Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Production of the Institute of Biotechnology and Biotechnology (IBBS) held a case tournament "Applied Biotechnology" for school and college students.
During the lectures, which were held remotely, students learned about modern trends in biotechnology research. They were able to visit media labs, explore both traditional and cutting-edge equipment, and learn how to operate it. This was necessary because many schools lack such labs, and adhering to safety regulations is crucial when conducting research and working with chemicals.
Eleven teams participated in the laboratory workshop of the case tournament, including not only 10th- and 11th-grade students from specialized schools in our city, but also students from the SPbPU Natural Sciences Lyceum, and students from the Talent Academy and the Center for Environmental Education.
Participants completed tasks on one of two topics: “Activity of metabolites of probiotic microorganisms Lactobacillus and Streptococcus” and “Bioconversion of agricultural waste to obtain sorbents”.
The assignments and lectures were developed by HSE School of Business and Public Policy associate professors Elena Belokurova and Ilona Pankina, senior lecturer Anna Sevastyanova, and Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology Alexandra Klyubina.
Students are always involved in the preparation of career guidance events at the Higher School of Business and Public Administration, and this time they served as mentors for schoolchildren.
While working on the case study "Studying the Activity of Metabolites of Probiotic Microorganisms Lactobacillus and Streptococcus," the students learned about the morphology of probiotic microorganisms in a fixed, stained preparation. While studying probiotic activity, they mastered microscopy and biochemical analysis techniques. They examined bacterial morphology, assessed metabolite accumulation in milk, and determined enzymatic activity using an indirect method based on the accumulation of organic acids, as well as the presence of flavoring substances. As a result of their studies, the participants were able to determine which probiotic microorganisms are more active acidifiers and determine whether homofermentative and heterofermentative fermentation processes occur.
Working on the case study "Bioconversion of Agricultural Waste to Produce Sorbents," schoolchildren explored the potential of converting organic agricultural waste into biosorbents capable of effectively purifying water and soil contaminants. They mastered methods for analyzing the effectiveness of the resulting biosorbents and deepened their knowledge of biotechnology, ecology, and chemistry.
Anna Sevastyanova, senior lecturer and developer of the case study, commented: "The production of biosorbents from lignocellulosic raw materials is a relevant area of environmental biotechnology, as it offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for purifying aquatic environments from hazardous pollutants, while using renewable and affordable raw materials—agricultural waste." These technologies are consistent with the principles of a circular economy, transforming waste into a valuable product, helping to reduce environmental impacts, and responding to the global trend toward the implementation of "green" and zero-waste technologies.
After completing the practical part, all teams had one day to analyze their results and prepare a presentation to defend their assignments.
On the final day of the tournament, each team performed in front of all participants and a panel of experts, which included teachers and student mentors.
The winners commented on their participation: "The Applied Biotechnology Case Tournament left us with nothing but positive emotions. Working in a team with peers from other schools united by a common goal was one of the most memorable experiences. In the practical part of the project, we determined the differences between the proposed probiotic microorganisms in terms of their accumulation of metabolic products and identified which probiotics were the most active acid formers. It was the perfect balance of a complex intellectual challenge, a friendly atmosphere, and professional growth."
Ilona Pankina, Head of Career Guidance at the Higher School of Business and Applied Sciences, shared: This year marked the seventh "Applied Biotechnology" case tournament. Students from numerous St. Petersburg educational institutions participated, necessitating a competitive selection process. This allowed us to bring together the strongest, most prepared, and most motivated students, and collaboration with them is invariably particularly engaging, contributing to the development of new approaches and methods of education that take into account modern trends. It's particularly important that the winners and runners-up of the case tournament received a unique opportunity to earn an additional five points toward their Unified State Exam scores for admission to SPbPU. It's especially gratifying to realize that over the course of the event, we've already secured a number of educational institutions as our regular partners. And, of course, it's important to note that our efforts are not in vain: statistics show that many case tournament participants successfully enroll at the Polytechnic University.
Elena Belokurova, the developer of one of the case assignments, also shared her impressions: "Schoolchildren don't study Microbiology, so I was worried that the case participants would encounter certain difficulties. But I was pleased to see that many of the team members are active students and participate in numerous events held by supplementary education centers, so they resolutely tackled the practical portion and completed it successfully. Many participants studied not only domestic literature but also articles by international authors and presented very well at their defenses. My student mentors and I were very pleased with this, and we would like to see our case participants among the applicants and students of the Higher School of Business and Applied Mathematics.
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