College of Science,
Engineering & Food Science
BEES
School of Biological,
Earth & Environmental
Sciences at University
College Cork, Ireland
BSc
ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANT
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Course Code:
Duration:
CK404 Biological,
Earthy & Environmental Sciences
4 years
Further Information:
School of Biological,
Earth & Environmental Sciences
T: +353(0)21 490 4650
E: [email protected] W: http://bees.ucc.ie
/uccBEES
@uccBEES
Why study Environmental Plant Biotechnology (EPB)?
Biotechnology involves using living organisms to solve
problems, such as pollution of land or pests attacking
crops, or to generate new products, such as
pharmaceuticals or biofuels
Plants are the ideal living organisms to use in
biotechnology. They are already the basis of all our food,
as well as being important in medicine (25% of
prescription medicines in Europe are extracted from
plants, such as vincristine to treat childhood leukaemia)
and the environment. Furthermore, because they cannot
move, plants have to adapt to changes in their
environment. This flexibility can be harnessed in plant
biotechnology to create, for example, crops which can
withstand drought, plants which can detect landmines or
which can extract metals from the ground. Plant
biotechnology has a vital role to play in dealing with the
most pressing issues facing us, such as climate change,
food insecurity and the need for renewable energy
supplies.
EPB involves the application of plant biotechnology to
solve environmental problems such as these. EPB can
contribute to a more sustainable future, for example, by
developing beneficial fungi to protect plants against crop
pests (no need for toxic pesticides), by producing car fuel
from renewable sources such as plant oils (less
dependence on fossil fuels), by breeding higher yielding
or nutrient-rich crops (increased food security), or by decontaminating land and wastewater, such as that
surrounding Chernobyl.
As a consequence, this is one of the most exciting areas
of modern biology. In June 2011, the Financial Times
newspaper listed Plant Science as one of the ten “hottest”
sciences.
Programme Overview
From Second Year onwards you will start to specialize in
EPB. The programme is designed for you to study plants
from the level of the gene through the cell to the whole
organism and eventually to ecosystems, such as forests.
The EPB programme includes aspects of the genetics,
ecology, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and
evolution of plants. There is a strong emphasis on
practical experience, ranging from vegetation analysis to
isolation of plant DNA to conservation of endangered
species, from regeneration of entire plants from cells to
isolation of potential new medicines. As a result, EPB
graduates gain experience of laboratory, glasshouse and
field methods. The EPB programme is also designed to
maximise employment opportunities by providing work
experience and transferable skills valued by employers,
such as vegetation analysis, computing and data analysis.
Independent research projects are also an important
aspect of the EPB degree. In Year Four, all EPB students
work with one of our research groups for six months,
investigating a new aspect of a particular topic in detail.
Fieldwork/Study Placement
EPB students carry out environmental field work as part
of this programme. Second Years can visit various sites in
Co. Cork, while Third Year students have the option of
going to Portugal and Fourth Year students can go to the
Burren in Co. Clare.
Many EPB students obtain work experience in plantbased companies and research groups in Ireland and
abroad during the summer. A work experience module is
also available to fourth year students. There are also
opportunities for EPB students to study for a year in
universities abroad.
BSc ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY Sept ‘12
What will you be studying?
Year 1
CK404
• Biology (10 credits) • Chemistry (10 credits) • Earth
Science (5 credits) • Environmental Science (5 credits) •
Geography (5 credits) • Geology (10 credits) •
Mathematics (10 credits) • Physics (5 credits)
Year 2
Core Modules:
Introduction to Plant Biotechnology •Introduction to
Biostatistics • Ecological Plant Physiology • Habitats and
Ecosystems • Practical Ecology Vertebrate Diversity
Elective Modules in the following areas:
Environmental Science • Earth Science • Geography •
Geology
Year 3
Core Modules:
Bioactive Natural Plant Products • Evolution and Diversity
• Plant and Animal Genetics • Biodiversity and
Conservation • Literature Review • Introduction to
Ecotoxicology • Plants and Hostile Environments
Elective Modules in the following areas:
• Geology • Ecology • Zoology
Year 4
Core Modules:
• Research Project • Plants and Sustainability • Genetic
Manipulation of Plants • Data Analysis for Biologists •
Food Production and the Environment • Integrated
Concepts in Plant Science • Environmentally Protective
Management of Plant Pests and Pathogens
Elective Modules in the following areas:
• Ecology • Zoology
BEES
School of Biological,
Earth & Environmental
Sciences at University
College Cork, Ireland
For further information contact:
The College of Science, Engineering
& Food Science, UCC
Tel: +353 (0)21 490 3075
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ucc.ie/sefs
Career Opportunities
EPB graduates have excellent career prospects and have
entered a wide range of careers; this diversity reflects the
breadth of the programme and the emphasis on
transferable skills and practical experience. In some cases,
our graduates work directly with plants, as plant breeders
or crop protection scientists. The skills our graduates
learn during the EPB programme mean that they are also
employed in broader scientific areas such as the rapidly
expanding environmental sector, as well as
biotechnology, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural support
and health industries. Other graduates are also employed
in scientific research, science management, education,
journalism and computing, while several have set up their
own companies. Mike Ross, a key member of the Irish
rugby team, is one of our graduates!
Typical Graduate Profiles
After gaining his BSc and PhD in UCC, Dr Tim Roche
worked first as a plant research scientist then as Tissue
Culture Systems Development Manager for the Australian
plant biotechnology company Forbio. Tim returned to
Ireland to take up the role of Commercial Manager of the
National Food Biotechnology Centre in UCC. Tim was
then appointed the Senior Vice-President for Food
Research and Innovation Investment for Enterprise
Ireland in New York. In 2011, he was appointed Director of
UCC’s Technology Transfer Unit, which organises the
patenting and commercialisation of discoveries made by
researchers in the university.
During the summer before the fourth year of the EPB
degree, Elaine Gough took up a work placement
organized as part of the programme with the plant
breeding company Tozer Seeds in the UK. After
graduating, Elaine was appointed as a plant breeder with
the company.
After graduating in 2011, Niall O’Leary began work with a
major UK agribusiness company, using research data to
design a carbon footprinting model for agricultural
systems.
Entry Requirements
Minimum HC3 in two subjects & passes in four subjects at
H or O level in the Leaving Certificate, from Irish, English,
Mathematics, one laboratory Science subject (i.e.
Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry
(joint) or Agricultural Science) and two other subjects
recognised for entry purposes. One of the HC3 subjects
must be in a laboratory science subject or Mathematics or
Applied Mathematics. In addition students must have the
requisite points for entry to a particular course.