Classes

Introduction to the engineering profession with career opportunities in the agricultural and biological engineering discipline. Interactive class activities include concepts necessary for becoming a successful engineer including time management, design concepts, ethics, and team building. Students become familiar with laboratories, computer facilities, internships, and other opportunities that are available to agricultural and biological engineering students. A team design experience is included. Class emphasis on technical communication and problem-solving skills as well as career planning.

Introduction to biological systems. Principles of procedural and heuristic systems analysis. Overview of engineering economics. Techniques of simulation and optimization. Topics of applied intelligence. Solutions for bio-based engineering problems by systems analysis methods. Principles of environmental control for biological structures, psychrometrics, mass and heat transfer through buildings, and ventilation requirements.

Examples, problems, discussions, and laboratory exercises pointing to present and potential engineering applications in agriculture; emphasis on power and machinery, soil and water control, electricity, and structures. Includes laboratory.

The human food web is the complex network of technologies, environments, people, and social institutions that produces, processes, and distributes the world's food supply. Students will study the food webs of the past, present, and future and will explore various human roles, including their own, in the global technology-environment-society-food system. Course topics include domestication, mechanization, urbanization, the green revolution, biotechnology, food safety, the environment, and appropriate technologies for developing countries.

Topics in the design of long-term life support systems focusing on their relevance to both spacecraft and terrestrial ecosystem design. Introduction to system modeling, analysis, and design techniques. The course will be taught in a problem oriented style where topics are introduced via readings in the scientific literature and the techniques utilized to analyze the system are considered within specific contexts. Students will be expected to contribute to class discussions and maintain a high standard for technical writing. Laboratory exercises allow students to gain hands-on experience with analysis techniques.

Topics in biological engineering involving the modeling analysis of complex systems. Sample topics might include: ecological footprints, molecular and cellular circuits, composting systems, wastewater processing systems, fermentation reactions, crop growth systems, plant biosystems, greenhouse production systems, bioregenerative life support systems, agro-ecological systems, and wetland ecologies. Mathematical and analytical techniques for the modeling and analysis of such systems shall be considered including the principles of procedural and heuristic systems analysis, overview of engineering economics, techniques of simulation and optimization, and topics of applied intelligence. The course will be taught in a seminar style where problems are introduced via readings in the scientific literature. Students will be expected to contribute to class discussion and a wiki describing various biological systems.