Australian University Students Now Have The Opportunity To Visit And Save Coral Reefs As Part Of Their Studies

SPONSORED BY AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Whether you're fascinated by biomechanics of an ecosystem or surviving a zombie apocalypse, there's no shortage in choice when it comes to picking a university degree that tickles your fancy.

But most degrees are done inside stale classrooms or lecture halls where you can easily fall asleep. You might be learning about the Great Barrier Reef, but it's through pictures on a projector screen and you're likely unenthused.

However, for students interested in helping save our planet and fighting the effects of climate change, the Australian National University has been offering coral reef studies. It gives students first-hand experience at a coral reef location where they can pretty much call the ocean their classroom.

As an environmental scientist, Jessica Ward-Jones completed her Bachelor of Science and was selected to undertake the coral reef studies­ as an extension of her degree along with 23 other students.

Jessica Ward-Jones

Ms Ward-Jones tells LADbible: "I was excited to engage with and understand more about this incredible living breathing and important landmark that is the Great Barrier Reef. I was also scared this may be one of the last opportunities I would get to study the reef as she is at serious risk of significant degradation and loss if we don't act quickly."

While out on the reef, students are taught in great detail about the mechanisms and impacts of human induced disturbances to the reef.

Ms Ward-Jones says: "It was fascinating and terrifying all at once because we influence the reef in ways we don't even know. Things we do far inland effect the ocean too. For example, the use of chemicals for agriculture hundreds of kilometres inland runs off into water ways then out to sea and encourages algae growth, smothering the reef to death."

As the government continues to be attacked for not doing more to stave off the effects of climate change, it's comforting to know others are trying to take matters into their own hands.

Ms Ward-Jones says part of her motivation in undertaking her studies was her desire to make a difference in the world. "I wanted to help protect the natural world and preserve its wonder and diversity."

In support of LADbible Australia's efforts to make The Great Barrier Reef an Australian citizen and get her the same rights as every other Aussie (most importantly, the right to life), you can click here and let the Australian government know that we can all do better.

Topics: Environment, climate change, Australia, Citizen Reef

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