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	Current MARS2005 Students
	MARS2005 Registration
	Photos Grp1 S1 2007
	Photos Grp1 S2 2007
	Photos Grp2 S2 2007
	Photos Grp1&2 S2 2007 Tutors Photos

No Prerequisites

No Assumed biology knowledge

Non-compulsory but highly recommended field trips.

MARS2005 does not assume any knowledge of biology or marine environments; however such knowledge is of course advantageous.
Typically this course has a diverse enrollment including students from many countries and some for who English is not a first language.
The course is designed to be accessible by all students who are able to enrol at UQ and caters for students ranging from the sciences to the arts.
Courses and Programs Info

Field Trips to:

• Moreton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island. The three-day program looks at the major marine environments such as rocky headlands, ocean beaches, and sheltered sandy and rocky shores.
• Heron Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. You will visit the research station for a five-day program of exploration and investigation. The first few days are spent snorkelling and reef walking – getting to know the animals and plants. The next two days are spent undertaking a small-group research project under the guidance of tutors. (in 2007 this field trip went to Lady Elliot Island due to a fire destroying all teaching and research facilities on Heron Island)

Comments & Testimonials:

Check out the field trip movie, photos in the "more info" section above
and Megan's MARS2005 Blog below

"MARS2005 is a memorable and fun learning experience!! "

"Engaging lectures & great field trips"

"I love science but haven't had success studying in High School or Uni' because it has been too complicated; this was a great accessible class that I was able to engage in and understand :-) "

"Provides a lot of interesting information at a level that is appropriate for [non-science] students; field trips allow a great deal of 'hands on learning' "

Hi Ian,
I took MARS2005 in July-Nov of 2003 as a study abroad student.  I want to tell you how many great memories I have of your course and the trips that we took, especially to Heron Island.  This class is a wonderful opportunity for study abroad students to see parts of Australia they wouldn't ordinarily see and I wish everyone could have the chance to do what I did and see what I saw.  Thanks so much!
-Heidi Moser (2008)

Dr. Tibbets,
It's been 2 years since I took your class now as an study abroad exchange student and am now currently finishing up work on my Masters in Microbiology. Just wanted to say a quick hello and let you know how much I appreciated your class. Just absolutely one of the top professors I've ever had anywhere. I've been trying to funnel all of the students from the University of Massachusetts that are going to UQ, into your class so that they can experience it. I hope it's working. Anyway, just got back from a diving trip off the grand cayman islands where we ran into about 200 sting rays, a moray eel and plenty of dead coral. Other than the dead coral, it made me think back on the great trips involved with the class. Hope everything is well in Brizzy and maybe I'll be back to say hi in the near future should money allow haha. Cheers.
.... Jeff Dabkowski (2007)

Hi Ian,
I was in your MARS2005 class this past semester. I'm a student at Cornell University majoring in Environmental and Resource Economics, going into my senior year. I just wanted to tell you that your class was THE best class I've ever taken. I've never been so motivated to learn and had so much fun learning. I usually dread biology. You made me laugh while I learned it, and well, lets just say whenever I look at rays they now look like flattened sharks to me ;-) Your class was extremely engaging, your lectures were wonderful, and well...of course the field trips were awesome! Whenever I think of MARS2005, I just can't help but smile. I learned more in your class than any other because of your fun teaching style. I wish you could come to Cornell and lecture here!
Thank you so much for a wonderful semester,
... Melissa Bergman (2005)

Dear Professor Tibbetts:
Thanks for a great course and a great semester - it truly was one of the most enjoyable and memorable courses I've taken in my undergraduate career. I will surely recommend MARS2005 to my friends coming overseas.
Thanks again,
.... Adam Ullrich (2007)

Megan Ware, Plattsburgh, State University of New York
MARS2005 Student, Semster1, 2007

Field Trip to North Stradbroke Island

Ferry trip to MBRS

Netting Fish

Collecting Critters

"Friday morning about half of my Australia's Marine Environment class boarded a  bus at St Lucia and drove to Cleveland, on the coast, and then took the ferry to North Stradbroke Island, aka "Straddie". Once on the island we drove to UQ's Moreton Bay Research Station, where we would eat, sleep, and base our research projects for the next few days. I stayed in a room with a girl from Massachusetts and 2 girls from the DC area. We had lunch and then walked along the rocky shore looking at the marine creatures and the different areas and impacts. We then walked to a beach area and looked at the sand dunes and the sandy shore. Lots of cool stuff to see. We went back to the station for afternoon tea and then when the tide was coming in took the big net out and investigated the various fish species in the area. Showers, a beautiful sunset, dinner, and planning our projects was the rest of the evening until I climbed into bed... exhausted.

"Saturday, St Pat's Day, our group spent gathering supplies for our project and researching what we might find. We set out around noon for our first netting when the tide was going out. The catch wasn't as big as we hoped but still got some good results. We then worked in the computer labs starting our reports and relaxing until the incoming tide was at about the same level when we headed out again. This catch was much larger than the first which proved our theory about feeding times and patterns. The catch included 4 stingrays, another squid bringing the total to 2, another flounder and other cool stuff. We watched the sunset from the beach, then dinner, showers, and to the local pub for some green beers.

Sunday was spent walking along the North Gorge Trail at Point Lookout. Point Lookout is the eastern most point in all of Queensland. 22 Mile Beach starts just below the trail. We went by the hill where a US Radar site was and along to the Blow Hole or Whale Rock, where the rocks form and area that at high tide the waves make a sound like a whale's blow hole. We spotted several pods of dolphins and the first of two manta rays. Further along the trail as we stopped to talk about the high energy shore we saw several turtles coming up for air, more dolphins, and the second manta ray. We stopped for ice cream and lunch at the point that Capt James Cook first saw on his exploration and then continued on to Cylinder Beach. We went down to the beach again and used dead fish to lure worms out of the sand. The worms feed on the dead fish that wash ashore and when we held the fish in the swash(small waves where the water meets the sand) the little worms eventually came out. Lots of patience needed, but still really neat. We then walked along the beach further and got to go swimming and play in the waves before heading back to the ferry and to campus. Overall an excellent weekend! "

Class on the 22mile beach

Fishing for worms

Lady Elliot Island and Great Barrier Reef

Lady Elliot Island Airways

Lady Elliot Island

A first look around

Turtle Hatchlings

All I can say about my latest adventure is WOW!

 

The Great Barrier Reef really is great. Lets see, where to start… Well, on Tuesday we met at campus for 6:30am to drive to Hervey Bay, about 5 hours north of here. The airport at Hervey Bay is one of the smaller airports I have flown out of. We were even greeted by the pilots in the waiting area. There were 7 other people and the pilot on my plane for the 35 minute flight to Lady Elliot Island, where the 'eco' resort where we stayed. Our plane was the first to take off, and it took 4 planes two trips to get everyone out to the island. We landed on the grass/dirt airstrip. We joked that we were glad it was low tide and thus had a longer runway.

 

We were welcomed by resort staff and once the rest of the planes landed we crossed the airstrip. We got a tour of the resort, including the dive shop, gift shop, education centre, dining area, bar, and where we would sleep. Some stayed in permanent tents, I stayed in a room with 5 other girls. We did a snorkeling "lesson" in the salt water pool which I could have taught (in case you were worried, I passed). We then had time to relax and hang out until dinner. I walked along the coral beach and waded in the lagoon at low tide. All the meals were a buffet and no one went hungry! After dinner we had a meeting to go over what the next day would be like, things we might see, and then went on a night walk on the west side of the island in search of turtle hatchlings. None were found, but the stars were amazing.

 

Wednesday morning after breakfast I went diving on the east side of the island, and the instructor and divemaster were glad to have me along as another set of eyes. The diversity of coral and creatures was amazing and it was hard to take it all in, especially since it was a drift dive and slowing down was really up to mother nature. Between dives we had plenty of time to rinse off, recharge camera batteries, read, relax, eat a nice lunch, and meet back again for the second dive of the day.

 

Wednesday night we got to hold some turtle hatchlings. Definitely a cool experience! Thursday was more diving and then we saw a slideshow of pictures from our group and the other group from our class that came 4 days prior to our trip. After that when we were walking back to our rooms we nearly stepped on 20-30 turtle hatchlings that were confused by the resort lights. So we collected them in the bucket and were on our way to release them when we found 20-30 more again around a light on the walkway. This time we only had one flashlight and the light from the screen on my digital camera to guide the turtles into the water. Helping with that release was the most rewarding experience of the trip. Seeing the merely day old hatchlings going for their first big swim into the ocean was amazing.

 

On Friday morning we went for one last snorkel before we had to be out of our rooms and fly back. This is when I saw my first ever manta ray.

We also saw 2 eagle rays, one missing a good part of its tail. Well, and then there was all the coral and the thousands of other fish too!

Showers and packing until lunch, then a group picture and the first group took off, and I sat at the bar relaxing until my flight at 2. We took a larger plane back. By larger I mean this time about 12 other people were on the plane! Then the bus ride back and the adventure was over.

 

Overall I'd have to say that was one of the coolest trips, let alone “field trips” for a class, that I've ever taken.

 

I certainly won't forget it any time soon!