Recommended texts
Papers and recommended reading will be posted on UTS Canvas. Recommended books are:
- Wang, L. et al. (2010). Environmental Biotechnology, Humana Press. (available at UTS Library, either in hard copy or electronic version)
- Evans, G. M. and Furlong, J. C. (2011). Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application, Wiley-Blackwell. (available at UTS Library)
- Jördening, H. J. and Winter, J. (2005). Environmental Biotechnology: Concepts and Applications, Wiley-VCH. (available at UTS Library E-book)