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Feature Story
Biological Engineering
Biological engineers are creating many new ways to provide water, food, energy, fiber, and health products—the necessities of life—using biological solutions in place of traditional tools, such as mechanical devices and chemicals.
A rapidly growing area of study, biological engineering applies engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the natural environment. Biological engineers are involved in a variety of interests that continue to evolve as our understanding of science and nature grows-and as we figure out how we can make biological systems and processes work to our benefit.
Biological engineering is as broad as the biological world itself. Areas of interest range from environmental protection and remediation, to food, fuel and feed production, to medicine and pharmacology. Some biological engineers develop instruments and imaging products for analyzing biological materials. Others develop strategies for natural pest control and treatment of soil and water pollution and hazardous wastes. Some work for NASA, developing life-support systems, like deployable greenhouses, for extended space missions. These days, biological engineers are also extensively involved in the development of alternative fuels, specifically biofuels and the processes by which biological materials—vegetable oils or agricultural waste products, for example—can be converted to energy.
Biological engineers typically go to school for four years, obtaining a degree through programs such as agricultural, biosystems, biological, or environmental engineering. Many go on to graduate school or even earn a Ph.D. Students who choose biological engineering should have an interest in biology and enjoy finding new ways of solving problems. In addition, biological engineers also take physical science, mathematics, and core engineering courses.
Here are a few places where biological engineers work:
- Oakridge National Laboratory
- NASA
- University research and extension services
- BP Global
- USDA Agricultural Research Service
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Aquaculture facilities
- Archer Daniels Midland
- ConAgra
- Purina
- Disney's Epcot Center
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