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The department was founded in 1891. In 2018, it underwent a rebranding, adopting the name Biosystems Engineering for both the department and its graduate programs. Mirroring other Land Grant institutions, this department operates under the joint oversight of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering. Biosystems engineers apply principles of engineering, mathematics, and life sciences to create solutions for soil and water management, food production, biological product development, and big data analysis. Their work spans energy efficiency, material utilization, biochemical applications, and waste recycling. By integrating technical expertise, computational methods, and control systems, they advance agricultural and biological understanding—expertise that could potentially contribute to designing extraterrestrial life support systems. Students can focus on water resource engineering or biological engineering.
The Biosystems Engineering Master of Science program provides diverse research opportunities in areas such as: Controlled Environment Agriculture, Water Resources, Biometry and Biosystems Informatics, as well as Food, Bioproducts, and Renewable Energy. The curriculum's adaptability enables students to tailor their studies in collaboration with academic advisors.
Our aspiration: BE aims to achieve global recognition for pioneering technologies and systems that ensure safe food production, sustainable bioenergy, bioproducts, and biological data management in arid and semi-arid regions. We envision attracting students, stakeholders, and professionals worldwide to engage with our initiatives.
Arizona holds significant promise for large-scale renewable bioenergy and bioproduct generation from sources like sugar, oil, organic waste, and algae. Our region already hosts an operational ethanol plant, with ongoing collaborations to explore novel biomass applications. Arizona has the potential to exemplify sustainable renewable fuel production in semi-arid climates, emphasizing prudent resource management. Effective use of residual biomass is crucial for the industry's economic viability.