Английская Википедия:Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
In 2006, the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering was established by merging Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering with Bio-based Products (which evolved from Wood & Paper Science, initially known as Forest Products). The department continues to provide quality education and research in key areas of biomass/bio-based materials including wood and paper, environmental hydrology, erosion and stormwater management, renewable energy, life cycle assessment, bioprocessing and biotechnology, food engineering, air quality, precision agriculture, building systems, and sustainability, etc. As of August 2022, the current department head is Hua Zhao.
BBE's mission is to integrate engineering, science, technology, and management for the sustainable use of renewable resources and the enhancement of the environment. The department vision is to be global leaders in the discovery, development, and application of renewable resources and sustainable technologies to meet society's needs while enhancing the environment in Minnesota and beyond.
The department is part of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). It has both graduate and undergraduate academic programs.
Undergraduate program
The undergraduate degrees now offered and their individual specializations are:
Bachelor of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
What is BBE?
Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE) prepares students to solve real-world problems with practical, sustainable solutions. We bring together biological sciences, engineering principles, and technology to address society's growing demands for material, food, and energy using renewable resources.
Undergraduates can choose from three specializations within the BBE major:
- Bioproducts engineers use science and engineering principles to develop new and sustainable ways to make products, including biofuels, bioenergy, biodegradable plastics, building materials, paper, and chemicals.
- Environmental and Ecological engineers (EEE) focus on engineering applications for land and water resources, air and soil quality, environmental remediation, ecosystem services, and ecological restoration.
- Food engineers design and develop systems for safe production, processing, distributing, and storing food—from raw ingredients like fruits and vegetables to alternative proteins.
Students learn how to use bio-based, renewable materials to improve existing products (like clothing, food, and fuel) and natural ecosystems (like rivers, wetlands, and lakes) in sustainable ways.
Why chose BBE?
Bioproducts and Biosystem engineers are critical in addressing some of the world’s most urgent, pressing problems—from environmental protection to circular economies to food security and renewable energy.
- The U of M’s BBE program is the perfect place for students who want to see the big picture, understand the range of systems in play, and apply science, critical thinking, and technology solutions to create a more sustainable future.
- The BBE program offers excellent career opportunities in industry, government agencies, corporations, and consulting firms. Our alumni work in labs, manufacturing, and business settings including companies like Cargill, Barr Engineering, and PURIS Foods. Entry-level job titles include process engineer, product engineer, environmental engineer, water resources engineer, among others.
- BBE graduates have a 95% job placement rate within one year of graduation.
- The estimated starting salary range for our graduates is $64,857-$82,000.
With BBE, you have access to the resources, network, and expert faculty of a Big 10 research university with the individualized attention, small class sizes, and learning opportunities of a small college.
- Average class size in the BBE major is about 20 students
- Over 75% co-op and internship placement rates for our undergraduates
- 4+1 Integrated Degree Program—earn two degrees (bachelor’s and master’s) with our 5-year integrated program
- Internationally renowned faculty with science and engineering background addressing various complex challenges related to renewable materials, sustainable processes, and the environment.
- About 1 in 3 undergraduate students receive departmental scholarships in the amount of about $10,000 for four years.
- 70% of undergraduates participate in research projects with faculty
- We solicit real industrial problems for our seniors to tackle along with the support from industry and faculty advisors
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Systems Management
- What is SSM?
Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) develops innovative leaders to help solve complex environmental, social, and economic problems such as mobility, shelter, water, food, and communication, in more sustainable ways.
Undergraduates apply core competencies in systems thinking, life cycle assessment, industrial symbiosis, and circularity to one of four specializations within the SSM major:
- Sustainable Products Business Management: Develop, and bring to market products that are renewable, circular, regenerative, and safe over their whole life cycle, from cradle to grave.
- Corporate Sustainability Systems: Build and implement new and evolving organizational strategies and operations that create long-term stakeholder value through the improvement of environmental protection, social justice and equity, and economic development.
- Building Science and Technology: Advance sustainable and systemic solutions to enhance the energy, material efficiency, and health performance of houses and building systems.
- Energy Systems: Accelerate the sustainable energy transition to smart, renewable electricity and fuel systems.
Students learn how people, planet, products, and profits interact in sustainable (and not-so-sustainable) ways, acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to act on these systems, and apply the frameworks and methods to measure and manage the sustainability performance of business and industrial systems.
Why choose SSM?
- Energy, building, product and management systems are complex, interconnected, and dynamic. Making sure that these systems create net-positive impacts for people and the planet requires new thinking, new solutions, and a new generation of leaders to get us there.
- The U of M’s SSM program is the perfect place for students who want to see the big picture, understand the range of systems in play, and apply science, technology, and management strategies to create a more sustainable future.
- SSM graduates are finding lucrative employment opportunities in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) roles helping companies align with stakeholder values and societal/environmental challenges, the fast-growing renewable energy sector, and environmental and energy efficiency consultancies and service providers.
- Our alumni are environmental consultants, sustainability program managers, renewable energy project developers, project managers, and building science consultants at companies like 3M, Cargill, Target and Minnesota Pollution Control agency, as well as consultancies across the country.
- SSM graduates have a 94% job placement rate within one year of graduation.
- The estimated starting salary range for our graduates is $46,500-$80,000.
With SSM, you have access to the resources, network, and expert faculty of a Big 10 research university with the individualized attention, small class sizes, and learning opportunities of a small college.
- Average class size in the SSM major is about 20 students.
- Over 75% co-op and internship placement rates for our undergraduates
- Internationally renowned faculty with science and engineering backgrounds addressing various complex challenges related to bioproducts and biosystems science and engineering, industrial ecology, sustainability science.
Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management Graduate Degree Program
The Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management Graduate Degree Program provides a strong foundation in the basic sciences, engineering, and management. We offer a Master of Science program, a Ph.D. program, and a minor program. You will have research opportunities in many areas and can specialize your research in topics such as renewable energy, biomaterials, food safety and security, land and water resources, precision agriculture, and much more.
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