The half way mark

Getting over the halfway point slump, looking back on what we've done and what needs to be done for the future

Half way through the module seems as good a time as any to stop and think about how far I've come and more importantly what steps I need to take going forward! looking back at my first bioprocessing lecture we were asked what our Expectations, Hopes & Fears for the coming year would be so I am going to look back and measure how I'm coming along so far.

At our first lecture I didn't have much knowledge about bioprocessing just small bits from previous modules such as biotechnology and microbiology, so I didn't set myself high expectations of changing the world but rather I was hoping to develop an understanding of what bioprocessing is, a new way of thinking and a different mindset of the food industry which I can say is definitely on track. Started off with identifying a problem and how it might be fixed. We've identified our problem of Gastrointestinal Disorders, came up with a possible solution in kefir water, now we have to figure out how to get the product on a bigger scale.

Setting up and developing an online ePortfolio seems like an innovative to make us really think about what it is that we are doing requiring us to develop a deeper understanding of our kefir water process in order to explain to others how it developed. As well as utilizing information from our bioprocessing lectures with Barry, previous modules such as biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology and completing the memos from Nutriplus all mingle together keeping us on to help achieve our goal of developing a viable bioprocess to yield our product. I feel as if all our best brainstorming and cognitive thinking as a group happens after our bioprocessing lectures with Barry as we are all focused and in the right frame of mind after it, as opposed to mid week when we are working in Laboratories for our thesis.

Looking forward I am a bit apprehensive that we have to maintain a balance of keeping on top of future memos that are sent our way from Nutriplus, keep developing our ePortfolio as well as keep an eye on having to 'Teach a class' at the end of the module, we have to have our bioprocess all figured out before that and present it in a way that is informative, holds classes attention, is easy to understand and not boring. These are fears that hopefully I will overcome, which will be reviewed whether or not the Expectations, Hopes & Fears targets were achieved.