z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Powerful Soil: Utilizing Microbial Fuel Cell Construction and Design in an Introductory Biology Course
Author(s) -
Craig D. Jude,
Brooke A. Jude
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of microbiology and biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.301
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 1935-7885
pISSN - 1935-7877
DOI - 10.1128/jmbe.v16i2.934
Subject(s) - biosafety , outreach , curriculum , computer science , construct (python library) , laboratory safety , course (navigation) , identification (biology) , medical education , mathematics education , engineering management , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering , biology , medicine , pedagogy , ecology , psychology , political science , law , programming language , nuclear medicine , aerospace engineering

This tool utilizes the construction of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) as the long-term laboratory experience for an introductory biology course. Students build multiple versions of MFCs during the semester, altering a number of variables to produce a more powerful battery. Through this iterative laboratory experience, students learn experimental design strategies, microbial culturing and identification techniques, and how to construct scientific figures, legends and tables. This laboratory can also be adapted to a one-hour workshop for middle school students, facilitated by college faculty and college students. 

 

Editor's Note:

The ASM advocates that students must successfully demonstrate the ability to explain and practice safe laboratory techniques. For more information, read the laboratory safety section of the ASM Curriculum Recommendations: Introductory Course in Microbiology and the Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories, available at www.asm.org. The Editors of JMBE recommend that adopters of the protocols included in this article follow a minimum of Biosafety Level 2 practices. Adopters of the 8th grade outreach activity discussed in this article should follow Biosafety Level 1 practices.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here