conservation academy support
How to support the Academy
We’re equipping a cohort of exceptional young minds with the capacity to lead global biodiversity conservation.
Donor support is crucial to achieving this.
Why we need programs like this now
UQ is at the forefront of biodiversity and conservation teaching and research, driving new knowledge and fostering future leaders. And still, the ecological challenges we face grow in complexity and impact. Moving the dial demands creative, critical thinkers – emerging innovators with the vision, practical understanding and passion to solve pressing problems.
Gone are the days of exploring one problem at a time, in relative isolation. Today’s scientists and environmental innovators grapple with a web of inter-related puzzles that touch every aspect of our lives, from the water we drink, to the food we eat, to where and how we live. All connected. All calling out for lasting solutions.
Enter the UQ Conservation Academy, offering an enriched educational experience uniquely curated to bring out the very best in students with a passion to create change. They will learn from the best, inside and outside the classroom, bolstered by industry interface, immersive research opportunities, interdisciplinary collaboration and community connection.
A shared goal
The Conservation Academy will launch in 2027 and is open to undergraduate students with an ardent interest in biodiversity and conservation and a desire to innovate and create lasting impact.
All students will have the opportunity to participate in at least 3 dedicated learning experiences as part of Academy membership. At the end of each year, 12 students will be selected to continue as Conservation Scholars for the remainder of their undergraduate program.
Throughout their degrees, Conservation Scholars will be mentored by academics and researchers in UQ’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS). Their learning will be enriched by access to thought and practice leaders, interdisciplinary collaboration, study trips and guided outreach.
They will tackle real-world biodiversity challenges, participate in field studies and explore solutions in iconic immersive environments like UQ’s Moreton Bay, Hidden Vale and Heron Island research stations.
Join the community of support
$50,000 will launch the Conservation Academy in 2027 and support the first cohort of Conservation Scholars.
Gifts of all amounts will help us to reach this goal.
Contact us
Alongside Conservation Academy programming, scholarships provide critical support to students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend university. In alignment with UQ’s Queensland Commitment, we believe in equitable access to education for all Queenslanders and welcome the opportunity to partner with you.
For more information or to have a conversation about how you can get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Brenda Tournier or Anthea Barry.