Since entry is dependent on satisfactory arrangements being made regarding a research project, the availability of facilities within the school, and the agreement of a staff member to supervise your work, you are encouraged to start thinking about and discussing possibilities well before the end of the year. Discuss your interests with a range of staff members, and ask them what types of projects they could offer.

 

Staff research interests may be found on either the Academic or Visiting Academic staff pages on the BEES website.

 

This will be your first opportunity to conduct independent research, but you should realise that the honours year is still an intense training period. Pick a project therefore that may not be aligned with your passions (e.g. behaviour of dolphins or fresh Antarctic geology cores), but instead will provide a wealth of data and/or opportunity for experimentation, within a reasonable budget.

 

 

 

You may also seek co-supervision outside the School, by those that may have stimulated your interest during guest lectures, such as those from many government organisations (EPA, DLWC, Australian Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens, NSW Fisheries etc). By all means approach these people similarly (ie e-mail CV), but you will need an academic supervisor within BEES that must take on the academic responsibility of your project. There is always the risk that externally supervised students may 'fall between the cracks'.

 

Funds for your research project are limited, and are usually sourced from the supervisor's own research funds. The School of BEES provides a small amount of monetary support to cover phone calls, faxes, photocopying etc.