What exactly is biological engineering?

What exactly is biological engineering?


Biological engineering involves the engineering of living systems and the application of engineering principles to problems that also require a strong knowledge of biology and ecology. Biological engineering can further be broken down into three technical fields: Ecological, Bio-environmental and Bio-Systems:

• Ecological

Ecological engineering is a new discipline created to design natural ecosystems for societal and environmental benefits. Students in this option earn an accredited engineering degree while gaining an ecology background through field courses. Optional areas of focus include wetlands, ecosystem restoration, ecosystem modeling, microbial ecology, and coastal and river systems. Graduates with an ecological engineering specialty are in demand in governmental agencies, consulting firms, industry and environmental advocacy groups.

• Bio-Environmental

Bio-environmental engineering includes the design, development, and management of biological systems to improve the quality of the environment. Students learn to address water quality, air pollution, and environmental contamination issues for farmers, municipalities, and industries using a biological systems approach.

Bio-environmental engineers work to remediate past environmental problems and prevent future pollution. Industries involved in waste management or remediation, government agencies, and environmental consulting firms provide job opportunities for graduates who choose this option.

• Bio-Systems

Bio-systems engineers have the opportunity to work with plants, animals, humans, cells in tissue culture, and microorganisms. Graduates who have chosen this specialty pursue careers in biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biochemical processing, and bio-instrumentation.


The above has been adapted from the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering web page at: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/fabe/academics/engineering_program_overview.htm