S
AB
CC
SG
BDiscover
E
Engineering that makes a difference
Discover
Engineering with a
higher purpose
Discover
Discover
Engineering for life
Bioresource
Engineering
the engineering of food, environmental,
biological, and agricultural systems
CSBE
SCGAB
Finding Solutions for Life on a Small Planet
• 40% projected increase in world population by
2030 will add 2 billion people to the planet
• Growing world population requires more
food, water, energy, goods
• Limited resources demand we do more with
less, without degrading our natural world
CSBE
SCGAB
Bioresource engineers ensure the growing
population has the necessities for life
• Safe and abundant food and water
• Timber and fiber for shelter and clothing
• Plentiful and renewable energy resources
• Clean air
CSBE
SCGAB
Bioresource engineers—what do they do?
•
Solve problems related to systems, processes, and machines that interact
with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and materials
•
Design, construct, repair, upgrade, and remediate
biosystems of all sizes ranging from the microbial
scale to the full-sized watershed; they deal with
ecosystems and agro-ecosystems of all types.
•
Develop solutions for responsible, alternative
uses of agricultural products, byproducts and
wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water,
air, and energy
•
Devise practical, efficient solutions for producing,
storing, transporting, processing, and packaging
CSBE
agricultural products
SCGAB
Why Choose Bioresource
Engineering?
Our unique curriculum offers valuable
experience in engineering and prepares
graduates for working in multi-disciplinary
teams common in today’s workforce.
You can make a lasting mark on the world
around you, and help other people in the
process.
Bioresource engineering allows you to apply
your knowledge in math, physical sciences,
and biological sciences in a useful and
CSBE
productive way.
SCGAB
Who Employs Bioresource Engineers?
With a unique understanding of the
interrelationships between technology
and living systems, you’ll have a very
wide variety of employment options
available to you!
CSBE
SCGAB
Specialty
Areas
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
Bio-Environmental Engineering
Structures & Environment
Biological Engineering
Natural Resources
Forest Engineering
Biotechnology
Ecological Engineering
Fermentation
Agricultural Engineering
Mechatronics
Post-Harvest processing
Information
Aquacultural Engineering
Energy
Safety, Health , Ergonomics
Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering
CSBE
Power Systems & Machinery Design
Water: Hydrology, Drainage, Irrigation
SCGAB
Biological Engineering
Applying engineering practice to problems
and opportunities presented by living things
and the environment
This can involve:
•
•
•
•
Environmental protection
Bioinstrumentation
Bioimaging
Plant-based pharmaceuticals and
packaging materials
CSBE
SCGAB
Natural Resources
Improving conservation by understanding the
complex mechanics of soil and water
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wetlands protection
Water control structures: dams,
reservoirs, floodways
Drainage
Erosion control
Pesticide and nutrient runoff
Modelling pollutant transport
Crop water requirements
Water treatment systems
Irrigation
CSBE
SCGAB
Food and BioProcess Engineering
Using microbiological processes to develop useful products, treat
municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes, and improve food safety
•
•
•
•
•
•
Packaging, storage,
transportation of perishable
products
Pasteurization, sterilization,
irradiation techniques
Food processing techniques &
technologies
Biomass fuels
Nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals
Biodegradable packaging
materials
CSBE
SCGAB
Information &
Electronic Technologies
Perhaps the most versatile specialty area, it’s
applied to virtually all others
•
Global positioning systems
•
Machine instrumentation and controls
•
•
Data acquisition and
“Bioinformatics”—
biorobotics, machine
vision, sensors,
spectroscopy
Electromagnetics
CSBE
SCGAB
Structures & Environment
Engineering a healthy environment for living things
•
Animal housing
•
Grain storage
•
Waste storage, recovery, reuse, transport
•
Climate, ventilation, disease control systems
CSBE
SCGAB
Power Systems & Machinery Design
Improving efficiency and conservation in agricultural, food, and
biological systems
•
Agricultural tractors, combines, implements,
and transportation equipment
•
Turf and landscape equipment
•
Equipment for special crops
• Irrigation equipment
• Farmstead equipment
• Food processing equipment
CSBE
SCGAB
Energy
Developing renewable energy sources, devising energy conservation
strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment
• Devising new ways of capturing
solar energy as bio-energy
• Meeting the energy needs of the
general population by using
agricultural products and byproducts
• Biomass, methane, vegetable oils
• Wind and solar energy
CSBE
SCGAB
Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering
A microcosm of large-scale production agriculture, with similar needs
• Irrigation, mechanization
• Disease and pest control
• Temperature, humidity, ventilation control
• Plant biology: tissue culture, seedling
propagation, hydroponics
CSBE
SCGAB
Forestry
Applying engineering principals to forestry management and
conservation
• Machine-soil interaction and erosion control
• Operations analysis and improvement
• Equipment design
• Wood product design
• Access systems design and construction
CSBE
SCGAB
Preparing for a University Career in
Bioresource Engineering, You Need:
• Maths
• Sciences, including
life sciences
• Writing and Speaking —
to communicate clearly
and to “sell” your ideas
CSBE
SCGAB
“I found bioresource engineering to be a challenging field of
study and very different from the traditional engineering fields.
And, I have the chance to work in an industry that affects
everyone in the world!”
“Other university departments are so big and
impersonal, but my faculty took time to get to
know me and help me grow, personally as well as
academically. There is a real sense of community
in this major.”
“My studies prepared me
for the job market by
exposing me to many
different experiences and
scenarios that come
across in work.”
CSBE
SCGAB
CSBE
SCGAB
Bioresource
Engineering
at McGill
Additional information:
http://www.mcgill.ca/agreng/
http://www.agrenv.mcgill.ca/
agreng/recruit/
email: bioresource@mcgill.ca
tel: Susan Gregus 514.398.7774