Tropical Biology and Conservation at JCU
Tropical Biology and Conservation is strongly aligned with a major theme of JCU: Tropical Ecosystems, Conservation and Climate Change, and also aligns with the theme of Tropical Health, Medicine and Biosecurity.Tropical Biology and Conservation is one of the major research strengths at JCU, with a large and vibrant group of academics and researchers, in Townsville and Cairns, working on tropical issues and teaching related subjects.Tropical Biology and Conservation comprises an interdisciplinary group including people from multiple Schools (especially Marine & Tropical Biology and the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences) and Centres (especially the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change [Townsville], and the Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science [Cairns], and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) [Townsville]). The School of Marine and Tropical Biology coordinates majors in the Bachelor of Science that focus on specific aspects of Tropical Biology and Conservation (e.g. Ecology and Conservation, Environmental Science Zoology and Zoology and Ecology).
Courses in Tropical Biology and Conservation
Bachelor of Science (Ecology and Conservation) Townsville Campus
Bachelor of Science Advanced (Ecology and Conservation) Townsville Campus
Bachelor of Science (Zoology) Townsville Campus
Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Ecology) Cairns Campus
Closely rated degrees provided by JCU
For postgraduate options please see: Postgraduate Options
Contacts
Academic Advisor
Heather Robson
E-mail: Heather.Robson@jcu.edu.au
Phone:+61 (7) 4781 6546
Head of Tropical Biology
Professor Simon Robson
E-mail: Simon.Robson@jcu.edu.au
Phone:+61 (7) 4781 5466
Please direct student enquires to the Academic Advisor
Research in Tropical Biology
The virtual group in Tropical Biology and Conservation is made up of staff from multiple Schools within JCU that include the following. The School of Marine and Tropical Biology has an international reputation in tropical biological studies, including evolution and ecology of vertebrates (especially reptiles and mammals), conservation of rainforests, and effects of climate change on tropical fauna, with specialist focuses on reptile ecology and evolution, experimental evolution, amphibian diseases, and social insect organisation. The School of Earth and Environmental Science has internationally renowned capabilities in conservation (especially conservation policy, and conservation and biology of marine mammals and sea turtles).Strengths in other areas include The School of Business, which has research programs on tourism and the impact of tourism on marine mammals; School of Arts and Social Sciences with strengths in archaeology and anthropology; School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with research and teaching in in viral epidemiology and infectious diseases in freshwater aquatic organisms.
Research Centres in Tropical Biology
Further focus on Tropical Biology as a research strength is provided by research centres that have a memberships that included members of Schools as well as others that are the result of external collaboration or
New Centres that will commence in 2012
With a terrestrial focus:
The Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) [Cairns]
The Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change (CTBCC) [Townsville]
The Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) [Townsville]
Research infrastructure in Tropical Biology
Within the interdisciplinary group of multiple Schools and Centres there is a diversity of infrastructure which is used for research and training in tropical biology.
Paluma House Rainforest Research Station
Kirrima Research Accommodation
Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab
Super computer – (eResearch-JCU)
Advanced Analytical Centre (AAC)
Water Analysis (Australian Centre Tropical Freshwater Research)
GIS visualisation labs
Other infrastructure is available through our collaboration with CSIRO, which is located on the JCU campus in Townsville in the Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct [create link] building. In addition, there is collaborative alliance with the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry [QTAS: Queensland Tropical Agri and Aquatic Sciences] intended to increase research collaboration and opportunities for the training of students in tropical biology.