Microorganisms are ubiquitous and indispensable for the existence of mankind. They show diversity in size, shape, metabolism and the range of positive functions they perform for sustaining the life on this planet. Bacteria have been exploited by the society since times immemorial, for the production of various foods and enzymes. They reveal several types of metabolic reactions which are absent in eukaryotic organisms. The scientific understanding of metabolic diversity in microorganisms has made it possible to exploit the selected strains of microbes for the commercial production of enormous useful commodities including alternative biofuels which are the focus of research world over due to depleting fossil fuels.
The present book “Microbes: A source of energy for 21st century†highlights the potential of microorganisms in solving the global energy crisis. This volume has been organized in 13 chapters which have been prepared to provide the readers which both an indepth study and a broad perspective of microorganisms for sustainability of mankind and making the world energy independent. The book provides the fundamental knowledge about different types of microorganisms including their various applications and commercial uses. Further, it makes the readers familiar with the diversity in energy generating pathways among different groups of microbes and various possibilities which can be exploited for converting global biomass resources in to alternate biofuels. A great effort has been made to provide the readers a comprehensive knowledge about different alternative fuels from microbes for the 21st century.
It is hoped that this volume will prove useful to the students and professionals who are pursuing their career in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Environment sciences and Energy studies related to the alternate biofuels to achieve energy independence during the 21st century.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR S.K. Soni
Prof. SK Soni had acquired BSc (Mech. Engg.) in from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and ME (Prod. Engg.) from Allahabad University in 1971. He joined NITTR as Assistant Professor in Curriculum Development, after teaching Mechanical Engineering for ten years in Maulanan Azad National Institute of Technology (earlier MACT), Bhopal. He contributed in developing and disseminating education technology in technical institutions in western region of India and also establishing a vibrant Media Research and Development Centre (MRDC) at NITTR during early 80's. He was selected Professor of Multimedia and Head of MRDC in 1983. He held the post of Principal. TTTI (NITTR) during 1998 for one year. Currently, he is serving as Dean (Academic Excellence) in Oriental Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Bhopal after retiring from NITTR in Nov. 2003. He is advising OIST so that it gains the status of an autonomous Private Engineering College under the Affiliating University "Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal", by 2005 and ultimately become "a Deemed to be University" by 2007. Currently he is coordinating the project of ISO 9001: 2000 certification of OIST, Bhopal and Thakral College of Technology (TCT), Bhopal. He had recieved professional training at Garnet College, London, in developing AV Aids for Technical education during January to June 1979 under British Council fellowship. He was sponsored to visit USA and Japan under the UNDP fellowship for five months in Jan. 1988. There he participated in multi-camera studio based Educational TV production courses at Indiana University, Lincoln University, Nebraska, Sony TV Institute, California, USA and Sony Media World, Tokyo, Japan. He guided three PhD scholars working as Professors in NITTR, in the subject areas pertaining to Technical Education; (1) Reengineering Technical Programmes for Labour Market Orientation trhough Competency based Curriculum Development, (2) "Evolving Industry Institute Interaction Strategies for Enhancing Quality of pass outs of technical institutes" and (3) Effective implementation of Competency based Curriculum in Technical Institutions). His competency was recognized internationally with his visit as Visiting Professor in King Monkut's Institute of Technoloyg, Bangkok, Thailand for the development of multi-media packages in Mechanical Engineering during 1997, for three months. He also completed one assignment on vocational education in Sri Lanka during 2003. He had worked as an advisor to ISTE, New Delhi for the project of developing Learning Materials )2000-01 jointly sponsored by Swiss Development Agency and AICTE. He co-authored "Guidelines for developing Learning Materials (2000-01)", for the faculty members of technical Institutions of India. Under this project, a number of text books for both Engg. Colleges and polytechnics, were developed and published by ISTE, New Delhi. He became consultant for Technical Education Quality Imporvement Program (TEQIP) to many technical institutes. He had held positions of Dean Faculty to Technical Education and Chairman, Board of Studies of Technical Education under Barkatullah University, Bhopal. He has been functioning as advisor for the RGPV-ISRO project meant for producing and telecasting interactive TV lessions to 100 technical institutes of MP through satellite based digital communication. Presently, as Dean (Academic Excellence) he is advising all the four Oriental Group of Institutes at Bhopal, India.
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