Introduction to Bioengineering

Not applicable.

Theoretical classes will be oriented towards understanding the basic notions of the curricular unit, being complemented with theoretical-practical classes for problem solving and case studies.

In theoretical and theoretical-practical classes, the subject will be exposed through the use of a PowerPoint slide projection system. Worksheets will be solved on the different chapters taught, group and individual work will be carried out to analyze scientific articles, search for information and process data on topics related to Bioengineering.

Students are encouraged to participate with questions and comments during theoretical and theoretical-practical classes. There will also be classes for the preparation, presentation and discussion of seminars prepared by the students.

The main objective of the course is to provide students with an integrated view of Bioengineering and its various fields of application, focusing on ethics and the analysis of engineering concepts and the design of biological processes and systems. The aim is for students to be able to: i) list the new paradigms in engineering and the life sciences, identifying current areas of technological importance, such as synthetic biology, nanobiotechnology, industrial and environmental biotechnological processes; ii) define the practice of engineering as a profession of public trust, scientific and technical valorization, accompanied by a commitment to ethical principles and deontological duties inherent to the free and responsible exercise of the profession; iii) develop skills in data processing, building graphs with Excel and interpreting results; iv) analyze, diagram and define chemical processes and their variables; v) write in accordance with the principles and practice of writing scientific documents and researching information; vi) apply the rules of citation and presentation of bibliography.

1. BIOENGINEERING AS THE RESULT OF THE INTEGRATION OF PHYSICAL, ENGINEERING AND LIFE SCIENCES

Introduction to bioprocesses. Bioprocess engineering. Industrial, environmental and energy applications.

2. INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL WRITING

Characteristics of scientific documents: clarity, precision and logical structure. Typical structure of a document. Citations and bibliography Styles and norms. Information search and evaluation of information resources. Ethics in the use of information and plagiarism. Application to case studies.

3. INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS

Dimensions and units. Unit systems and conversions. Data representation and analysis in Excel. Application to case studies.

4. CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Process definition. Process variables. Classification of processes: continuous and discontinuous; steady state and transient. Manufacturing, flow and block diagrams. The mass balance. Examples of industrial applications.

5. ENGINEERING ETHICS

Contact with professional ethics capable of establishing the duties and responsibilities required by the evolution of the professional environment, reconciling it with the lasting values ​​implied in the nature of the human being.

1. The assessment of the Introduction to Bioengineering course will be continuous and periodic and will take into account:

(C1) Written test (50% of the final grade):

A test in the last class of the semester, on chapters 3 and 4, with a mark of more than 7.5. No documents may be consulted during the test and a calculator must be used.

(C2) Seminar (25% of the final grade):

Elaboration, in a group of 2 or 3 students (depending on the total number of students attending the course this academic year), and presentation of a paper in the form of a poster on a chemical/biological process. The work must be delivered by December 2, with a penalty of 1 value (out of 20) for each day of delay up to a maximum of 7 days. After this deadline, the work will not be accepted and will be graded with zero points. The presentation will take place on January.

(C3) Solving group and individual exercises in class (25% of the final grade).

The final grade (FG) is obtained by adding up the contributions of the components: FG = 0.5xC1 + 0.25xC2 + 0.25xC3

To pass the course, the student must obtain a minimum overall mark of 10. However, as already mentioned, the grade in the written test must be higher than 7.5.

2. Student workers and Erasmus students may be exempt from taking components C2 and C3, in which case the grade for a written test, taken in the Normal Season, which will cover all the chapters, will be worth 100%.

3. Students will only be able to improve or pass (if they have failed the continuous assessment) an Appeal Exam which will cover all the chapters and will be worth 100%.

NAO