Biotechnology?

Hi there!
Many people asked me what is Biotechnology and what are you going to be after you graduated?
So, I'm going to answer it here...

On junior high I really like Biology, I tend to get good marks on Biology since on elementary school I joined this Science Olympiad and got quite good rank.  Then when I was on high school yes I still like biology but.. My biology teacher was kindda weird you know. All of the student didn't like him, and I admit that he's weird. *sorry don't meant to* He like to talked so much material that was not even related to the subject we study on. It made us confused and at the end we didn't listen to what he said. Well, we didn't only studied biology on high school right? We still got so much subject and material to deal with. My marks went not so good, and I got bunch of more exciting activities on high school which were not related to studying. I did so-so on my high school biology marks.

Okay so that was my biology relationship story and please ignore it.

I'm going to write about Biotechnology anyway.
I don't really wrote these article, I just copy it from my new favourite web :')
http://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology

At its simplest, biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. We have used the biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products.

Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat debilitating and rare diseases, reduce our environmental footprint, feed the hungry, use less and cleaner energy, and have safer, cleaner and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes.

Currently, there are more than 250 biotechnology health care products and vaccines available to patients, many for previously untreatable diseases. More than 13.3 million farmers around the world use agricultural biotechnology to increase yields, prevent damage from insects and pests and reduce farming's impact on the environment. And more than 50 biorefineries are being built across North America to test and refine technologies to produce biofuels and chemicals from renewable biomass, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, why am I interested in it? Because...

Heal the World

Biotech is helping to heal the world by harnessing nature's own toolbox and using our own genetic makeup to heal and guide lines of research by:

• Reducing rates of infectious disease;
• Saving millions of children's lives;
• Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world;
• Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects;
• Creating more precise tools for disease detection; and
• Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the developing world.

Fuel the World

Biotech uses biological processes such as fermentation and harnesses biocatalysts such as enzymes, yeast, and other microbes to become microscopic manufacturing plants. Biotech is helping to fuel the world by:

• Streamlining the steps in chemical manufacturing processes by 80% or more;
• Lowering the temperature for cleaning clothes and potentially saving $4.1 billion annually;
• Improving manufacturing process efficiency to save 50% or more on operating costs;
• Reducing use of and reliance on petrochemicals;
• Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52% or more;
• Decreasing water usage and waste generation; and
• Tapping into the full potential of traditional biomass waste products.

Feed the World

Biotech improves crop insect resistance, enhances crop herbicide tolerance and facilitates the use of more environmentally sustainable farming practices. Biotech is helping to feed the world by:

• Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs;
• Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by crops-limiting the run-off of these products into the environment;
• Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticides and that allow farmers to reduce tilling farmland;
• Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient deficiencies;
• Producing foods free of allergens and toxins such as mycotoxin; and
• Improving food and crop oil content to help improve cardiovascular health.

Areas of work?

There you go.. 

Just saying that they who study pure science are not stupid, they're not unemployed, their future are also bright, they got lots of chance in the international world. And never underestimate them. 

Never asked people who studies pure science "What re you going to be? Are you going to pay bills with leaves? Are you going to build your house with chemical things? Are you going to buy car with photosynthetic reaction?" because their answer will be "HELL YES"

For all of you new college student who took pure science, don't let other people statement made you down. 

since I've been asked million times about what re you going to be after graduating, why don't you just took architect or medical or business or bla bla bla.. People here in Indonesia tend to underestimate people who took pure science. Dude! I was just going to start college, I even haven't start it yet and all you guys can do was underestimating? Shame on you cause there you go, I've got evidence to prove that YES WE'LL HAVE AN AWESOME JOB.

I'm a freshmen here. But my dream is that I'll continue my master degree abroad. And I like being out of the box. I like choosing major that not much people want to study about it *especially on Indonesia*.

And the conclusion answer to all of your question is 

Yes I choose Biotechnology because I like challenge and I just want it. 

cheers,

albertatheofila