QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Place & Landscapes
2027 Applications Open March 1
Place & Landscapes
Queensland, Australia
Join us as we travel to the Land Down Under for 3 weeks in the field, gaining an understanding of the environmental, economic, political, and sociocultural characteristics and issues that shape space, place, and society in one of Australia’s most populated and environmentally threatened coastal regions.
From the urban landscapes of Brisbane to the wilderness of the Great Barrier Reef, students will immerse themselves in Queensland's biodiversity, home to ancient rainforests, coral ecosystems, and unique flora and fauna.
Focusing on the dynamics of coupled natural and human systems, students will explore and apply a wide range of field techniques to observe, document, and interpret different landscapes - while engaging with UW faculty, local experts, and community members.
Instructors: Maggie Bourque | Jeff Hamerlinck
SPRING COURSE
The program begins with a spring course establishing foundational knowledge in place and landscape studies, coupled natural-human systems, environmental geography, and spatial analysis frameworks that define regional identity and sense of place.
ENR 4965 / 5965 Place & Landscapes | 3 credits *
Online Asynchronous, 2nd Block
This spring course is open to all UW students, participation in the field experience is optional.
ENR 4965 / 5965 Field Experience: Queensland | 1 credit
Online Asynchronous, 2nd Block
Required for field program participants. You will receive an Incomplete grade in this section at the end of spring, to be resolved after field program requirements have been completed.
*Experience of Place will fulfill requirements for ESS, ENR, ORTM, MS ENRS, Sustainability & Outdoor Leadership, Honors Program Global Perspectives, and requirements for English BA, MA, MFA, and PhD programs (contact Maggie Bourque - maggie@uwyo.edu - with questions)
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FIELD PROGRAM
Your journey starts in Brisbane, where you'll engage with local experts while participating in community-based learning. The centerpiece of this experience is exploring diverse landscapes from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast on guided excursions while experiencing urban, agricultural, and marine environments.
Field Experience
2026 Dates May 20 - June 12, 2026
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all UW students.
Application preference is given to students in Haub School and Honors College programs.
PRE-REQUISITES
None.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application and possible admission interview required. Applications will be reviewed and processed in the order they are received.
PROGRAM FEE TBD $4,000
The program fee is subject to change. Selected applicants will be able to review program fee before confirming participation. Financial assistance available through scholarships.
What's Included lodging, transportation during the program, entrance fees, instruction, excursions, and some meals.
What's Not Included round trip transportation to Brisbane, Australia, most meals (including travel days), UW Education Abroad fee, and UW tuition/fees for spring semester credits.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Haub School Field & Global Scholarship
Award amounts vary based on financial need. Application deadline will be determined by program.
Cheney Global Seminar Scholarship
Competitive application process. Deadlines vary, program participants will receive detailed application instructions.
See other funding opportunities.
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GRANTS
Haub School Research & Creative Activities Grant
Additional research project or creative activity required. Application deadlines: March 15 for summer funding.
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Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information about other possible financial assistance options and application deadlines.
<< map place identity in the neighborhoods of Brisbane; learn from Traditional Owner guides on an indigenous-led tour of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
<< cruise the Brisbane River and learn about the impacts of floods, historical land use, and population booms on urban planning; explore parks and museums; taste international flavors at a global food market
<< learn about the intersections of recreation, land conservation, and local economic development with locals, NGOs, and land managers in ecologically crucial coastal areas with population and tourism pressures
<< experience local agriculture and observe land use change in the Sunshine Coast hinterlands; browse the Eumundi market and experience local food, crafts, art, antiques, music, and culture
<< consider complex cultural histories and relationships of people and place in the Glasshouse Mountains; practice nature journaling in botanic gardens; hike through subtropical rainforests and along coastal headlands
<< explore diverse ecoregions from rainforests to coastal dunes, coral cays and everglades; learn about species conservation and see unique fauna at the Australia Zoo; spend time wildlife-watching, hoping for luck in spotting kangaroos, pademelons, rainbow lorikeets, manta rays, humpback whales, and more elusive koala and platypus
<< snorkel the Great Barrier Reef; witness, reflect on, and process climate change impacts, loss, and resilience
This program involves active outdoor experiences requiring moderate physical fitness.
Participants should be prepared for extended periods of sitting, extensive walking, moderate hiking, swimming (flotation device optional), and some rustic style accommodations.
You'll spend full days outdoors in Queensland's diverse environments with changing weather conditions, across different ecoregions. The program may include coastal walks, rainforest hikes, and wildlife observation, while adapting to varying accommodation styles from urban lodging to coastal retreats.
INFO SESSION
Meet course instructors and learn more about the spring course and the field program:
Queensland Place & Landscapes Info Session
TBD Fall 2025
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QUESTIONS
Contact Field & Global Program Coordinator:
Melanie Matthews >>> melanie.matthews@uwyo.edu