Practical biofuel activities

The activities are provided to engage young people with the science and issues surrounding bioenergy and biofuels. The topics cover a range of areas in science and technology including:

Plant science
Microbiology
Chemistry

They are provided inline with our strategic priorities which include bioenergy and industrial biotechnology.

Who should download these activities?

Researchers - To communicate and engage young people with the scientific principles and research in the fields of bioenergy and biofuels through practical activities.

Teachers - Many of the activities are suggested by exam boards to cover the knowledge, understanding or practical skills content required for GCSE, A-level or Higher examinations.

What is in the practical guide?

Background information on the science involved in the field of bioenergy and biofuels
Further information about current research
Practical activities:

Instructions
Learning objectives
Keywords
Suitable age ranges
Suggested prior knowledge
Approximate time needed
Extension activities
Curriculum links

Health and safety guidance
Supporting activities and resources
Supporting PowerPoint presentations
Further reading and weblinks

Feedback

Biofuel kit. Image: BBSRC

Please contact us with any questions or feedback (contact information below).

Biofuel kits

To receive a free biofuel kit, featuring feedstock resin samples and molecular models, please send a brief description of your bioenergy outreach and engagement activities to the contact below.

Activities

Please note many of these resources are very large file sizes. If you have any problems please let us know at: webmaster@bbsrc.ac.uk.

Biogas

Oil and biodiesel

Bioethanol

Lignocellulosic bioethanol

Bacterial biofuels

Algal biofuels

Dry activities

Reference

Curriculum

These links are restricted to science subjects and refer to schemes of work or qualifications currently offered in the UK. The national science curriculum is currently under review and teaching of the new Programmes of Study for science will commence in September 2014.

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all the contributing researchers involved, who carried out the activities at science events and in schools as well as providing help and support in developing this guide, in particular Gary Wortley at the Institute of Food Research for equipment and technical support, Alison Smith for the algal chromatography activities and Jen Bromley for developing the lignocellulosic ethanol activities.

Thanks also go to North Walsham High School, Acle High School and the East Norfolk Triple Science Network and their pupils for hosting these activities and to work experience pupils Lucy Handford and Joseph McKenzie for refining protocols.

The resource builds on the work of Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS), the Society of General Microbiology (SGM) and National Centre for Biotechnology Education (NCBE) and thanks go respectively to Daniel Jenkins, Dariel Burdass and Dean Madden for their input.