Work/Training Schedule for the
Volunteer Botanical Training Program
a typical January-February schedule
Week and day |
Event |
Week 1 |
Induction Training |
Tuesday |
Registration and official welcome. Introduction to the CANBR, the ANBG and the ANH. |
|
Orientation tour of ANBG site and CSIRO sites. |
|
Tour of Australian National Herbarium |
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Introduction to general principles of biological collections and herbaria (on CSIRO site). |
Wednesday |
INTRODUCTORY HERBARIUM TRAINING |
|
Mounting of vascular specimens. Navigation in the Herbarium; specimen retrieval and put-away |
|
Computing overview. The Internet; electronic mail; botanical sites on the Web (including AVH, CPBR homepage and the WA Herbarium’s Florabase) |
Thursday |
Specimen mounting and other herbarium tasks |
|
Lecture: "Plant nomenclature and description." Names of Plants: scientific names - why have them and what do they mean? |
Friday |
Regular work in teams |
|
WORKPLACE ESSENTIALS |
|
EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) and OHS (Occupational Health and Safety). |
|
Specimen mounting and other herbarium tasks |
|
|
Week 2 |
Technical skill development |
Monday |
Workshop: "Map reading" - Latitude and longitude; grid references; geological maps; exercises |
|
Formation of work teams of 2 or 3 people each; commence assigned work |
Tuesday |
COLLECTING TECHNIQUES & Fieldbooks: practical session on "ordinary and difficult" collections, bulky material, soft and aquatic specimens, what data to record, site assessment, insect/mould control. Demonstration of GPS unit |
|
Discussion session: Permits, protocols, collecting ethics |
|
Regular work in teams |
Wednesday |
Lecture: "Revision of the Melaleuca uncinata complex" |
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Lecture: "Taxonomic Techniques: Dendrobium orchids – a case study" |
|
Lecture: "Molecular systematics" |
Thursday |
FIELD TRIP: Eucalypts - field identification. |
Friday |
Regular work in teams |
|
|
Week 3 |
Field trip |
Monday |
Library tours - ANBG, CSIRO and Herbarium libraries. |
|
Introduction to Jervis Bay - briefing on Jervis Bay field trip |
|
Workshop: "Principles of plant identification". |
Tues - Frid |
JERVIS BAY FIELD TRIP: Four-day trip based at the Uni of Canberra’s Field Station at Jervis Bay. |
Tuesday |
Travel via Kangaroo Valley to Jervis Bay Field Station |
|
BOODEREE BOTANIC GARDENS - Botanic Gardens management and bush tucker interpretive walk |
Wednesday |
BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK |
|
Lecture: “Reserve Management Issues at Green Patch” |
|
Site tour: “Bitou Bush and native vegetation management” |
|
Vegetation Survey Exercise |
Thursday |
Vegetation Survey Exercise continued |
|
Vascular plant identification: Identification of material from morning fieldtrip. Tips for identification in selected families and ‘difficult' groups; using printed and electronic keys. |
|
Group reports – short presentations on survey results |
Friday |
ESCARPMENT VEGETATION - Barren Grounds Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve and return to Canberra. |
|
|
Week 4 |
Communication and job skills |
Monday |
Regular work in teams |
Tuesday |
Communication Skills 1: Writing for non-scientists, seminar presentations - slides, overheads, and speaking. |
|
Growing Native Plants project overview |
Wednesday |
Regular work in teams |
|
JOBS AND FUNDING IN SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION |
|
"Where the jobs are". Three speakers, addressing job opportunities in the public sector, conservation agencies, and private sector consultancies. |
|
CVs, Job Applications and Scientific Grants - how to write them. |
Thursday |
Regular work in teams |
Friday |
Regular work in teams |
|
|
Week 5 |
Cryptogams and CSIRO |
Monday |
Overview of Bryophytes, Lichens and Fungi - Session 1. |
|
Regular work in teams |
Tuesday |
Overview of Bryophytes and Fungi - Session 2. |
|
Regular work in teams |
Wednesday |
Lecture: "Lichens: ecology, economics, taxonomy" |
|
Lecture: "Fungi: ecology, economics, taxonomy" |
|
Lecture: "The Bryophytes" |
|
Regular work in teams |
Thursday |
Visit Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) and CSIRO Microscopy Centre |
|
Regular work in teams |
Friday |
Regular work in teams |
|
|
Week 6 |
Advanced curation |
Monday |
Regular work in teams |
Tuesday |
Regular work in teams |
|
Lecture: "Weeds in Australia" |
Wednesday |
Discussion session: "GMOs: friend or foe?" |
|
Lecture: "The Final Frontier: towards sustainable management of Papua New Guinea's gaharu resource" |
Thursday |
Regular work in teams |
Friday |
Regular work in teams |
|
Job application deadline |
|
|
Week 7 |
Seminar presentations and completion of tasks |
Monday |
Regular work in teams |
Tuesday |
Participant Seminar Presentations I |
|
Tour of ANBG Plant Records and Seed Store |
|
Regular work in teams |
Wednesday |
Participant Seminar Presentations II |
|
Regular work in teams |
Thursday |
Return of job applications; demonstration interviews of participants |
Friday |
Formal presentation of Program Certificates |
|
Farewell BBQ |