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Rainforests of Australia
Venture into the lush rainforests, wild savannas, and vibrant reef systems of tropical northern Australia and discover what makes these ecosystems some of the most unique on Earth. Explore the Wet Tropics up close while learning how climate, fire, and human history have shaped this biodiversity hotspot. Hike through ancient forests, collect ecological data in the field, and snorkel on an island on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you’ll gain field research skills, view some of Australia’s extraordinary wildlife, and dive into big questions of conservation and climate resilience.
- Hike through the World Heritage Wet Tropics, home to ancient rainforest species, endangered marsupials, and evolutionary lineages stretching back to Gondwana.
- Snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef and explore the relationships between land, sea, and the species that depend on both.
- Use scientific tools to identify species, track biodiversity using citizen science platforms, and analyze habitat fragmentation.
- Explore diverse habitats to compare ecosystem structure, disturbance, and recovery across landscapes.
Academics
This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in the Wet Tropics of Australia.
Major academic themes include:
- Rainforest and tropical biome ecology
- Conservation and biogeography of Australian flora and fauna
- Ecosystem restoration, fragmentation, and resilience
- Climate change and anthropogenic impact
Courses
On the Rainforests of Australia 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.
Rainforests of Australia
In Rainforests of Australia, you will obtain a broad appreciation of the diversity and dynamics of tropical terrestrial biomes and marine life. You will be introduced to the current and past distributions of tropical rainforests, their biodiversity, and their relationships with the abiotic environment, human use, present threats, and restoration practices. This course aims to bring together an understanding of the underlying ecological processes that affect rainforests (and other tropical vegetation) with the role of human society in shaping the present and future rainforests of the Wet Tropics. The course will take the Australian Wet Tropics as a case study to investigate this field, yet many of the skills you learn here can be transferred to other systems. Topics covered include: biophysical determinants of which vegetation type occurs where; past, present, and future threats to Wet Tropics rainforests; fauna of the Wet Tropics; and the theory and practice of rainforest restoration.
Syllabus coming soon!
Core Skills
You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS use and applications, species identification and population monitoring, forest survey methods, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Field Sites
You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS use and applications, species identification and population monitoring, forest survey methods, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Other Australia Programs
Rainforest to Reef
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Rainforests of Australia
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Marsupials of Australia
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