Approaching Australia

Source: https://australia.stanford.edu/overview/approaching-australia Parent: https://australia.stanford.edu

Arrival

You must arrive in Australia on the arrival date indicated on the page.
An onsite orientation meeting and the first few days of academic instruction will be held at The University of Queensland (UQ).
During orientation, you will meet faculty and staff from UQ, while getting a thorough introduction to the program.

NOTE: If you choose to arrive early or stay on after the end of the program, you are responsible for arranging your own temporary housing. You will be provided with suggestions for affordable temporary accommodation during orientation on the Stanford campus.

Accommodations and Meals

Housing is provided for the duration of the program from the arrival date through the last day of residence, as indicated in the program's . Since students will be spending time in a number of different locations, the particular type of accommodation will vary throughout the quarter, including:

Dormitories at the University of Queensland in Brisbane and in shared rooms at Heron Island Research Station as well as at Moreton Bay Research Station on Stradbroke Island.
Shared rooms in hotels and hostels during their other travel in Queensland and Sydney.

All program participants will be provided with 21 meals per week. Vegetarian and other special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Meeting People

The mobile nature of this research-intensive program fosters a close bond among the community within the cohort and participants will be able to interact with several post-graduate students and professors from The University of Queensland. The University of Queensland (est. 1909) is the largest and oldest university in Queensland with a student population of about 38,000; this contributes to the city’s rich resources, progressive style, and youthful personality. Students will also meet University of Queensland post-graduate students and faculty through their Individual Research Projects.

Places You'll Explore

Sydney, New South Wales - The program will commence in Sydney, one of the oldest settlements in Australia with a population of approximately 4 million, the largest city on the continent. After being selected to host the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, city officials pushed ahead to renovate much of the downtown area. The city is known for its friendly, dynamic atmosphere, its spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, and its innovative architectural design, most famously demonstrated by the Sydney Opera House.
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland - During the course of the program, the group will spend time on the Great Barrier Reef. This wonder of the world runs almost the entire coastline of Queensland, and the hundreds of islands offer breathtaking sites for camping, wildlife viewing, surfing, and beach hiking.
Brisbane, Queensland - The Australia program will end in the city of Brisbane, situated in the state of Queensland, otherwise known as the “Sunshine State” of Australia. Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia with approximately 1.5 million residents. This progressive and upbeat college town is home to the University of Queensland St. Lucia campus and offers up an assortment of cultural and social activities, including the Queensland Cultural Centre, the New Farm Park, and the lively South Bank Parklands, the site of the 1988 World Expo. Just 7 miles outside the city, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a great place to find koalas, as well as kangaroos and other native animals.

Field Trips

Students will also participate in a multitude of field trips throughout the quarter:

As part of the Coral Reef Ecosystems course, students will have the opportunity to interact with researchers from around the globe while staying at the Heron Island Research Station on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Some of the world’s best snorkeling and scuba diving can be found at this location.
As part of the Coastal Ecosystems course, a field trip to the Moreton Bay Research Station on Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) will explore the effects of human activity on the ecosystems of the region. Students will undertake multiple field activities on the island observing various marine animals and plant communities examine and their importance to human communities, their management and the threats that negatively affect them.
The Australian Studies course, which includes a cultural trip to Sydney, will provide historical and cultural context to the program and offer a reflective examination of the constructs of Australia’s national identity.
As part of the Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation course, students will travel to K’Gari (Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island, as well as to World Heritage area- Lamington National Park, boasting Lush Gondwana rainforests, ancient trees, spectacular views, and a place of exceptional ecological importance. Both locations show how the plants and animals of Australian ecosystems came to be so utterly unique.