Duke in Australia
June 13 to July 13, 2012*
* Exact program dates for summer 2012 to be posted soon. Please see the Program Schedule page for a more detailed itinerary, including information regarding travel to and from the program site.
The Duke University Global Education Office for Undergraduates and the Department of Biology will offer a 4-week, one course summer program focusing on the biogeography and culture of Australia. Based at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, the program travels to the Northern Territory, the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rain forest of northern Queensland. The 2012 summer program director and biology course instructor is Professor Rytas Vilgalys of the Duke Department of Biology.
The course will be taught on the modern, urban campus of UNSW, located in Kensington, a suburb of Sydney and in a variety of field locations. UNSW boasts first-rate academic facilities, with extensive recreational and sporting facilities just 20 minutes by bus from central Sydney. The capital of the state of New South Wales, Sydney, the largest and oldest city in Australia, is very cosmopolitan and offers a wide variety of cultural activities and entertainment. Situated on the southeast coast, Sydney’s harbor, with its famous bridge and opera house, is one of the largest in the world. During the program dates, the mild climate has winter temperatures normally ranging from the 50's to the 60's F.
Australia has truly spectacular flora and fauna. Majestic landscapes from desert to rainforest and coral reef form a spectacular backdrop for a fascinating ecology study. Continental drift, isolation, and high diversity of climates have contributed to the uniqueness of Australian natural history.
For a first-hand view of this program from a student perspective, please see the 2011 Duke student blog:
http://sites.duke.edu/australia2011/
