This summer, a record number of CQU biology students will undertake the course Industrial Placement as part of their science degree.

Head of School and acting course coordinator Dr Bob Newby said he was surprised at the range of placements that had been negotiated this year but it was indicative of the diversity of jobs available for biologists.

This year’s placements range from local environmental consultants, to various government departments (NRM, EPA, DPI&F) as well as private businesses such as Australia Zoo and Watermark Seafoods.

Several research groups external to CQU have also taken the students into their program.

The main criterion for acceptance of Industrial Placement projects was that the students had to be engaged full-time for a minimum of 5 weeks and had to be using their scientific skills.

Building practical experience into degrees and enhancing relationships between university and industry were major themes emerging from a recent workshop in Brisbane attended by Professor Bob Miles and Dr Newby.

Sponsored by the Consortium for Integrated Resource Management, the workshop has resulted in a lengthy discussion paper ‘Improving the employability of NRM/Environmental Science graduates in Queensland’.

Dr Newby said he was pleased that CQU biology graduates frequently had this industrial experience and he was grateful to the employers for making these opportunities available to CQU students.

Photo: Final-year biology students on a recent excursion. Most will be undertaking an industrial placement over the spring/summer period.