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Our Department
The Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science (DFES) was founded in July 2004 and is the culmination of a longstanding research partnership between the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). The new school comprises more than 50 scientists working in basic and applied fields that cover many aspects of forest and ecosystem science, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Staff are based in high quality facilities at the rural centre of Creswick, the main University campus in Parkville and at the Burnley Campus. There are also field stations in Myrtleford and Orbost. Academic staff have extensive research collaboration with scientists across the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, with other academics in the University of Melbourne , with state and national research and land management agencies and with many international institutions. The Department is a formal partner in two Cooperative Research Centres (Bushfire and Forestry).
Our unique higher education programs include courses at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Undergraduate courses aim to provide a complete understanding of forest biology and ecology from cell to ecosystem levels and a broad knowledge of forest and land management concepts, policies and practices. They include the acquisition of "cutting edge" techniques from the molecular scale at the laboratory bench to the landscape scale in field studies and remote sensing and geographic information systems. Our courses offer the integration of scientific studies and industry applications. Student life proceeds between library, lecture hall, laboratory, bush, and industry.
Our degrees and diplomas open up a wide range of sought-after career alternatives in forest and land management agencies and in forest industry. Students can undertake exchanges for part of the course with academic partner institutions in Europe and North America .
Post-graduate students work closely with supervising academics who are actively engaged in basic and applied research projects. Students have access to high quality laboratory facilities and field experimental situations. They are well supported by technical and administrative staff and with field equipment and resources. We place the highest emphasis on providing safe, harmonious and productive working environments and we welcome students and staff from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Yearbook 2008