Climate study on offer at local uni

Environment and climate studies courses will be offered on-campus at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Fraser Coast from next year.

It means students will be able to complete the first year of a Bachelor of Science (Environment and Sustainability) in Hervey Bay and then complete their program either externally or at the Toowoomba campus.

The focus of the first year of the program is the courses: Environmental Studies and Weather and Climate.

These courses are also available to other students as elective studies, and as single courses for professional development.

USQ Fraser Coast Faculty of Sciences lecturer Dr John Parkinson said it was important to provide programs which were relevant to the needs of society.

‘This is a relatively new field of study but it is generating great interest because society is concerned about the environment,’ Dr Parkinson said.

‘It’s an opportunity for people to take up a career in the emerging ‘green’ professions.

‘Graduates may become climatologists, environmental consultants, climate policy analysts, natural resource managers, or work for National Parks or similar organisations. They can get into private industry companies active in fields such as agriculture, insurance, energy, water services and weather information.’

Students enrolled in the degree at USQ Fraser Coast next year will be eligible to win a $1000 Tony Briggs Bursary. It will be awarded to the best performing first-year student from the Bachelor of Science (Environment and Sustainability) who continues their studies at USQ in second year.