The EcoQuest semester programme provides an exciting opportunity to spend 15 weeks living and working closely with a dynamic team of students, faculty and staff, and an extensive network of scientists, policy makers, planners, resource managers, and community members throughout New Zealand.

EcoQuest students, from a diversity of disciplines, are immersed in a rigorous field based program with a focus on practical skills, conceptual thinking, and an opportunity to contribute to local conservation and resource management initiatives. Each semester, our team will explore terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems at many locations in New Zealand and examine the unique natural history and environmental impacts firsthand.

New Zealand provides an ideal context for multi-faceted field studies in ecology, and a natural laboratory of unique geology, and ecosystem diversity and island biogeography. Along with rich cultural traditions and innovative policy, New Zealand has considerable commitment at the government level for sustainable management of its natural resources.

Programme delivery sites vary with each semester, but course content and core curriculum are fixed. Three courses (NR660-NR662) are tied together through lectures and field exercises (up to 18 per semester). You will learn about the forces and influences (geological and cultural) that shaped New Zealand as we know it today, and gain an understanding of topical resource management issues. We build on this knowledge with field exercises in a variety of settings, providing opportunities to plan and carry out field investigations. Teamwork is an important component of the field exercises.

Each week has a theme to which learning opportunities and outcomes are tied. The first week of each semester is dedicated to orientation, operating procedures, and introduction of course material. We take an introductory overnight hike during the first week. During the following weeks, we explore nearby coastal / marine ecosystems, influences of land-use on catchments, restoration ecology, wildlife management issues, and marine ecology.

You will learn about participation by communities in the achievement of conservation goals. We have at least one overnight stay on a marae during each semester, which allows a glimpse into Maori culture and traditions. Each semester includes a 3-week programme component, which is delivered in the South Island. The two important themes for this part of the programme are "water from the mountains to the sea" and "eco-tourism and sustainability". In addition, and often tied in to one of the two aforementioned themes, we explore mainland islands, alpine ecology, environmental education, catchment management and extractive industries (mining).

The final four weeks of each semester are reserved for the Directed Research Projects. In close consultation with faculty, you will focus on projects that explore specific aspects of ecology and resource management. You will carry out (field) investigations and analyze and interpret results. A written project report and an oral presentation of your findings are the final learning outputs for the semester.

All projects offered by EcoQuest have scientific and societal relevance. Service learning is achieved through both field exercises and DRPs. Most Directed Research Projects contribute information relevant to ongoing ecosystem management or restoration initiatives of local importance.