The Crucial Role of Life Sciences in Undertaking Solutions for Human Well- being and Environmental Sustainability

Overview: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași offers this module to students from all over the world, who share an interest and passion for life sciences. This course pack is designed to enrich both your theoretical understanding and practical abilities in Life Sciences. It aims to expand and refine your skills in interdisciplinary experimental techniques, and data processing. The curriculum covers a diverse range of topics, including bioinformatics and DNA barcoding, structural biology of proteins, physiological role, structure and modifications of different biomolecules, antimicrobials, pollutants and environmental risks, as well as your very own first-hand experience in separation techniques, structural mass spectrometry, molecular simulations, modeling and 3D printing protein models, genetic sequencing and environmental assessment and monitoring.

Number of contact hours: 40

Assessment method: Multiple choice test and oral presentation

Contact (module coordinator): Assoc. Prof. dr. Brîndușa Alina PETRE (brindusa.petre@uaic.ro)

MODULE OUTLINE

Lectures(L) and practical applications (PA)

• A Critical Analysis of Empiric Antibiotics Treatment: Health Benefits versus Environmental Risks (L, PA)
• Proteins, Enzymes, and Antibodies as Molecular Vehicles for Investigating Human Health and Diseases (L, PA)
• Identifying biological species using DNA barcoding (L, PA)
• New weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance (L, PA)
• From amino acids to biological function – a journey into the structural biology of proteins (L, PA)
• Plastic pollution of freshwater environments: impacts and mitigation strategies (L, PA)
• Resilience for sustainability: responding and adapting to global, regional and local shocks and threats (L, PA)
• Applications of remote sensing in the evaluation of environmental risks (L, PA)
• Climate change: the major challenge of the XXI century – facts and observation (L, PA)