The inaugural SCCS-Australia conference, workshop and field trip program was held at The University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia, over 21st-31st January, 2013.

The combination of a 3 day conference, 3 days of field trips and sightseeing in Brisbane and the surrounding region, followed by 4 days of training and workshops provided students with a unique and unforgettable experience that hopefully created lasting networks and helped launch their careers in conservation science.

Who attended?

SCCS-Australia was open to post-graduate students from anywhere in the world with a focus on students within the Asia-Pacific region, including PhD (within one year of completion), MSc and final year undergraduate research students. We also welcomed participants not currently enrolled in a research degree but working at a similar level in a conservation organisation.The program was designed for students pursuing studies within the field of conservation science, including (but not limited to) ecology, environmental science, resource management, geography, economics, and social sciences.

In 2013 a total of 30 equity scholarships were offered to cover the full cost of the attendance (travel, accommodation and registration) for students who meet the selection criteria. We hope to be able to offer scholarships again for the 2015 Australian conference.