Learning outcome

A candidate who has passed the course will have a learning outcome in the form of acquired knowledge, skills, and general competence, as described below.

Knowledge

The candidate:

• is mastering advanced theory and scientific methods regarding biofilm structure, composition and development
• is mastering how biofilm processes are studied experimentally and simulated using mathematical models
• is mastering the roles of biofilm in nature and in constructed environments especially for the treatment of constituents in water

Skills

The candidate can plan and conduct research and development independently on biofilms and on processes where biofilms play an important role.

General competence

The candidate is able to communicate R&D results from studies where biofilms play a key role in recognised international channels.

Course Description

• Introduction
• Biofilm process analysis
• Physical and chemical characteristics of biofilm
• Energetics and Stoichiometry
• Biofilm processes
• Kinetics of microbial transformation
• Transport phenomena
• Physiological ecology

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures and theoretical exercises are integrated and combined with relevant literature to achieve specified knowledge, skills and general competence. The lectures highlight the most relevant course topics, covered in detail in the course literature. The exercises are designed to give the students skills in formulating biological processes into mathematical models, implementing these in a computer based simulations tool and carrying out relevant simulations. A higher level of comprehension is obtained by modeling, simulating and interpreting hypothetical biological experiments, and in discussing simulation results based on a literature review in a final report.

Assessment Methods

Final examination, which counts 100 %.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean