summer session II

Australia

Watersheds of the Wet Tropics

At A Glance

04 Weeks | 04 Credits
Summer 2019

Jul 8 - Aug 7

Filling Fast

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

Prerequisites

None

Sample Itinerary
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Watersheds of the Wet Tropics

Tropical North Queensland

Discover the diverse ecosystems of Australia’s Wet Tropics. The Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforests of northern Australia form a complex, interconnected system. Spend your summer learning about rainforest and watershed management in this verdant region while considering the policies and actions needed to maintain healthy waterways in the face of climate change.

  • Go snorkeling off a Great Barrier Reef island and learn about the links between rainforest restoration and water quality on the reef

Program Costs & Financial Aid

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‌Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Australia.

Major academic themes include:

  • Watershed ecology
  • Rainforest, coastal, and marine management
  • Ecosystem connections between the rainforest and reef
  • Biodiversity assessments
  • Impacts of human development

Courses

On the Watersheds of the Wet Tropics program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English.

Click on the course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 3161 Wet Tropics Watershed Ecology and Conservation 4 credits

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: habitat and biodiversity assessment, rainforest restoration techniques, water quality assessments, human development impact assessment methods, and approaches to watershed management.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities, which may include primary and secondary tropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll forests, coastal scrub and mangrove, Melaleuca swamps, coral reefs, Indigenous communities within the Daintree, and local conservation and restoration groups.

Resources

Spend the summer with SFS!

Get more out of your SFS experience when you take back-to-back summer sessions. More time to explore the ecosystems and communities, more time to learn about complex environmental issues, and more time to build practical skills. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions.

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM
Australia Summer Session I: Rainforests of New Zealand and Australia

Learn More
All program components are subject to change.

‌Life in the Field

At the end of a narrow, winding road, in the middle of a lush rainforest, lies this remote field station. The 153-acre property is surrounded by protected World Heritage forests, and comes alive at night with the sounds of wildlife. The nearby town of Yungaburra and city of Cairns provide the occasional return to civilization.

  • Group living in 8-person cabins
  • Main building with classroom, lab, and study spaces
  • Student lounge with scenic porch views
  • Covered outdoor dining area, on-site cooking staff
  • Volleyball and extensive trail network for hiking
  • Swimming and running trails a nearby Crater Lake

 
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