Intensive units

This unit provides practical experience in a range of flora and fauna survey techniques including:

• Elliot
• pitfall and camera trapping
• visual survey
• animal handling
• documenting vegetation
• plant identification techniques.

You'll attend a five-day field intensive, with preparatory online activities and assignments before and after the trip.

Learning activities and assignments focus on sampling design, survey and monitoring in the field, and compilation and analyse of data.

The unit provides a basis for further study and professional practice in areas of environmental management and develops skills commonly used for environmental assessment.

Contact: FST-support@cdu.edu.au
Date: Semester 2, mid-semester break
Numbers: unlimited
Duration: Five days plus online study
Enrolment: Standard enrolment procedures 
More information: ENV209 unit catalogue

This unit provides foundational knowledge for students wishing to move into aquatic resource management, research and consultancy fields. It provides practical experience in techniques such as:

• Water and sediment sampling
• Sample processing and storage
• Water and sediment analysis in the laboratory
• Surveying aquatic ecosystems

You'll attend a five-day field intensive, with preparatory weekly on-campus or online activities and assignments before and after the trip.

Learning activities and assignments focus on sampling design, survey and monitoring in the field, and compilation and analyse of data.

The unit provides a basis for further study and professional practice in areas of environmental monitoring and develops skills commonly used for water analysis.

Contact: FST-support@cdu.edu.au
Date: Semester 2, mid-semester break
Numbers: unlimited
Duration: Five days plus online study
Enrolment: Standard enrolment procedures 
More information: ENV210 unit catalogue

This unit builds on ENV202 and ENV502 as you will use a range of remote sensing and GIS data and techniques to address environmental problems. You will build on your experience in using Google Earth Engine to automate remote sensing workflow. 

You will participate in hands-on practical activities, working through real-world environmental problems using satellite earth observation data.   

Contact: richard.crabbe@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6745

Semester: HE Intensive 6
Numbers: Unlimited
Duration: 10 days plus online study
More information: 

• ENV306 unit catalogue
• ENV516 unit catalogue

This advanced ecology unit focuses on the unique characteristics and challenges of studying ecology and managing environments in the Australian arid zone.

Starting the unit at CDU's Alice Springs campus, you will take part in a seven-day field intensive during which you will be active participants in field-based research that contributes to ecological understanding of desert environments.

Contact: christine.schlesinger@cdu.edu.au or 08 8959 5218
 

Semester: Semester 1
Numbers: 12 places available
Duration: Seven days plus online study
More information:

• ENV315 unit catalogue
• ENV515 unit catalogue
• Staff project information
• ENV315 course flyer

This unit introduces the tropical savanna biome and landscapes of northern Australia, while developing a range of skills in field survey and data collection methods, data management, analysis and presentation.

Central to the unit is a 10-day field program, during which students will investigate environmental gradients and ecosystem function by assessing landforms, soils, vegetation and fire regimes. Land management practices are also considered from a range of perspectives - natural resource management, production and Indigenous. The 10-day field intensive involves a 1000 km return
journey between Darwin visiting study sites to the south (Mataranka, Daly River, Adelaide River and Litchfield National Park). In Litchfield NP the group will spend time at a research site managed by CDU Litchfield Savanna SuperSite: www.tern.org.au/tern-observatory/tern-ecosystem-processes/ Ecosystem Function: Field Studies in North Australia is available as both an undergraduate and master level unit. Students from other universities can attend through cross-institutional enrolment into the unit. 

Contact: linsday.hutley@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 7103
Semester: HE Intensive 4
Numbers: 20 places available
Duration: 10 days plus online study
More information:

• ENV316 unit catalogue
• ENV516 unit catalogue
• Staff project information
• ENV316 516 course flyer (PDF, 3.47 MB)

Natural Resources and Indigenous Livelihoods - ENV317 & ENV517

This unit explores the synergies between natural resource-based enterprise development and local and Indigenous livelihoods.

The course is run in Darwin at CDU Casuarina campus with a two-day/overnight field trip to Kakadu National Park.

The next 5 day intensive course will run in 2025.

Date: 1-5 September, 2025, plus online study before and after the intensive for enrolled students.
Numbers: 20 places available
Duration: 5 days with 2 full-day / overnight field trip
Applications:  See the flyer below for student and professional participant enrolment instructions or email Natasha Stacey, as per email below, for initial enquiries. 
Contact: natasha.stacey@cdu.edu.au

• ENV317 unit catalogue
• ENV517 unit catalogue
• ENV317 517 course flyer

This unit will build on the GIS software skills and spatial thinking practices obtained in ENV308 or ENV508 (GIS). Through online tutorials, lectures, videos and problem exercises you will learn to ask not just where things occur in the landscape but why they are there, and how to predict where they may be in the future. 

Spatial analysis is a powerful tool that we can use to solve a wide range of real-world problems through the  analysis of geographic data. This unit will teach you how to interrogate and communicate spatial data effectively for managing natural resources, mitigating natural hazards, optimizing transportation logistics, and even detecting disease outbreaks. 

Contact: Hamish.campbell@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6017

Semester: HE Intensive 6
Numbers: Unlimited
Duration: 9-10 days 
More information:

• ENV318 unit catalogue
• ENV518 unit catalogue

In this two week intensive unit in the summer semester, you will learn about the discipline of environmental microbiology through seminar type lectures that cover really interesting topics including our human footprint in the environment and animal-skin microbe interactions.

Additional topics using key journal articles are provided and you are asked to choose a topic of interest and undertake a critical analysis. This gives you good exposure to academic literacy and as well as the written critical analysis, you are also asked to present some highlights from these papers.

In the real world, environmental scientists grapple with water quality issues for both public safety and for the environment. In this unit we will encounter these issues by undertaking a mock consultancy in which we sample an urban watercourse (George Brown Botanic Gardens) to assess water quality.

This gives you great experience in posing questions, designing a sample plan, using instruments in the field and working as a team. You will also gain experience collecting real-time data in the field and then further analysing water samples in the laboratory. You will get hands-on experience extracting and analysing DNA as well as learning some classical microbiological techniques. Team work again comes into play when you prepare and analyse the dataset.

You will also gain experience presenting these results as a consultancy report which is a vehicle for experiencing and embracing other skills in the areas of teamwork, the scientific method, communication, and analysing the broader literature.

All of the materials for this unit can be accessed through the Learnline site.  

Contact: karen.gibb@cdu.edu.au or 08 89466705
Date: Summer semester

Numbers: 20 places available
Duration: Ten days plus post intensive report writing

Enrolment: Standard enrolment procedures

Requirements:

• closed shoes
• lab-coats are available if you don’t have one
• daily attendance.

More information:

• ENV323 unit catalogue
• Welcome video

• Unit Coordinator background

   

Is it important to you to share your passion for science and technology? In a world littered with fake news, how can you make a difference and lead young people and communities towards loving and trusting science? 

This unit includes a one-week mandatory intensive, which is Darwin-based for the INT-4 offering and remote (from Darwin to Elliott) for the INT-6 offering. During the intensive, students learn to adapt their communication styles whilst engaging with diverse groups of stakeholders. You will learn by implementing logistic preparation (for travel, personal health, safety planning, minor equipment, etc.); research preparation (understanding context, development of the project/workshop, ethics considerations and practices); learning and applying practical skills; working with others to achieve tasks; practising duty of care for oneself and others, physical safety and well-being. It also includes additional opportunities for the evaluation of intercultural skills and communication in an unfamiliar context.

Contact:carla.eisemberg@cdu.edu.au or 0401737884

Semester: HE Intensive 4 (Darwin-based) and HE Intensive 6 (Remote)

Numbers: 20 places available

Duration: 6 days plus online study

More information:

• SID310 unit catalogue
• SID510 unit catalogue
• Staff project information

ACICIS:  Agriculture Professional Practicum

The ACICIS Agriculture Professional Practicum (APP) is a six-week virtual study program, undertaken in Indonesia prior to the commencement of the Australian academic calendar year (January to February). The program involves online seminars and tutorials and a virtual professional practicum with an Indonesian agency. The program, hosted by Bogor Agricultural University (IBP) in Bogor, consists of two weeks intensive Indonesian language instruction and English language lectures in agriculture, food science, environment and resource management, followed by four weeks supervised practicum placement with a local or international agricultural, agribusiness, or resource management organisation.

ACICIS is a consortium of leading Australian universities in the field of Indonesian studies. CDU is a member university, which means our students have access to ACICIS programs. Students from universities other than CDU can also attend through cross-institutional enrolment at CDU.

Contact: penny.wurm@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6355
Date: 27 June - 16 September 2022
Numbers:  2 places available
Duration: 12 weeks (include intensive & flexible periods)
Applications due date: 8th April (late applications will be considered)
Funding:  OS-HELP and NCP Scholarships for eligible domestic students
More information: ACICIS Agriculture Professional Practicum website.

 Eastern Indonesian Field Intensive (EIFI): Rural agricultural livelihoods

If your interest lies in natural resource management, livelihoods and rural development issues and practice the Eastern Indonesian Field Intensive (EIFI) is an excellent opportunity for you.

You'll work on real issues in rural communities in eastern Indonesia during this two-week field studies placement in West Timor, Indonesia.

Nusa Cendana University, Kupang, West Timor, Indonesia.

Contact: penny.wurm@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6355
Date: TBA
Numbers: 7 places available
Duration: 15 days plus online study
Application date: TBA
Funding: To be confirmed

Java Field Intensive (JFI): Tropical biodiversity and sustainability

This two-week field intensive focuses on topical biodiversity and sustainability issues one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots. Java is one of the world’s most densely populated places on earth. The Java Field Intensive (JFI) presents a cross-cultural international learning experience for students interested in these issues, via experience in Indonesia. The Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, Java, is our host partner for this unique field intensive. UGM is one of Indonesia’s most respected and highly ranked universities. 

CDU students will join students from Indonesian and other South-East Asian universities for a summer school at UGM. This conference-style summer school includes seminars, workshops and field tours. UGM also offers an optional one-week language and culture course before the start of the intensive, offered on campus at the UGM Language and Culture Centre https://inculs.fib.ugm.ac.id/.

The Java Field Intensive is available to both undergraduate and master students. Students enrol in ENV305/ENV505 Environmental Intensives at CDU. Assessments will be marked by CDU staff, to create pathway for unit credit towards your program of study. UGM staff will teach and mentor students throughout the intensive and provide feedback and guidance on assessment items.

Students from universities other than CDU can attend through cross-institutional enrolment into these units.

Contact: penny.wurm@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6355
Date: TBA
Numbers:  Maximum of 15 places available
Duration: 14 days (optional additional week for language training is available )
Applications due date:  TBA
Funding:  OS-HELP loans for domestic Australian students
More information: Visit the UGM Summer School website.

*Indigenous students are encouraged to apply

This two-week field intensive focuses on experiencing innovative and sustainable agro-ecosystems supporting rural communities in India. It involves field trip to the state of Punjab, India to learn about diverse, climate-adaptive, sustainable farming systems and the self-sustaining, resilient ways of ‘village living’ by interacting with the farming families, and students and experts from Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, and Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh. This trip will offer a unique on-ground experience on integrated perspective of rural living and sustainable agro-ecosystems which will help our non-Indigenous students understand, and Indigenous students reaffirm, the low-impact, self-sustainable, practical ways of living which are crucial yet missing in our modern learning approaches.

The first week will include visiting 1-2 villages & farms around Chandigarh, while staying at PU. 5-7 PU students & academics will join our team to share local knowledge. The group will then visit two farms (& villages) near Ludhiana and we will stay at PAU. Then, we will visit another farm/village, and will stay at the farm. A final workshop will be held in the last week at PU, Chandigarh. We may also visit some places in lower Himalayas, depending on time.

Students from universities other than CDU can attend through cross-institutional enrolment into these units.

Contact: Kamaljit.Sangha@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 6792
Date: November 2023
Numbers:  Maximum of 15 places available
Duration: 14 days
Applications due date:  1 August 2023
Funding:  OS-HELP loans for domestic Australian students and New Colombo Plan scholarship ($3,000) for domestic Australian students.