Devan Crane, the Pirates Abroad marketing intern, writes:
As a biology major, I struggled to find a study abroad program with a balance between coursework and free time. However, the Australia North Queensland program provided the perfect balance between educational rigor and extracurricular fun.
Class time involved hands-on activities and research in the native environments. Many days we paired up with locals to assist with their on-going research and simultaneously learned about research techniques. Working with such passionate individuals and hearing from them directly about their research efforts was unforgettable. Even if you are not passionate about science, you can easily be intrigued by just the environment’s sheer beauty and become interested in the research.
Students gathering data on the Great Barrier Reef
Plus, the diversity of Australia’s ecosystems allows for several very different research opportunities, including collecting data on the Great Barrier Reef and in the rainforest. Doing this in multiple areas showed the interconnectivity of the ecosystems and allowed me to grasp the big picture of the effect humans truly have on the environment.
Being a biology major, I found this study abroad program to be incredibly beneficial to me. The experience of being in the field collecting data, the material learned in lectures and the new understanding of how research connects to a much bigger picture has helped me decide what direction to pursue with my soon-to-be-earned biology degree. Without question, the hands-on experience I gained will benefit me in a future lab setting. Getting to know our local guides, researchers and lecturers and speaking with them about their field was inspiring and helpful, not to mention the great connections they are for any future endeavors.
When the coursework portion of our day finished, our late afternoons and evenings were typically ours to spend as we wished. This balance of some free time was immensely refreshing after spending a long day snorkeling to collect data or hiking with a guide. And having the independent time to reflect on the educational component helped me absorb the research and academic outcomes all the more so.
The connections and experiences you make will be long-lasting, beneficial ones. This study abroad program helped me gain an edge on other people in my field and I had a blast doing it.
