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Quick Facts

Medium Of Instructions	Mode Of Learning	Mode Of Delivery
English	Self Study, Virtual Classroom	Video and Text Based

Course Overview

The Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course by Edx is an introductory course to environmental sciences. This course imparts knowledge to the candidate in concepts like urban metabolism, soil formation, water quality, heavy metals, atmosphere, rainwater, photosynthesis, and anoxic environments.

In this programme, the candidate would learn about various biotic and abiotic mechanisms that control the quality of water that is used for industrial and drinking purposes. This course also talks about the role of microorganisms and soil in the maintenance of biogeochemical cycles. Case studies and real-time examples are also provided for better understanding. This course also speaks about the breakdown of mountains to the soil from where the civilization began.

The certificate provided at the end of the course is signed by instructors and verified by the institution. The certificate adds value to the resume of the candidate and it can be shared on LinkedIn. By pursuing this course, the candidates would gain intelligence in the natural water treatment process, biogeochemical cycling, microbial metabolisms, and aquatic chemistry equilibrium.

The Highlights

Course duration is 14 weeks
Video transcripts in French and English
The course provided by EPFLx institute
Instructor-led course schedule
Shareable certificate
Certificate verified by Edx
Only 4 to 5 hours of classes per week
Online course
Demo course is available

Programme Offerings

video lectures
Quiz questions
Exercises
Optional assignments
peer-graded homework assignments
mid-term exams
final exams
discussion forum

Courses and Certificate Fees

Fees Informations	Certificate Availability	Certificate Providing Authority
INR 4069	yes	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

The details regarding the fee of Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course provided by Edx is mentioned below for learners.

The candidate can attend the course free of cost but the candidate will not receive a course completion certificate.
To avail of a verified certificate, the candidates need to make a fee payment of Rs. 4,069.

The fee details are described in the below table

Course Name	Amount
Verified Certification Programme	Rs. 4,069

Eligibility Criteria

Education

The candidate should have basic knowledge of biology and inorganic chemistry. The candidates who don't have knowledge in the above-specified domain can also take up this course. This course also suits the beginner level candidates.

Certification Qualifying Details

The participants are provided with a verified certificate on successful completion of the course. The candidate should receive pass grades in the programme to avail certificate. The information regarding pass marks will be provided on the progress page. The certificate is provided only to the candidates who attempt this course by paying a fee.

What you will learn

Knowledge of Environmental Science

The learner would be able to understand concepts which are described below by pursuing the Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course which is provided by Edx.

The candidate would be able to understand the steps involved in natural water treatment processes
They would also learn the equilibrium between water and chemical compounds
The candidate will also learn concepts in microbial metabolisms
The need for maintaining the atmosphere and rainwater without any pollution is also explained.
Important concepts like carbon fixation, carbon cycling, and carbon storage are also elaborated.
The importance of environmental cycles are taught to the candidate
Biological concepts like photosynthesis are detailed
Different types of heavy metals and their availability in the earth’s environment are discussed.
Various mines and the pollution caused by the mines are briefly discussed
Concepts like weathering, soil formation, and urban metabolism are taught to the participants.

Who it is for

Scientist

The Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course is especially meant for the following candidates who wish to explore the links between soil science, biology, and chemistry.

Scientists
Engineers
Policymakers
All participants who want to gain knowledge in environment-related issues can attend this course.
Practitioners

Admission Details

The admission procedure of Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course follows the simple registration process. The learners can find it easy to register if they follow the step by step procedure which is described below:

Step 1: The candidate has to visit the webpage using the URL https://www.edx.org/course/water-quality-and-the-biogeochemical-engine

Step 2: Click “Enroll”. The candidate can sign in if they already have an account. Else they can click register.

Step 3: The candidate can also register using their Google account or Facebook.

Step 4: After signing in the candidate has to click “View course”

Step 5: Then the candidate can click “start course” to access the course and its data.

Step 6: If the candidate needs a certificate they can upgrade their plan any time before the expiry date by paying a fee by clicking “Upgrade Now”.

Step 7: The candidate can add a coupon code while processing payment for the course and click “Apply”.

Step 8: The candidate must select the payment method and add the information about the card holder. Then they need to click “Place order”.

Step 9: After completing the process, the candidate will be enrolled in the verified track of the selected course.

The Syllabus

Weathering and clay formation
Soil formation
OM reactivity
Dissolution / precipitation equilibria

De-nitrification
Nitrification and anammox
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen cycle

Selenium
Toxicity vs. deficiency
Chromium

Present water cycle
Chemical equilibria and acid-base chemistry
S cycle
Ancient atmosphere

Anoxygenic photosynthesis
C fixation pathways
Microbial metabolism
Oxygenic photosynthesis

C cycle
C geological storage
Respiration vs. fermentation
Redox chemistry

Organic matter degradation
Methanogenesis
Methylotrophy

Clay reactivity
Oxy(hydr)oxide formation and reactivity
Complexation chemistry

Sulfate reduction
Anoxia in surface environments
Microbial Fe and Mn reduction
Case study: arsenic in deltas in SE Asia

Case study: Decazeville
Microbial sulfide oxidation
Microbial iron oxidation
Pyrite oxidation and metal release

Instructors

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1: What is the duration of the programme?

The duration of the programme is 14 weeks and the programme requires a weekly effort of 4 to 5 hours from the candidate.

2: Are there any prerequisites?

The participants who are attempting the Water Quality and the Biogeochemical Engine course must have basic knowledge in biology and inorganic chemistry. But the candidates who don't have knowledge in these subjects can also attend.

3: What are the perks of learning this course?

The candidate would get a verified certificate from Edx. The certificate can also be shared on platforms like LinkedIn. This course adds value to the CV of the candidate.

4: Can the course be accessed in offline mode?

The candidates need a good internet facility to complete the assignments and view course contents. The transcripts and videos can be downloaded and accessed offline.

5: What is the difference between an audit course and a verified course?

The audit course is a free course whereas the verified course is paid. The candidate will be provided with assessments, unlimited course access, and certificates only when they enroll verified course.

6: How long can the user access the course in the audit track?

The candidate can access the course content for the entire duration of the programme listed on the enrolment page. The candidate can also upgrade their plans if the course is open for verified enrollment.

7: How can the candidate apply for financial aid?

The candidate can avail of financial aid by filling up the financial assistance application. Nearly 90% discount is available on verified courses.

8: How are peer assessment scores calculated?

The peer assessment scores are calculated by considering the mean score that is given by colleagues of the candidate. The final score is the sum of all median scores. Grades are always provided by staff.

9: How much work should the candidate do to pass the course?

The candidate must complete all the graded assignments in the course and achieve a minimum passing score. The details regarding the passing score can be viewed on the progress page.