Capstone Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability

Capstone Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability, offered by Wageningen University & Research through WageningenX on edX, is an online capstone course designed to complete the MicroMasters programme in Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability. The course focuses on designing a sustainable biobased process, with particular emphasis on conversion from biomass to a finished product. Learners are expected to justify choices around catalyst, reactor type, organism, and feedstock while placing these decisions within the broader context of sustainability. 

Core Content

The curriculum centers on the design of a sustainable biobased process and the integration of technical decision-making with sustainability analysis. Wageningen states that learners design a process from biomass to finished product and discuss the implications of their choices for catalyst, organism, feedstock, and conversion route. The final product is a written report, which requires participants to connect process design with wider technological, societal, and economic considerations. 

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to design a sustainable biobased process and evaluate core conversion-related choices in a structured way. Wageningen lists learning outcomes including selecting an appropriate catalyst, organism, and feedstock, discussing the consequences of those choices, and calculating the mass balance of the process. The course also helps learners connect conversion decisions to the wider sustainability picture rather than treating process design as a purely technical exercise.

Target Learners

This course is designed for learners who have already completed all other MOOCs in the MicroMasters programme in Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability. Wageningen states that learners can only start the capstone after earning a verified certificate for each of the earlier courses in the programme. It is therefore best suited to committed learners seeking to consolidate prior study into a final applied sustainability project.

Learning Format

Hosted on edX, the course is delivered in an online format and starts directly. Wageningen University & Research lists the duration as eight weeks with an expected study effort of 12 to 20 hours per week. The course is structured around the completion of a final written report, making it more project-based and intensive than a standard MOOC. 

Additional Benefits

The course offers strong practical value for learners who want to complete the MicroMasters with a substantial applied project. Its focus on process design, conversion choices, and sustainability trade-offs makes it useful for learners aiming to demonstrate integrated knowledge rather than isolated technical skills. As the final step in the WageningenX MicroMasters pathway, it also provides progression value for those pursuing deeper study or applied work in biobased sustainability.

Browse more ESG courses and certifications to enhance your skills and knowledge.