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MEVE-013: Environmental Biotechnology

By Prof. Shachi Shah   |   Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Learners enrolled: 659

Welcome to the Environmental Biotechnology Course!

We are well aware of the fact that environmental pollution and waste generation has become a major global concern mainly due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, modern agricultural development, energy generation and due to overexploitation of natural resources. This has resulted in disturbing the ecological balance on which the quality of environment depends. Environmental biotechnology is the use of science and technical knowledge to remediate the polluted environment.

This comprehensive course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle pressing environmental issues through innovative biotechnological solutions.

Environmental biotechnology is an approach where biotechnological principals/methods are applied to addresses environmental problems, such as the removal of pollution, renewable energy generation or biomass production, by exploiting biological processes. Environmental biotechnology has immense potential in environmental cleanup process, biomonitoring, bioprocess technologies and also in environmental sustainability.

This course focuses on the application of biotechnological methods for pollution prevention, remediation, and sustainable management of natural resources. The course prepares learners to contribute effectively to sustainability efforts in various sectors, including waste management, energy production, and pollution control. 
The salient features of the course

The course Environmental Biotechnology gives an overview of environmental biotechnology, provide a brief account of biodegradation of natural and xenobiotic compounds, explain principles and applications of bioremediation and covers ecofriendly bioprocesses. Environmental biotechnology is an integrated approach that includes many disciplines like biochemistry, microbiology, environmental engineering, molecular biology, and ecology. Environmental biotechnology offers the remarkable new tools for pollution prevention. These new tools not only prevent pollution but can also significantly cut energy demand, natural resource consumption, and production costs while creating high-quality intermediates or consumer products. This course all covers the role of environmental biotechnology in ecofriendly processess like biofuels, bioplastics, biofertilizers, mining and biobleaching and in biomarkers.

Join this comprehensive course which aims to achieve environmental sustainability. We hope that after studying this course, you will acquire an understanding of environmental biotechnology, its application in environmental clean up, waste management and obtaining the value added products.

 

Summary
Course Status : Ongoing
Course Type : Not Applicable
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Environmental Sciences
Credit Points : 4
Level : Postgraduate
Start Date : 01 Jan 2025
End Date : 30 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends : 28 Feb 2025
Exam Date : 18 May 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 6.5
Exam Shift :

Shift - II

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


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Course layout

Weeks

Title of the Video

Week 1

  • Introduction to Environmental Biotechnology
  • Microbial Technology 

Week 2

  • Overview of Wastewater
  • Environmental Biotechnology in Wastewater Treatment
  • Resource Recovery from Wastewater

Week 3

  • Sludge treatment
  • Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment
  • Bioelectrical System
  • Constructed Wetland 

Week 4

  • Overview of Solid Waste
  • Environmental Biotechnology in Solid Waste Management
  • Composting/ Vermicomposting

Week 5

  • Biological Management of Crop Residues
  • Biochar for Environmental Management
  • Biogas Production

Week 6

  • Resource Recovery from solid waste
  • Landfill leachate treatment

Week 7

  • Overview of E-waste
  • Environmental Biotechnology in E-waste management
  • Overview of Plastic Waste
  • Bioplastics

Week 8

  • Biofuel
  • Biopesticides
  • Biofertilizers
  • Biodiversity conservation

Week 9

  • Principles of Bioremediation
  • Biodegradation of Natural compounds
  • Lignin biodegradation 

Week 10

  • Overview of Hazardous Wastes
  •  Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Compounds
  • Nanotechnology in bioremediation

Week 11

  • Phytoremediation
  • Oil Spill Cleanup
  • Mining and Bioleaching
  • Value-Added Products from Organic Wastes
  • Enzymes Production

Week 12

  • Antibiotics Production
  • Biomarkers
  • Biosensors
  • Microbes in GHG mitigation

Books and references

McCarty, Perry L., Rittmann, Bruce E.. (2015). Environmental Biotechnology : principles and applications . Taiwan: McGraw Hill

IGNOU (2024). Environmental Biotechnology (MEVE 013). New Delhi: IGNOU. ISBN 978-93-6106-062-5

Instructor bio

Prof. Shachi Shah

Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Prof. Shachi Shah is an environmentalist with more than two decades of teaching and research experience at various reputed Universities and Institutes. At present she is Director Centre for Online Education, IGNOU. She attained her Ph. D in Environmental Science from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. She has significantly contributed in the field of Bioremediation, waste management, bioprocessing and bioconversion of waste, environmental monitoring, Bioenergy and climate change. She was UGC expert committee member for developing "Guidelines and Curriculum Framework for Environment Education" in 2022-23. She has many national and international publications to her credit. She has authored/edited many books.  She was awarded STE Green Excellence Award in 2022, ESDA Fellowship award 2021 at World Environment Summit 2021, National Environmental Science Academy Eminent Scientist of The Year Award 2019 and Commonwealth Education Media Centre fellowship (CEMCA) 2013. She has served as resource person of many Faculty Development Programme, invited speaker, Chaired sessions in many National and International seminars and given many talks in Gyan Darshan Channel , SWAYAM and SWAYAMPRABHA channels. She has successfully organized many National and International Seminar/ Conferences.


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