Author: Esther Moore | Major: Environmental Science | Semester: Summer 2024

standing in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House

I grew up hearing stories about watching kangaroos hop across the Outback, exploring the bustling streets of Sydney, and taking ferries to different coastal islands for a day of adventures. My aunt studied abroad in Australia when she was in college, and from the time I was little, the Land Down Under has always been on my bucket list. This summer, I was given the opportunity to pursue my childhood dream and spend two weeks in August studying abroad in Australia.

I travelled with a group of twenty students led by animal science professors Dr. Jogan and Dr. Coffey. Each student conducted preliminary research about the locations we would visit and the wildlife we would see, and presented our findings once we landed in Sydney. Our learning came to life through in-depth tours and excursions as well as various service-learning experiences we participated in throughout the course. I was able to further my environmental science studies by hiking trails on the coast of Magnetic Island, taking part in management efforts at Wambiana Station, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and interacting with endemic wildlife at Billabong Sanctuary and behind the scenes tours of Taronga Zoo.

During one of our service-learning sessions at Taronga Zoo, one of the zookeepers pulled me aside and asked if a few of us would help him lead a special tour for zoo patrons. Not only did this give me the opportunity to interact closely with several species, including dingoes, emus, and koalas, but I was also asked to give an impromptu speech about what the Bumpers College at the University of Arkansas represents and what we were studying while in Australia. It was an amazing experience!

I was also able to immerse myself in the culture by touring Barangaroo Aboriginal Reserve and the Sydney Opera House. Australia has deep roots in Aboriginal culture; even their street names come from Aboriginal language! It was interesting to see how even something as iconic as the Opera House points back to the native peoples and their history.

During my time in Australia, there were so many moments that took my breath away. I will always remember the awe I felt gazing up at the stars in the middle of the Outback, taking in a sunset on the sandy beaches of Townsville, and marveling at the beautiful architecture of the Sydney Opera House. The most impactful moment, however, was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I had seen pictures in travel guides and videos in nature documentaries, so I knew it was impressive, but nothing can fully capture the intensity of the Reef’s beauty.

The Reef was teeming with a wide variety of aquatic life. I was able to identify several species, such as clownfish, parrotfish, starfish, and giant clams, but there were so many other species I had never even heard of. We also saw dolphins, sharks, turtles, and even humpback whales! The corals were incredible and boasted a vast range of shapes, textures, and sizes. It was such a vibrant, lively display of biodiversity, and it breaks my heart to think that someday human impact could cause it to disappear entirely.

However, during one of our lectures at Taronga, we learned about practical steps the zoo is taking to pursue conservation. I loved seeing how they reversed the local extinction of several species, such as koalas and platypus, and it was also so interesting to see the scientific research behind their efforts. In one of their labs, they had samples from over thirty distinct species of coral from four different reefs from the Great Barrier Reef to aid in their reef recovery program that has already proven to be successful. It was so encouraging to see such a positive outlook not only for the future of the Great Barrier Reef, but also for wildlife and the environment around the world.

My adventures in Australia were truly a once in a lifetime experience. It was incredibly enlightening to see what conservation looks like on the other side of the planet, and seeing what Australia has accomplished in that field has given me so much hope for a sustainable future. I hope to visit again one day, but in the meantime, I am even more motivated to seize every opportunity to study abroad in other countries!