Student Challenge funded scholarships for State Government schools

Experience the world of conservation

Imagine spending a week in an amazing place with students from all over Australia finding solutions for a more sustainable environment. Student Challenge is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity for a select number of 16 and 17 year olds to experience conservation research first hand. Working with leading scientists, you will be trained in all aspects of scientific field work and gain valuable insights into conservation research.

Why are frogs vanishing?

Frogs are an important species in their own right but they are also an important indicator of ecosystem health. In the past 20 years, nine species of frog have become extinct, often from pristine environments.

By working mostly at night when frogs are active, you and your team will monitor and sometimes catch endangered frogs to find out why some species are dying out and others are flourishing.

Location: Forests of the Wataga Mountains, Wollemi & Barrington National Parks NSW
Accommodation: Bush camping
Dates: 10 – 16 December 2011

Discover the secrets of microbats!

Many Melburnians may be aware of the flying-foxes or fruit bats that inhabit our city’s trees, but you may be surprised to discover there are tiny little microbats living among us. Ranging from the size of a moth to a hand, microbats are curious creatures that come out mainly at night.

Habitat clearing, pruning of dead trees, artificial lighting and park design may lead to the extinction of our bats. As an Earthwatch Student Challenger you will identify microbat habitats and nesting locations using traps and record ultrasonic bat calls with hand-held bat detectors and GPS equipment, enabling better management of our urban resources for the benefit of bats as well as humans.

Location: Melbourne & surrounding areas, VIC
Accommodation: Trinity College, Melbourne University, Parkville campus
Dates: 10-17 December 2011 and 14-21 January 2012

Turtles on the Move

As one of the top predators in the food chain, a healthy turtle population points to a healthy ecosystem. Globally, freshwater turtles are being threatened as the quality of their habitat is being degraded or destroyed, through increasing urbanisation in our cities. It’s feared that Melbourne’s resident turtles are also at risk, however very little is known about the turtle population of Melbourne and the impact of urbanisation on their survival.

Wading through Melbourne’s freshwater lakes and creeks you will help to capture turtles to estimate the number of turtles in Melbourne, assess the overall health of the turtles and review the condition of their habitat.

Location: Melbourne & surrounding areas, VIC
Accommodation: Trinity College, Melbourne University, Parkville campus
Dates: 12 – 16 December 2011 and 9 – 13 January 2012

Ready to take on a student challenge experience?

This fully funded packages include:
• airport transfers and flights (if applicable)
• food, accommodation, field transport and permit fees
• annual Earthwatch membership
• insurance
• access to Earthwatch educational and professional resources

How to apply

To apply email earth@earthwatch.org.au or visit earthwatch.org.au/education and download the application form. Note: Applications close
10 October 2011. Numbers are strictly limited.

Click here to visit the Earthwatch Student Challenge website.