Biotechnology and the Societal Challenge

Course goals

At the end of the course students should
-be able to discuss how biotechnology can contribute to solve selected societal challenges
-be able to formulate questions and to actively participate in discussions related to biotechnology and societal challenges.
-be able to critically read primary literature related to biotechnology and societal challenges.
-be able to use a patent database
-be able to contribute to discussions related to ethics of biotechnology 
-be able to prepare and deliver a poster presentation

Content

The European Union has defined 7 societal challenges. Biotechnology could contribute to solve at least four of them:
• Health, demographic change and wellbeing
• Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research, and the Bioeconomy
• Secure, clean and efficient energy
• Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials

The course will address how biotechnology could have an impact on these societal challenges. Participants will be introduced to plant and microbial biotechnology, patents and ethics. Moreover, they will come up with a biotechnology based solution for one of the societal challenges.
 
Mandatory for students in Master’s programme: NO.
Optional for students in other Master’s programmes GS-LS: Yes, up to a maximum of 24 students outside SBM.