Global Biotech Entrepreneurship – SC 497

Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field of science that has impacted our society on many different levels. The future of biotechnology has the potential to contribute immensely to many of our society’s most pressing problems, but its future is in question because of socio-economic and political forces. This class will provide a strong overview of the theories and techniques used in biotechnology, and the applications made possible by it. During the in-class portion, we will examine the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), study current literature in the STEM field that address these objectives and learn how an entrepreneurial mindset can be the key to contribute to this mission. Furthermore, students will form teams and through their respective background will create solutions for reaching one or more of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

During Thanksgiving break, students will travel with the instructors to Switzerland and team up with students from the University of Zurich to work on their projects and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. While in Switzerland, students will examine and identify local environmental issues, assess these problems and create solutions while working in teams. Furthermore, students will discover the cultural aspects of Switzerland by participating in various day trips to culturally relevant sites.

Check out what students experience in Switzerland - in 360° video:
Immersive 4K videos from SC 497: Global Biotech Entrepreneurship

Scholarships

SC 497 students are eligible to apply for the following scholarships (among many other financial opportunities), some depending on students' individual circumstances:

• Embedded Programs Scholarship ($1,000) from the Penn State Office of Global Programs
• Science Global Experiences Scholarship ($250-$1,000+) from the Office of Science Engagement
• Global Student Access & Success Scholarships ($500-$2,000) from the Office of Global Programs
• Student Engagement Network Grant ($2,000) from the Student Engagement Network
• Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant (variable amount) for students in the Schreyer Honors College

Applications

Apply through the SC 497 Qualtrics application here

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Instructors

Dr. Beatrice Sirakaya, Assistant Teaching Professor