Bioremediation

Course Code:

ENV 430

Course Group(s):

Degree Applicable

Course Description:

Bioremediation is the use of organisms or biological treatments to address problems of environmental pollution or degradation. These problems, from oil spills to microplastics, negatively impact wildlife and terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Industrial chemicals also cause human health conditions among communities in proximity to highly polluted Superfund Sites designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. This course provides an interdisciplinary overview of bioremediation technologies. Students will draw from microbiology, mycology, molecular biology, botany, genetics, and chemistry to understand the mechanisms by which bacteria, fungi, and plants biodegrade or sequester pollutants. The course also explores emerging biotechnologies that produce sustainable, safe biomaterials such as mycocomposites, that replace harmful materials like Styrofoam, thereby reducing the amount of pollution entering. the environment. During lab, students will engage in bioremediation experiments with the opportunity to pursue independent research projects, and use basic bioinformatic tools to analyze key genes from organisms with bioremediation applications.

Credit:

Prerequisites:

BIO 210: General Ecology OR BIO 225: Genetics