A) OBJECTIVES
The aim is to provide students with the knowledge on the concept of bio-refinery and the impact that it will have in the development of industrial biotechnology. Besides the identification of criteria on which is based the development of bio-refineries will be analyzed several examples of production of fine-chemicals, biomolecules and enzymes through the recovery and purification from natural matrices or by fermentation.
B) EXPECTED LEARNING RESULTS
1) Knowledge and understanding will be acquired by the student in relation to: i) eco-compatible biotechnology for the protection of the environment, also in view of the recovery of biomolecules of potential health interest, as in the case of bioraffinerie ; (ii) environmentally friendly methods for the protection of the environment and for the exploitation of natural resources currently disposed of with waste or wastewater; (iii) biotechnological approaches designed to produce molecules of potential interest, for example in pharmacology, nutraceuticals and / or cosmetics; iv) ability to use English, particularly in technical and scientific contexts.
2) Applied knowledge and understanding will cover the ability to design and use microorganisms for biotechnological purposes in the treatment of residual waste and wastewater with the aim of obtaining high added value products and defining research design in the field of industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology.
3) Making judgements; the teaching will provide the student with the ability to work autonomously, in particular through the critical consultation of various types of teaching materials (such as scientific publications in English, position papers, etc.) and the carrying out of laboratory activities and teaching visits.
4) For communication skills, the student who attends the teaching will be able to present biotechnologies related to microbial biotechnology and bio-refineries, with the help of appropriate audiovisual techniques and critically. This ability will also be achieved thanks to the extensive use of power point presentations in the classroom and to the dialogue and exchange of views between the students and the teacher both during frontal lessons and during laboratory activities and didactic excursions.
5) Learning skills would be acquired through autonomous learning of application issues addressed in teaching and during laboratory exercises.