UBC Forestry Summer Institute

Bio-based Renewable Materials and Energy

Tentative Schedule: 3 weeks (July 20 – August 09, 2025)
Course Duration:  60 hours
Leading Instructor: Prof. Feng Jiang

This course provides an overview of bioenergy principles and explains the knowledge base as well as the cutting-edge technologies for biofuel production. Students will learn some of the modules, including biofuel classification, biomass chemistry, biofuel production via biomass thermochemical conversion, biofuel production via biomass biochemical conversion as well as the life cycle analysis utilized in the process of biofuel commercialization.

This course is designed for both undergraduate and master’s level students studying biorefinery. Professionals, who endeavor to be engaged in bioenergy and biofuel production, are also the targeted audience of this course.

Learning Outcomes

This course is designed to equip students with fundamental knowledge on the existing primary bio-based polymeric materials. The course will start to introduce general aspects including how nature synthesizes these bio-based polymers, their physical and chemical properties, and biodegradability. Additionally, this course will cover the fundamentals and emerging technologies for biomass conversion into biofuels and bioproducts, transformations of bio-based polymers for industrial polymer processing techniques, advanced biofuel production, the primary applications of nature derived polymers in our daily life and the potential for use in new applications based on polymer structure property relationships.

1. Students will be able to identify the primary bio-based polymeric materials existing in everyday life.
2. Students will be able to understand the chemical structures and physical properties of bio-based materials.
3. Students will be able to differentiate bio-based polymers from synthetic ones.
4. Students will be able to explain bio-based polymers synthesis and their transformation into bioproducts and bioenergy.
5. Students will be able to evaluate both social and economic advantages in using biopolymers and bioenergy.
6. Students will be able to understand chemical reactions to modify and/or synthesize new biopolymers with targeted properties and functionalities.
7. Students will be able to interpret the challenge in replacing synthetic polymers and the limitations of bio-based polymers

Learning Activities and Assessment

• Classroom participation and discussion quality
• Homework and group projects
• Lab tour and practice
• Industry tour and sharing
• Cultural and academic sharing with UBC students
• Final presentation  

Choices for Field Practice

Bio-material factories,  bioproduct and bioenergy labs

How to Apply

Please read the instructions on the UBC Forestry Summer Institute page to submit your application.

Tentative Program Schedule

	Sunday, July 20	Monday, July 21	Tuesday, July 22	Wednesday, July 23	Thursday, July 24	Friday, July 25	Saturday, July 26
9-12 AM	Arrive and settle in at UBC	Welcome remarks, UBC and forestry introduction, course orientation	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Lecture	Day Visiting trip (optional)
1:30-4:30 PM		UBC Campus Tour
	Sunday, July 27	Monday, July 28	Tuesday, July 29	Wednesday, July 30	Thursday, July 31	Friday, August 01	Saturday, August 02
9-12 AM	Day Visiting trip (optional)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Field Practice 1:Lab tours of bio-products and bio-energy (9:00-17:00)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Day Visiting trip (optional)
1:30-4:30 PM
	Sunday, August 03	Monday, August 04	Tuesday, August 05	Wednesday, August 06	Thursday, August 07	Friday, August 08	Saturday, August 09
9-12 AM	Day Visiting trip (optional)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Field Practice 2: Industry and facility visit of bio-product enterprise(9:00-17:00)	Lecture/Guest lecture	Lecture/Guest lecture	Presentation of group projects and Graduation Ceremony group projects	Leaving