Australian GeoScience and Oceanography Programs

[Alphonse23]

Well, after searching and looking through the *entire* forum (it's only 3 pages long), I noticed no one has ever brought it up (unless I missed it -- in which case, sorry): is anyone here familiar with Australian geoscience and oceanography programs? How are they perceived within the community? I'd imagine their oceanography programs would be strong there, since Australia does have a lot of ocean, but you never know.

It looks like everybody here applies only to American universities, and only a few exceptions for European ones. I've always noticed that, though Australia has many schools, they never rank very highly on International rankings. Apparently their education system isn't that strong. But maybe a specific discipline and community could be.

Here's a list of undergrad, msc, and phd programs:

http://www.amos.org.au/education/cid/3/parent/0/pid/3/t/education

Thanks if anyone can provide some feedback.

[Usmivka]

Australia has some respectable marine biology programs (which is I suppose to be expected with the Great Barrier reef). Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sidney have programs that have some geosciences/oceanography component. I think Hobart is the only one that specifically does oceanography, and it is physical oceanography/modeling focused. Generally speaking the best geosciences and oceanography programs that do work in Australia are not Australian, or at least the best known. It sounds like you want to spend time in Australia, which you can do as a field work component in many US programs. A good way to scope this out is to look at abstracts from the last biannual ocean sciences meeting (2012), which represents the largest gathering of oceanographers from across the world. You'll find a couple abstracts from U Sidney (mostly biology focused) and maybe one from Hobart, but more oceanography comes from (in roughly this order) the US, Japan, Germany/France/UK/Canada, China/South Korea--Australia is pretty far down the list, for whatever reason.

[becca048]

I'm not sure whether you should trust a response from someone that can't even spell Sydney!

 

Although the institutions here aren't as well ranked internationally, I think this is partially due the tendency for many Australian researchers to publish in Australian journals, and also due the limited funding we have for scientific research. These are broad observations though rather than specific to oceanography as I work in vert palaeo. I'm not so sure about the statement of our education system being 'not strong' either - at least our system gives everyone a chance of a higher education regardless of their socio-economic status!!

 

I'm currently at the University of New South Wales and there is definitely a significant representation of marine science in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. I'm not sure what field exactly you work in, but worth a look (someone like Rob Brander perhaps?).

[Usmivka]

I'm not sure whether you should trust a response from someone that can't even spell Sydney!

 

Although the institutions here aren't as well ranked internationally, I think this is partially due the tendency for many Australian researchers to publish in Australian journals, and also due the limited funding we have for scientific research. These are broad observations though rather than specific to oceanography as I work in vert palaeo. I'm not so sure about the statement of our education system being 'not strong' either - at least our system gives everyone a chance of a higher education regardless of their socio-economic status!!

 

I'm currently at the University of New South Wales and there is definitely a significant representation of marine science in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. I'm not sure what field exactly you work in, but worth a look (someone like Rob Brander perhaps?).

Way to revive a long dead thread. I grew up close to Sidney, BC, hence the spelling, no need to attack my credibility.

 

It was the OPer that used the term "not strong," and only in conjecture--I'm fairly certain he did not intend it as a personal attack on you. At any rate, both he and I were speaking specifically to oceanography departments, not paleontology (where you are working) or mathematics departments (which is where UNSWs oceanography researchers appear to be nested).

 

I focused on the global recognition of programs, and you seem to reinforce my point--a significant portion of the globally recognized work in oceanography that takes place in Australia is not coming out of Australian universities, perhaps because of the factors you identified related to publication and funding.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Usmivka