Masters students enrolled at UWA have combined forces in a group led project in collaboration with the Minderoo Foundation. The project aimed to deliver updated advice on the future management of sanctuary zones in the Shark Bay World Heritage site, located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
Guided by Prof. Jason Beringer and Dr. Caitlin Moore within the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, the students worked together to compile areport detailing up to date information about the environmental, agricultural, social, cultural and economic interests that need to be accounted for when looking at marine sanctuary zones in the Shark Bay area.
The students liaised with their Minderoo Foundation client – Dr. Tony Rouphael – to address the needs of the foundation as they compiled the different components of their report.
Each group met with me to refine the project scope and objectives. The students were very engaged and professional. I was impressed how the students applied creative thinking, learned spatial planning tools and how they reached out to government departments to obtain information needed to achieve the project objectives.
Dr. Tony Rouphael, Minderoo Foundation.
Science in Practice learning at UWA
As part of the any science Masters programs at UWA, students enrol in the Science in Practice unit. This unit is designed to give students a genuine experience in working on a substantial real-world project to better prepare them for the workforce. During this unit, students develop skills in working as part of a team to deliver a high quality industry focussed report at the end. The key skills developed include:
- Applying project management tools to plan and execute delivery of a project
- Working with and managing outcomes for project stakeholders
- Demonstrating ethical conduct and professional accountability
- Applying discipline conventions in written, verbal and visual communication materials
- Applying discipline specific technical knowledge, skills and tools
- Critically assessing data, findings and recommendations in the literature
- Demonstrating problem solving in a real-world project
I really enjoyed working on this project, it shed light on a lot of different aspects of working with clients and obstacles faced in the work environment. Working on this project showed me how important it is to bring together various key people and work towards achieving a common goal.
Ram Chandrasekaran, UWA student
Image: UWA SCIE5005 Semester 2 2021 class pictured with representatives from the Minderoo Foundation and their SAgE teaching staff (Credit: Prof. Jason Beringer).
Participating in the unit was a great experience, as we got to work on a collaborative project as a class in a professional setting, which we haven't had many chances to do previously. As co-chief editor it allowed me to expand on my leadership & time management skills, as we organised the project timeline and facilitated the project delivery, along with being able to see everything that is in involved in creating a large (180 page), industry quality, environmental report for the Minderoo Foundation. It has provided me with relevant experience I can utilise when applying for jobs in the coming weeks as a Masters of Biological Science graduate.
Jasmine Kasper, UWA student
In addition to the report, the students delivered a group seminar presentation to representatives from the Minderoo Foundation.
The presentations were clear and concise with good technical content and presentation of all the topics relating to ecological, legal, social and land management adjacent to Shark Bay.
Dr. Michaela Dommisse, Minderoo Foundation.
Partnering with the Minderoo Foundation
The Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organisation that tackles projects focused on tough and persistent issues with the potential to drive change. Minderoo has a strong focus on helping to protect and conserve the unique marine animals and plants of Shark Bay as part of their larger goal of bringing the oceans back to a flourishing state. Read more about the goals of the Minderoo Foundation at www.minderoo.org