BSc Microbiology / Course details

The course will be delivered by Prof Lloyd, augmented with invited guest lectures as appropriate covering emerging “hot topics” in the area. Initial lectures will focus on the “microbiological basics” to make sure that all of the students on the course have the required foundations, followed by lectures (and group activities) covering fundamental elemental cycles, including an emphasis on the ways that these natural processes can be utilised in diverse areas of science of technology. These will include bioremediation, high value bionanomaterial synthesis and the safe exploitation of the subsurface.

The aim of this course is to provide insight into the role that microorganisms play or have played in geological processes, covering the molecular-scale mechanisms of global bioprocesses, through to high technology biotechnological applications

The course typically consists of 2 hour lecture slots each week, covering 1-2 topics, with time included for discussions with the students.

The following specific topics will be included:

• Techniques for geomicrobiology.

• The origin of life and astrobiology.

• Microbial diversity of modern Earth.

• The geomicrobiology of carbon, silica, phosphorous, nitrogen, sulfur, iron, manganese, toxic trace metals and radionuclides.

• Applications of geomicrobiology including bioremediation, safe geological disposal (including CO₂ and radwaste) and bioenergy production.

In addition, there will be assessed “breakout” group presentations on approaches for geomicrobiological sampling and analyses (e.g. for extreme environments, such as the deep subsurface, life on other planets, hydrothermal vents), and a poster session on seminal geomicrobiology papers from the scientific literature. These carry 30% of the course marks.

There will also be a revision session at the end of the course, where past papers from the course are discussed. The final exam (two questions from a choice of four, 1.5 hr total time) carries 70% of the course marks.