Master Program in Molecular Biotechnology

Biology for sustainability

Biology for sustainability

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

This teaching module will qualify the student for the knowledge within a number of fields in which new technologies based on biological systems have been or will be developed to support the transition towards an environmentally sustainable future; from the fuel production to the food industries to the monitoring of environmental impacts on health. Students will appreciate the need of alternative to conventional products damaging the environment (e.g. plastics and animal derivatives from intensive farming & fishing), and the resulting career opportunities. Students will also understand the hazard of new contaminations (e.g. microplastics and endocrine disruptors), and how biotechnology is involved in all aspects from monitoring and testing to technological solutions. The course will stimulate discussion on innovative technologies and efforts towards reduction and/or mitigation. The course will also promote a wide-angle perspective in considering upcoming health-threatening issues and their possible solutions, examining in depth the interests of each stakeolders and the consequence of any human interventions.

Results of learning outcomes

1. Knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will understand the main gaps in the environmental sustainability of production processes and the methodology to assess their environmental impact;
• Will know the concept technologies based on biological systems for reducing and mitigating environmental and health impacts in relation to their Technology readiness levels (TRLs) for estimating their maturity;
• Will know the main objective of the International, European and Italian regulation on sustainability;

2. Applying knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will be able to identify main driver of environmental impact of a process or of an activity
• Will be able to apply preventive strategies under a sustainability point of view and to assess the effectiveness of such strategies in their implementation;
• Will be able to choose technologies based on biological systems among the new applications also referring to the application contest and focussing on the TRLs.

3. Making judgments

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will be able to reprocess study material (lecture slides, notes, texts) and identify key concepts;
• Will be able to interpret an environmental impact assessment and an health impact assessment;
• Will be able to read critically and independently the results of scientific literature on such research filed;
• Will be able to interpret sustainable biotechnology research results and assess their relevance

4. Communication skills

Upon completion of this course, the student:

• Will know how to summarize the evidence on sustainability concisely, with emphasis on effectiveness and perspective in the short, medium and long time;
• Will be able to discuss orally the results of scientific research on sustainable biotechnology

5. Learning ability

Upon completion of this course, the student will know how to independently consult the scientific literature (including published articles and accredited resources –such as WHO reports, etc.)

Program

• The sixth mass extinction and the "biotech ark: conservation of endangered species through stem cell and assisted reproduction technology
• Alternative proteins: plant based, fermentation, and cultivated meat
• A deep dive into cultivated meat & its challenges
• Beyond cultured meat: from bear bile to snake venom
• Packaging and Plastics. What are the alternatives, advantages and disadvantages; recycling vs. degrading;
• Emerging concerns in environmental contamination (endocrine disruptors and microplastics): their impact of health and how science/technology addresses these;
• Environmental monitoring schemes, eDNA analyses, etc.
• The complex relation between stakeholders: industry, consumers, regulatory agencies, scientist.

Course delivery

The lessons will take place in presence according to the course scheduling. All the materials including slides and integrative documents will be available on the Moodle page of the teaching module.

Learning assessment methods

The evaluation will be made in part thought a series of written assignments during the course and an oral exam to critically discuss the assignments.

The oral exam evaluation will further expand on the integration of all course material, the thoughtful evaluation of a problem, and the benefit of a personal opinion, rather than specific notions.

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table