Biosystems Engineering Career Talk

Prof. Colm O’Donnell

UCD School of Biosystems Engineering

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Finding Solutions for Life on a Small Planet •  40% projected increase in world

population by 2030 will add 2 billion people to the planet

•  Growing world population requires more food, water, energy, goods

•  Limited resources demand we do more with less, without degrading our natural environment

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Evolution of Biosystems Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural & Food Engineering

Biosystems Engineering • Food • Energy • Environment

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Biological Systems (Biosystems) Engineering Approach

Sustainable and Safe

Food Production

Interactions with air, soil

& water

Variability of Biological Organisms & Materials

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

UCD Biosystems Engineering Stage 4/5 •  Food Refrigeration Systems •  Food Quality and Safety Assurance •  Advanced Environmental Engineering

•  Air Pollution

•  Power and Machinery Systems I

•  Innovation and Technology Transfer

•  ME Biosystems Engineering Thesis •  Professional Engineering (Management)

•  Professional Work Experience (6-9 month internship with company, e.g. Project Management Group)

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Biosystems Engineering Project Based Modules •  Stage 1 - Biosystems Eng Design Challenge •  Stage 2 - Research Trends •  Stage 4/5 - Major Design Project/Thesis •  Proposed online virtual team design project

with US/EU Universities •  All projects mentored by active researchers •  Solving real problems – engineering solutions

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Food

•  Designing equipment and process systems for food production

•  New product design and development

•  Improving process control and sensors for food process automation

•  Food safety

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Energy

•  SFI Parsons Energy Research Programme

•  Green technology

•  Designing systems for bioenergy production (e.g. algae, waste to energy, anaerobic digestion)

•  Biofuels as alternatives to fossil fuels

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Environment

•  Environmental Protection –  Air, water, soil

•  Sustainable Development

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Opportunities to Study Abroad •  EU-US Biosystems Engineering

Exchange Programme –  Virginia Tech –  University of Illinois –  Read Eoin White’s US blog

http://tabenet.wordpress.com/

•  Full course credit on return to UCD

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Irish Government Strategy

•  Innovation in the Smart Economy •  Home grown companies

•  Food •  Energy •  Environment

•  Need for engineers driven by market demand and legislation

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

Career opportunities

•  Food

•  Energy

•  Environment

Biosystems Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in the Smart Economy

To find out more

•  www.ucd.ie/biosystems