SLIIT Biotechnology programme encourages opportunities surrounding agricultural life sciences post COVID-19 | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

SLIIT Biotechnology programme encourages opportunities surrounding agricultural life sciences post COVID-19

3 May, 2020

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has resulted in grave implications for the nation’s population resulting in not only a health crisis but also a threat to food security in the long term.

To overcome future adverse effects of these threats, there is a vital need to create more synergies in food technology, agriculture and biotechnology, prioritizing and adapting innovation as main drivers of productivity and sustainability.

SLIIT’s BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology degree positions students at the forefront of life sciences. Especially in today’s challenging context it is imperative that students understand modern biotech practices and their application in farming.

While biotechnology is recognised as the fastest growing science-based industry in the world, it is also regarded as an engine of growth for the global economy where new technologies could help improve agricultural productivity.For students who thirst for this new knowledge, the BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology degree offered through the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences at SLIIT nurtures professionals ensuring they focus on research and education on the nation's most important issues.

Students currently engaged in the SLIIT BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology degree programme understand the importance of innovation in biotechnology in contributing towards an invisible green revolution. Students’ comprehend the benefits farmers, producers and consumers reap through biotechnology techniques such as genetic engineering in agriculture.

Additionally, by grasping the importance of promoting plant and animal biotechnology students are exposed to knowledge and application of biotechnological processes with applicative value in pharmaceutical and food industry, in agriculture and in ecology.The four-year programme helps to bridge the gap between industry and academia. The course content is aimed at providing students with a good foundation of knowledge and experience of the different fields of biotechnology for their future careers.

Job opportunities are available in veterinary Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, Biomedical Engineering, Agricultural Industry, the area of product manufacturing & production, Nutritional Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, forensic investigations, Marine Biotechnology and even the Bioterrorism.

This degree is ideal for the students who have followed the Biology Stream at the Advanced Level Examination.

“Our goal is to ignite students’ interest in life sciences and career possibilities. We believe that the current millennium is the age of biological sciences. Our students have access to the conceptual, experimental and mathematical tools to understand the complexity of inputs that go into the study of life sciences. It is also believed that biotechnology as a leading scientific field of study offers immense potential to leapfrog the country’s agriculture, industry, health, and environment and solve its problems.” stated Prof. Sriyani Peiris, Head, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Humanities & Sciences, SLIIT.

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