Australia: Great Barrier Reef
| In Australia: | Australia I – July 1 - July 10, 2012 Australia II – July 12 - July 21, 2012 May need to add 1-2 days travel time (Dates listed show course start and end date) |
| At Home or School: | September - early December 2012 (Web-based Learning Community) |
| Credits: | 7 graduate credits from Miami University; course can be applied to Global Field Program. |
| Institutional Partner: | Reef HQ Aquarium, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's National Education Centre, is a primary partner for this program. |
| Course Cost: | $1290 (in-country costs and Miami tuition inclusive) + airfare to Townsville, Australia + $575 transportation related expenses. SCUBA certification is not required. Students who wish to complete SCUBA certification on the Great Barrier Reef may do so at their own expense before the course starts. |
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One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef lies in the clear blue waters off the northeast coast of Australia. Spanning 14 degrees of latitude, this complex reef system is not only the greatest expanse of coral in the world, it is the Earths' largest living structure, a massive, beautiful, and ancient biological phenomenon of bewildering diversity and immense ecological significance. Habitats within the reef mosaic include the coral reefs themselves (some 3,000 individual reefs), sponge gardens, sea grasses, mangroves, continental islands, and coral cays, which together help support a rich assemblage of marine and terrestrial life, including more than 1,500 species of fish, 200 species of birds, six species of sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and dugongs. This graduate course program is offered jointly with Reef HQ Aquarium, Australia's National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef. Reef HQ Aquarium is a unit of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which holds responsibility for the management and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. Located in Townsville, Queensland, Reef HQ Aquarium houses the world's largest living coral reef exhibit.
During the field portion of this course, we will be sleeping near the corals in the aquarium itself, while also venturing forth on a well-equipped dive vessel for direct research on the Great Barrier Reef. Discussion topics include a range of marine science issues as well as citizen engagement in marine science. Reef HQ Aquarium promotes reef stewardship through public exhibits, field programs, sustainability certification for tour operators, reef videoconferencing, and through school initiatives such as the successful Reef Guardian program, which engages hundreds of schools in reef conservation. Reef HQ Aquarium is also increasing its sea country partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people to support traditional ecological knowledge and stewardship of the reef environment. This course supports advanced study of coral reefs as well as integrated methods for involving communities in the preservation of marine environments. Prior to and following the field experience in Australia, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops Web-based learning community as they apply experiences to their home institutions. |
Course Themes
- Coral reef ecology
- Conservation of marine systems
- Design of public research exhibits
- Inquiry-driven learning
- Community-based conservation and participatory education
A typical Earth Expeditions day in Australia is likely to include:
- Study at field conservation sites
- Lectures
- Student-led discussions of key course topics
- Engagement with local communities
- Open inquiries
- Journal writing
[Click on an image to open it in a new window]
Queensland, Australia
The state of Queensland, nicknamed "The Sunshine State," is located on the northeast coast of Australia. Covering an area three times the size of Texas, Queensland is home to tropical rain forest, mountains, white sandy beaches, islands, and the incomparable Great Barrier Reef.
Planned Sites in Queensland
Reef HQ Aquarium
Located in the coastal city of Townsville, Reef HQ Aquarium is the National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Reef HQ Aquarium runs an on-site turtle hospital to rehabilitate and release sick and injured marine turtles. They develop and implement a range of education programs, including Reef Guardian Schools, which creates a network of schools taking action inside and outside the classroom to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Students develop skills to investigate and solve local issues affecting the greater GBR environment.
Magnetic Island
Just offshore from Townsville lies Magnetic Island. Over half of this rugged, mountainous island is a national park and supports eucalyptus woods, mangroves, sea grass beds, and fringing coral reefs. Rock wallabies scamper on granite boulders. Koalas forage in eucalyptus trees. Echidnas, black flying foxes, brushtail possums, and over 180 species of birds can also be seen on the island. Large marine mammals include dugongs and sea turtles.
Wheeler Reef
Part of the outer Great Barrier Reef, Wheeler Reef lies some 40 nautical miles off the coast of Townsville. Wheeler Reef is off the beaten track, making for pristine corals and crystal clear water with few divers or snorkelers in sight. In addition to a high abundance of fish -- including fusiliers, parrotfish, and damselfish-- turtles and manta rays are common. The reef is famous for gullies, canyons, and caves and is an ideal site for divers and snorkelers.
(Course locations are subject to change.)
Web-based Learning Community
Before departing for Australia, students will join instructors and classmates in Project
Dragonfly's collaborative Web community to complete pre-trip assignments in preparation for the expedition. After returning to the United States, students will continue to work in their Web-based community from September through early December to develop projects initiated in the field, discuss assignments, and exchange ideas. All students should expect to spend two to three hours a week contributing to their learning community from their home or school computer. Navigating the Web community is easy--it's designed for people with no prior computer experience. To learn more about this unique Web experience, visit dragonflyworkshops.org.
Cost: $1290 + Airfare to Townsville, Australia + $575 research vessel and related expenses*
Tuition for 7 graduate credits and all basic expenses in-country are covered in the $1290 course costs, including:
- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
*NOTE: The Australia course carries a required extra charge of $575 to cover research vessel and related expenses for the 2-day/2-night live-aboard on the outer reef.
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
SCUBA Certification Costs (optional; cost TBD):
Students may choose to become SCUBA certified on the Great Barrier Reef as part of this course. The cost of certification is paid directly to the dive agency (a 5-star PADI center) and includes 5 dives + 1 night dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Certification requires passage of a dive physical. Previously certified divers can earn Advanced Certification. SCUBA certification is not required: all course dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef include snorkel options.
Financial Support
Because of support from Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs.
Click here for Grant Funding Tips.
Tuition costs:
Non-Miami University Participants
To support involvement by a broad range of individuals, Miami University currently offers a reduced tuition rate (included in the price above) for all Earth Expedition participants who are not full-time students at Miami University.
Miami University Students
Full-time Miami University undergraduate and graduate students pay tuition for five credit hours unless they have summer tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship or scholarship. Miami students receive an additional two credits when they complete the required Web-based follow-up.
Airfare:
To estimate fares to Townsville, Australia, applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.
More Information
For more information on the admissions process, physical requirements, and more, please visit Admissions and/or FAQs.