Virtual College of Biotechnology
Designated Dean: G. J. Scoles
Director: P. W. B. Phillips
2E10 - 51 Campus Drive
Saskatoon SK S7N 5B1
Tel: 306-966-2209
Fax: 306-966-2230
E-mail: VCB.biotech@usask.ca
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Virtual Colleges
At the University of Saskatchewan, the term 'virtual college' denotes an administrative arrangement intended to permit faculty and students from various parts of the university to participate in interdisciplinary programs of teaching, scholarship and research. The organizational principles of a virtual college are association and flexibility. Faculty members hold their appointment in regular colleges but are associates of the virtual college. Students are admitted to a regular college, not to the virtual college, but may take courses offered by the virtual college and enroll in programs sponsored by the virtual college. The term 'virtual college' is intended to invoke an academic mission, but not a faculty or administrative apparatus. The Virtual College of Biotechnology was established in January, 2000.
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Biotechnology: An Academic Priority Area
The University of Saskatchewan has designated Biotechnology, the science of applying technology to living things, as a priority area. The objective of the University of Saskatchewan's Virtual College of Biotechnology is to be active in coordinating, strengthening and encouraging collaboration among the life sciences, social sciences, humanities, management and marketing disciplines involved in biotechnology.
The rapid growth of the biotechnology industry has raised a number of profound social, economic, cultural, commercial, ethical and environmental issues. Spokespersons for the industry increasingly are of the view that the growth and prosperity of the industry, and possibly even its continued survival, require people who are aware of and sensitive to these issues. This sentiment has been echoed in provincial government documents that indicate long-term innovation in Saskatchewan must include increasing awareness of the linkages between science and technology and economic prosperity, social well-being, health and sustainable development.
The Information Revolution and the development of the so-called "knowledge industries" is transforming the foundation of human social life. Some developments in biotechnology have created ethical issues which challenge the ability of society to consider and debate the implications of these technical developments, and which thus frustrate the acceptance of these changes by society. Preparing students and future leaders in biotechnology with an awareness of the nature of the issues associated with the biotechnology industry facilitates the emergence of an informed and democratic debate about the kind of society we want and the price we are prepared to pay to achieve it.
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Faculty Resources in Support of Teaching and Research in Biotechnology
University of Saskatchewan researchers are actively involved in all areas of biotechnology. Scientists and engineers are contributing to the base of scientific knowledge and opening future areas of biotechnology through both pure and applied research. Economists and business strategy analysts are assessing the impact of biotechnology on our institutions and market places, and are examining the keys to successful commercial performance. Social scientists and ethicists are exploring the reactions of society to biotechnical developments, and provide critiques of the performance and conduct of the industry. Legal scholars and policy analysts are attempting to define the optimal regulatory context for the operation of the industry. A partial list of faculty activities and research interests is given below.
Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering faculty are currently involved in bioprocess engineering of plant products, post-harvest systems and bioenvironmental engineering of waste products.
Agricultural Economics faculty are involved in research directed to better understanding the economic impact and the institutional implications on the agri-food sector of the introduction of biotechnology techniques.
Anatomy and Cell Biology faculty are investigating components of cellular growth and differentiation under normal, disease and environmental insult conditions.
Animal and Poultry Science researchers are studying the molecular and functional genetics of cattle and the interaction of animal stress and immunity on production performance.
Biochemistry faculty are examining signal transduction processes, transcriptional regulators, and protein and nucleic acid structures in normal and disease states. Other studies involve plant molecular genetics, DNA synthesis and bioinformatics.
Biology faculty are investigating plant development, reproduction, cell division, gene regulation and plant-pathogen interaction.
Chemical Engineering researchers are studying bioremediation and biodegradation of toxic pollutants, microbial enhanced oil recovery, metabolic engineering and recombinant DNA bacterial cultures and the production and upgrading of produce biomass-derived oils.
Management and Marketing faculty are researching the commercialisation and regulation of new technologies, the ethics of biotechnology, and the impact of medical biotechnology on healthcare administration.
Microbiology and Immunology faculty are conducting research into bacterial and viral genetics, physiology, pathogenesis and diagnostics, as well as cancer cell development.
Pediatrics faculty are investigating pediatric infectious diseases and immunization protocols as well as infectious diseases in immune-compromised patients.
Pharmacy and Nutrition faculty are investigating biotechnology drug delivery systems, xenobiotic metabolism, the biochemical functions of nutritionally essential trace elements and the role of regulatory genes critical to mammalian development.
Philosophy faculty study the ethical, epistemological and metaphysical dimensions of biotechnology. As such, they engage in the normative evaluation in risk assessment, examine the impact of technological development on human self-understanding, and promote discussion on the relation of biotechnology to human flourishing.
Plant Sciences researchers are studying transgenic crop technologies, genetic mapping and molecular markers, gene transfer of quality traits, stress tolerance, disease resistance and herbicide resistance.
Sociology faculty are exploring the social, political and cultural consequences of both agricultural and medical biotechnology, with a particular focus on public opinion of advances in plant genetics.
Veterinary Microbiology faculty are investigating tumor and viral specific vaccines, host-parasite relationships, viral expression and allergic and inflammation responses. A diagnostic lab, using molecular biological techniques to detect infectious livestock diseases, has recently been established in the department.
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Community Resources in Support of Teaching and Research in Biotechnology
Saskatchewan is recognized as a world-class centre of innovation in biotechnology. The Saskatoon biotechnology complex includes the University of Saskatchewan; federal and provincial government institutes including the Plant Biotechnology Institute, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, the Saskatchewan Research Council, the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, the POS Pilot Plant, Royal University Hospital, the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, the Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, the Centre for Agricultural Medicine; and over 30 Canadian and international biotechnology companies located in Innovation Place on the University campus. Public outreach programs have always been a part of the University of Saskatchewan mandate; the Extension Division has a longstanding presence in Saskatchewan urban and rural communities.
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Undergraduate Programs in Biotechnology
Students with an interest in biotechnology have an opportunity to pursue their studies while registered in one of several University of Saskatchewan colleges. Full details regarding admission to the following programs, program and degree requirements, and course offerings are contained in the Course Descriptions section and the relevant College sections of this Calendar. The following degree programs are associated with the Virtual College of Biotechnology:
College of Arts & Science
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
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- Honours and Four-Year Major in Biology and Biotechnology
- Honours and Four-Year Major in Cell Biology and Biotechnology
- Honours and Four-Year Major in Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Honours and Four-Year Major in Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Minor in Philosophy, Science and Biotechnology
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Four-Year Major in the Sociology of Biotechnology
- Minor in Philosophy, Science and Biotechnology
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Co-operative Education Option in Biotechnology
This program is available to students pursuing a Four-Year or Honours program in any of the five fields of specialization available in Biotechnology through the College of Arts & Science (Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Sociology.) Students have the option of participating in one, two or three four-month work terms. (Registration in the work terms is through BTECH 204, 304 and 404). The cooperative education option allows students the opportunity to gain work experience and develop contacts within the biotechnology industry.
- Admission
Admission to the Cooperative Education Program is based on completion of a minimum of 54 credit units and a maximum of 84 credit units in the biotechnology degree program and a minimum C.P.A. of 65%. In exceptional circumstances, students outside these boundaries may be considered.
- Work Placements
Work placements are posted through the Cooperative Education Office. Students apply for posted positions and are interviewed by, and interview the employer, before being hired.
Note: This program option is being offered on a trial basis for 2003-2005. For more information contact the Virtual College of Biotechnology.
College of Commerce
- Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) with a Major in Biotechnology Management
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College of Agriculture-
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) with a minor in Biotechnology
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College of Engineering-
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.E.): Options in biochemistry or biotechnology in the Chemical Engineering program
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Graduate Programs in Biotechnology
The University of Saskatchewan offers a wide choice of biotechnology courses in many different disciplines at the graduate level, and a high degree of graduate student activity in both the Master's and the doctoral levels, in all fields related to biotechnology research. See the College of Graduate Studies & Research section of the Calendar for more details.
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Academic Regulations
Because the Virtual College of Biotechnology is a virtual college, it does not have students per se; students must be admitted to and register in one of the regular colleges of the University and are governed by the admission requirements, deadlines, and academic regulations of the college in which they are registered.
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