Sustainable development and biotechnology

Course Description

COURSE CONTENT
Lectures:
Current global issues (resource depletion, pollution impacts, population growth etc.)
Evolution of sustainable development thinking and principles (declarations, strategies commitment of institutions)
Sustainability in biochemical engineering (strategies in sustainable biotechnological production planning)
Sustainable energy use (energy sources, energy efficiency, energy policy)
Environmental management (ISO 14000 series, EMAS, IPPC, GRI)
Technological innovation
Sustainable consumption
Perspectives in biochemical engineering
Seminar:
Seminar comprises detailed study of one chapter using a practical example of the knowledge acquired.

Aim of course and specific competences (knowledge and skills) after final exam
Integral understanding of sustainable development concepts and principles
Mastering the advanced approaches towards sustainable development in industrial biotechnology
Ability to function in multi-disciplinary teams and understand professional/ethical responsibilities

Lectures

Literature

1. K. Mulder, Sustainable Development for Engineers, Greenleaf Publishing, 2006.
2. B. Wallace, Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineer's Guide to Sustainable Development, American, 2005.
3. D. C. Esty, A. S. Winston, Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage. Yale University Press, 2006.
4. C. Vezzoli, E. Manzini, Design for Environmental Sustainability. Springer, 2008.
5. A. Azapagic, R. Clift, S. Perdan, Sustainable Development in Practice: Case Studies for Engineers and Scientists. John Wiley & Sons, 2004.