GV1EENU: Environmental Engineering Microbiology

Module code: GV1EENU

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Elizabeth Shaw, email: e.j.shaw@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Adharsh Rajasekar, email: adharsh.r@nuist.edu.cn

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended to provide an overview of the concepts, theories and applications in the microbiological remediation of contaminated land and wastewater. The module focusses on applying microbiology to bioremediation and biodegradation in polluted environments. A series of laboratory sessions accompanies the lectures and provides key microbiological skills. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain the source and structure of major environmental contaminants 
2. Understand the theory of microbial degradation of contaminants and its applications in bioremediation and ecosystem restoration and conduct laboratory-based, microbiological techniques relavant to bioremeditaion
3. Evaluate the functional roles of micro-organisms in the biodegradation of pollutants 
4. Compare the various scientific techniques in applied environmental microbiology 

Module content

• An introduction to Environmental Engineering Microbiology 
• Terms and nomenclature in advanced and applied microbiology 
• A focus on eubacteria, archaebacteria and antibiotic resistant bacteria. 
• Biodegradation 
• Bioremediation: examples and applications in polluted environments 
• Phytoremediation: examples and applications in polluted environments 
• Wastewater remediation 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Classroom lectures and tutorials will describe and explain the concepts and key processes, whilst the laboratory classes and workshops will provide the practical training and demonstration-led supervision.  

Study hours

At least 96 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

During the module, the students are given quizzes comprising short and multiple-choice questions. These are used to analyse and feed-forward topic by topic and assist in the preparation of summative assessments. 

Reassessment

Additional costs