Objectives and competences
Objectives of the curricular unit:
- Awareness of microbiological activity as a key factor for environmental sustainability
- To know the integration of different microorganisms in technological solutions for environmental recovery, namely water and soils
- Develop research competences
Expected results
At the end of UC students should know a range of applications of environmental biotechnology for different sectors and to relate that to broader environmental sustainability strategies.
Teaching Methodologies
The UC is structured in lectures, including seminars, tutorial and laboratory practice. In the lectures the basic concepts on the relationship between microbiology and environmental quality are presented. For the laboratory practice students are integrated into ongoing research projects at CBQF, being responsible for a research component agreed with the teacher. At the end of the unit the students produce a report and make an oral presentation on their projects. During tutorial classes students analyze a case study on a thematic related to the unit. The topic is selected by the students and is discussed with the teacher during the semester. At the end the work is presented orally to the whole class. Throughout the semester, students are encouraged to attend lectures/seminars given by researchers/professionals at CBQF in areas related to the curricular unit
Syllabus
Lectures
- Microorganisms and wastewater treatment - from water reuse to the recovery of by-products in a circular perspective
- Microorganisms and practical applications for agriculture and forest – bioinoculants, biodiversity and microbiome
- Applications of environmental biotechnology in the requalification of degraded soils
- Lectures by specialists in related topics.
Laboratory Practice
- Integration of students in a CBQF (Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry Centre) research project in in areas related to Environmental Biotechnology and relation to sustainability.
Tutorial
- Analysis and discussion of a case study (scientific articles, technical study) on a topic related to Environmental Biotechnology and relation to sustainability.
