Department of Environmental and Aquatic Sciences
The range of environmental problems confronting the world today is so complex that our future depends on us understanding the biological basis of our life-support systems.
The increasing demand for seafood, the development of offshore oil and gas deposits, mining, increased industrial activity, population growth and booming tourism are all placing enormous pressures on the environment. The need for people with specialised skills to manage the associated environmental impacts of these activities is essential for the future sustainability of our environment.
Although technologists and engineers will solve some of the problems that confront us, well-trained biologists are needed to solve issues such as food production, population regulation, landcare, pollution, managing our coastal environments and conserving our biodiversity.
The aquaculture industry in Australia continues to play an increasingly important role in global fish production and in meeting the rising demand for fish and seafood as wild fish stocks continue to decline. This is an industry with outstanding growth potential and the demand for graduates with specialised skills in sustainable aquaculture will be of paramount importance to the future of the industry.
The solution requires cooperative research between many types of environmental and aquatic scientists, each with a different area of expertise. Our courses address these issues by providing students with a thorough grounding in several scientific disciplines.
