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Fenner School of Environment and Society · ANU College of Systems and Society
This is an intensive course. In 2026, the face-to-face component will be delivered 7 – 18 September. To work effectively as a professional in environmental science and environmental management you need to apply a range of knowledge and skills in a practical context. This course provides hands-on opportunities for you to apply your theoretical understanding to critical observation and measurement of biodiversity, landscape ecology and soil-vegetation processes. You will develop skills in describing soils, measuring vegetation patterns, identifying habitat features and detecting faunal associations. You will learn to appreciate how soils, landforms, vegetation and fauna should be considered in research and decision-making. The course is an in person intensive immersing students in field work throughout the mid-semester break. Week 1 involves day long field trips from the ANU Canberra campus and week 2 is based at the ANU Kioloa coastal campus for four nights. You will be contributing to long-term field research informing management decisions across a range of biomes (farmland, forests, and coastal). The field work is complemented by field trip workshops. This course develops a diversity of field skills for graduates seeking careers in all fields of natural resource management. Note: Graduates are co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Online quiz
Learning outcomes 2, 3
Reflective Learning Journal
Learning outcomes 2, 3
Group work: presentation
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
Research report
Learning outcomes 2, 3
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including: - Face-to face component which may consist of 65 hours of contact delivered intensively over 2 weeks comprising: lectures, practicals and field excursions. - Approximately 65 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for fieldwork, presentations and other assessment tasks. All field trips are compulsory. Absences require a medical certificate. Attendance is taken at each field location. Missing a day(s) within a 10 day field course significantly compromises learning. Work Integrated Learning Fieldwork This courses teaches fieldwork skills that are relevant to many employment opportunities in the sector. Other Information This intensive course is structured around field trips. For week one we will do field trips in the Canberra region, focusing on landscapes and soils. Week two will be spent at the Kioloa Coastal Campus (staying for 4 nights), focusing on assessing biodiversity. There are additional field trip fees applicable to participation in this course (payment to ANU Science Shop). All field trips are compulsory. Absences require a medical certificate. Attendance is taken at each field location. Because of the limitations associated with the field-based components of this course, maximum combined enrolment for ENVS2018/6218 is 50 students. A permission code is required for an intensive course, access online via COS permission to enrol Students completing MENVI, VENVI, MFORS, VFORS, NSCAI, VSCAI will be given first preference.
There is no prescribed text. Reading material will be provided throughout the course.