An unforgettably experience in field biology in North Queensland, Australia January 17, 2023

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program was an amazing opportunity for my academic endeavors. I gained so much experience in field biology, and got to talk to, and work along side some of the best marine biologists in the world at Lizard Island Research Station . The seminars were extremely well taught, and there was a good integration of lectures and learning in the field. All of the instructors were incredibly knowledgeable about their fields, and were extremely familiar with native flora and fauna. I would say the rigor of the program is what you make of it, especially during the independent research project, where I was able to dedicate a lot of time and effort to develop a project I was extremely proud of. The resources provided to me by the program, Lizard Island Research Station, and my advisor allowed for an unparalleled experience in field biology.

On-site administration of your program

The program director, Tony Cummings, did an incredible job throughout the entirety of the program. Along with Jack, Uncle Russ, Vanessa, and his other assistants, the program administration did such a good job of making our group comfortable and educated as we experienced some of the most amazing ecosystems in the world.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

the living arrangements were extremely beneficial to my emersion in my study abroad experience. Most of the time we stayed in a hostel, which may not be for everyone, but I think the opportunity to live with other travelers was great for my experience. The living arrangements allowed for me to see all different parts of the Australian culture in Cairns.

The food on the trip was good. We received stipend money while staying at the hostel for breakfast and dinners, and lunch was usually provided by the program. We would grocery shop for ourselves for lunches, which allowed for everyones accommodations to be met.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated to local culture. I think living in a hostel was helpful to push me to be integrated with the city culture in Cairns, and get to meet a lot of Australians. Additionally, our camping trip with Uncle Russ, an aboriginal elder, gave us a lot of insight into aboriginal culture in a way we couldn't have gotten anywhere else.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any serious healthy issues, but for all of the minor ones I had, the program was very accommodating.

I felt very safe overall in my host city. There were a couple instances where we were made uncomfortable by some locals, but overall I was never scared to walk around at night or go outside.

Honestly, this program was one of the best experiences of my life. I made so many friends, and got the opportunity to experience the incredibly diverse and draw-dropping ecosystems of the Wet Tropics, Outback, and Great Barrier Reef. People ask me what my favorite part of the program was, and it is difficult to answer because I loved every minute of it.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I think if you were to cook all of your own meals while staying at the hostel, you could have kept your expenses relatively minimal. But I tended to eat out at relatively cheap local places where I had to spend some of my own money.

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• Other
• Hostel

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• Americans
• Other

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• Americans

• Independent Research Project
• Field-based Learning
• The individuals who were on the program with me

• Packaging List
• Expectations for assignments
• lecture space