The provision of food for humanity is set to be a perpetual challenge due to globally increasing population, diminishing mineral resources, and changing demands across cultures worldwide.
Occurrence | Teaching cycle |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2018-19 to Summer Term 2018-19 |
The provision of food for humanity is set to be a perpetual challenge due to globally increasing population, diminishing mineral resources, and changing demands across cultures worldwide. On the other hand, increasing availability of sugar-rich foods is leading to an epidemic of obesity in many nations. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand to use land for bio-fuel crops rather than food crops. There is a need for creative thinking to ensure the best use of the potential of biology to provide humanity’s needs whilst maintaining global biodiversity. In this module we will explore the issues surrounding food and fuel production and use by investigating the underlying biological properties and adaptability of plants, humans and their associated microbial communities. Biological innovation is part of the solution, but this sits in a wider context of social, ethical and environmental factors which need to be taken into account.
Students who successfully complete this module will have the ability to:
1. Discuss appropriate technical approaches for solving problems in the provision of food and fuel
2. Analyse issues related to food and fuel at multiple scales and from multiple perspectives, appreciating the global context for provision of food and fuel and the impacts on the environment
3. Calculate and estimate relevant values such as the flux of energy and biomass involved in food production and use
4. Formulate and review a strategy to use biological processes to adapt food and/or bio-fuel production and/or use
5. Build up a body of knowledge through working together and communicating within a peer group
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Oral presentation/seminar/exam Presentation |
N/A | 60 |
University - closed examination Food and Fuel |
1.5 hours | 40 |
None
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Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Oral presentation/seminar/exam Presentation |
N/A | 60 |
University - closed examination Food and Fuel |
1.5 hours | 40 |
Feedback on your progress is important to your learning process; your draft review will be commented on and returned to you, your final submission will also be returned with comments.
These are available through the VLE module site.
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