Environmental Biotechnology
Overview
This unit aims to introduce the students to various regional and global concerns regarding the environment, including the natural challenges, various types of environmental pollutants and their effects, the changing environment, and the developments of diverse technologies to detect, study and address these concerns. The subject aims to introduce specific examples and cases, and explain how chemical, biological and molecular sciences can be applied to identify and address issues of environmental concerns.
Requisites
Assumed Knowledge
Background in basic biology and/or chemistry
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Consider and appraise the significance of native biodiversity and need for its conservation, including describing diversity of life forms and their interactions in ecosystems
- Explore Indigenous knowledges of caring for Country and apply learnings to contemporary environmental biology studies
- Recognise and discuss diverse types of environmental pollutants and their impacts on health and the environment, including the impact of human activities.
- Research the challenges of and propose solutions for emerging environmental concerns, including the application new technologies for addressing these
- Discern and report on the scientific, ethical and/or social issues associated with certain applications of biotechnology for addressing environmental concerns
- Conduct appropriate and scholarly literature searches in undertaking an in-depth case study of an environmental issue, and presenting a critical appraisal
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.00 | 12 weeks | 96 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Quizzes | Individual | 10 - 15% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 30 - 45% | 1,3,4,5 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 15 - 30% | 1,3,4,5 |
| Written Assignment | Individual | 20 - 35% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Content
Content will vary according to new issues and trends and is expected to include:
- Life forms and their interactions, biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Contemporary studies of organisms and ecosystems and exploring their potential convergence with aspects of
Indigenous knowledge - Issues of environmental concerns, e.g., diverse types of pollutants from industrial, mining or agricultural activities and/or health care practices; case studies
- The effects of pollutants on living organisms; case studies
- Environmental stress factors and their impacts on plant life, sustainability and biodiversity; case studies
- Natural sources of pharmaceuticals, industrially useful organisms, applications
- Emerging or developing areas such as biopolymers, biodegradable materials, biofuels, environmental modelling studies
- Applications of biology, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and/or biotechnology in environmental sciences
- Ethical, scientific and/or social considerations of the various issues
- Risk assessments and regulatory frameworks in environmental management related issues
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.