Industrial and Environmental Microbiology 4Y Course Information 2023-2024
Welcome to the final year of your programme. One of the aims of the final year is to prepare you for the years ahead. The teaching will be structured differently, and you will be encouraged to work independently. We expect you to develop a breadth to your thinking and writing. This is the time to bring together knowledge gained during the past three years, looking for general principles which can be used productively. This mature approach should be expressed in your coursework, project report and examination answers. The key to success in final year is good time-management.
We recommend that you read this Course Information Document at the start of your final year.
In addition, there is important information about regulations, assessment and progression in the Life Sciences Handbook: Regulations & Advice; again, you should read this document at the start of the year and you must refer to it as necessary.
Please keep this Course Information Document for future reference after you graduate; you may need to provide course details for further study or other training.
While the information contained in the document is correct at the time of printing, it may be necessary to make changes. Check your online timetable, Moodle and your email messages regularly.
Dr Mahmood Alam, Mahmood.Alam@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy: TBC
Dr Nicola Veitch, Nicola.Veitch@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching staff names can be found on your online timetable and contact details can be found on the University website Staff A-Z
Professor Paul Langford, Imperial College London
The Life Sciences Office is located in Room 354 of the Sir James Black Building. Opening hours for enquiries are: Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Course Code
BIOL4061
Course Title
Industrial and Environmental Microbiology 4Y option
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
This course will explore various aspects of industrial and environmental microbiology relevant to the modern world. The course will provide an introduction to industrial and environmental microbiology and will cover important areas including bioprocessing, brewing, biofuels, industrial enzymes, antibiotic production, food microbiology, waste water treatment, synthetic biology, and bioremediation. The course will provide more advanced knowledge of recent research developments in these fields with an emphasis on molecular approaches.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, only available to final-year School of Life Sciences students in a Degree Group B (Biomolecular Sciences group) or Degree Group D (Infection & Immunity group) programme. Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.
Associated Programmes
This course is offered by the Microbiology programme.
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 1
Timetable
There is normally 3 hours of teaching on Fridays.
Course Aims
The course aims to:
· explore the exploitation of microorganisms in industrial and environmental processes that are important to human welfare and economics (from both historical and modern-day perspectives);
· examine recent developments in industrial and environmental microbiology (e.g. genetic engineering, synthetic biology) that have improved, or aim to improve, these processes.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Discuss microbial structure, physiology and biochemistry of microorganisms and explain their metabolic capabilities;
Discuss the roles of microorganisms in the production of fuels and industrial chemicals;
Discuss how microorganisms are used to produce antibiotics and commercial enzymes;
Discuss the microbial processes involved in food and beverage fermentations;
Discuss the role of microbes in food production and spoilage;
Explain how microorganisms are employed in waste-water treatment and bioremediation;
Discuss how synthetic biology can be used to create new microorganisms and improve the above processes.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course’s summative assessment.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 2-hour examination (75%) and in-course assessment consisting of a written assignment relating to an industrial visit (25%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for all summative assessments in this course
Not applicable for Honours courses
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Feedback provided during the course will include:
· Verbal generic feedback from staff during class discussions;
· Individual verbal feedback from staff on formative assessments (student presentations);
· Individual written feedback from staff on summative in-course assessment.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
120 minutes
As part of the Industrial and Environmental Microbiology Option we will be visiting Wellpark Brewery, Glasgow on Thursday 5th October. This is a compulsory component of the course and will form part of the in-course summative assessment. We will be leaving by minibus from outside the Wolfson Medical School on University Avenue at 1 pm. Please arrive at least five minutes beforehand; we will be leaving promptly. We will be returning at about 5 pm. Please wear sensible, solid footwear because we will be entering an industrial site with slippery surfaces. Since this visit forms part of the in-course summative assessment, it is strongly recommended that you come armed with notebooks and pens!
Student presentations represent an important component of Option teaching and learning. Each student will be provided with a scientific paper related to the corresponding lecture and is required to give a PowerPoint presentation, summarising the paper, to the rest of the class; this is followed by a question and answer discussion session (the precise format may vary slightly). The papers themselves form an important part of each session and should be read by the entire class in advance of the session - the content is examinable!
The presentation should be approximately 15-20 minutes and should raise questions that should be discussed by the rest of the class.
The presentations form part of the formative assessment for the course and verbal feedback will be provided at the end of the session. The presentations will provide you with experience of preparing and delivering a presentation in advance of your project presentations at the end of Semester 1. Any questions relating to a particular paper should be addressed to the person running that particular session in the first instance.
The Course textbook is
Industrial Microbiology: An Introduction
Michael J. Waites, Neil L. Morgan, John S. Rockey, Gary Higton
ISBN: 978-0-632-05307-0