MEDIA RELEASE
7 August 2006
First Master’s in Marine Conservation launched at Victoria
From January 2007 students from Victoria University of Wellington will travel around New Zealand and to Great Barrier
Reef as part of the newly developed Master’s degree in Marine Conservation. A first in New Zealand, this Master’s course
reflects Victoria’s increasing national and international reputation for marine biology.
Dr Simon Davy, Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences at Victoria University is the Programme
Co-ordinator. He says “This is the first programme of its type in New Zealand and reflects the
ever-increasing importance of marine conservation at both national and international levels – for instance, topics such
as climate change, fisheries ecology and whaling have higher profiles now than ever before”.
“Furthermore, this programme results from the huge growth in marine biology teaching and research at Victoria
University, which has seen the appointment of five permanent marine biology academics in the last five years and a
massive growth in research students, with the current cohort consisting of 19 PhD and 13 Master’s students.”
“We have had a lot of support in developing the new Master’s programme. The University of Queensland is contributing one
course, and scientists, policy makers and conservationists from a range of research, government and charity
organisations will contribute to others”.
The introduction of this programme has positive implications for all Marine Biology and Ecology graduate students coming
to Victoria, as well as potential employers, as there is a shortage of graduates with marine conservation skills in New
Zealand.
The programme has been confirmed by the Committee on University Academic Programmes which considers academic matters
across the university system.
ENDS