French intern Pierre-Damien Lucas in the field with the Centre for Environmental Management's Tamara van Polanen Petel. A French university student is researching the effect of predator control measures on shorebirds around Bundaberg as part of an internship with CQU's Centre for Environmental Management (CEM).

This study is part of the Feathering the Future of the Burnett Mary Shorebirds project which has been funded by the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Inc (BMRG).

Pierre-Damien Lucas is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree back in France and has joined CQU for a brief time to learn about research within a working environment.

"I study agronomics and environmental sciences in an engineering school in Rennes, in France. I want to become an engineer in environmental sciences, and after school, work in a national park or in a centre in France, to study coastal environments or forests." 

Mr Lucas said his internship at the CEM is a good way for him to understand how an environmental research centre works and provides him with project-based experience.

"It also enables me to better my English language."

"Australia is very different than France ... I discover new things all day."

But despite the differences, Pierre's interests in bodyboarding, mountainbiking and fishing could almost make him an honorary Aussie.

While at CQU, Pierre is based at the Gladstone Campus under supervisor Dr Ashley Bunce, while working alongside Tamara van Polanen Petel.

Dr Bunce said the CEM gains from having access to international students who can bring their wonderful experiences to the centre and provide project support.