Master Program in Molecular Biotechnology

Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability

Academic year 2023/2024

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 monitoring of impacts on the environment and on the health.

Students will Know the methods useful in the effectiveness assessment of the impact reductions, 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 module will stimulate discussion on assessment of innovative technologies impact.

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

Program

• The history and development of the Sustainability reaching the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• European and National Sustainability Regulations and Directives, Environmental Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment, Environmental accountability and management ISO 14000, Life Cycle Assessment;
• Waste bio-refinery towards a sustainable biotechnological production (ex. bioremediation of antibiotics, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants from aqueous and solid phases and bio-based high value molecule production);
• Integrated and Life Cycle Cost Assessment for selection of appropriate wastewater treatment system;
• Environmental microbiota role in the sustainability and human health impact reduction.

Course delivery

The lessons will be place in according to the course scheduling in presence. 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 thought a written test based on close and open questions on the program and/or referring to a specific case study published in the literature. The evaluation will be mainly on the integration of all course material, the thoughtful evaluation of a problem, 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