Marine Biology scholarship winners ready for Maria Island

A class of 24 aspiring marine biologists will soon set off for a five day course on Maria Island. Four Tasmanian and five mainland college students have been able to attend through scholarships, and will get a taste of life as an IMAS marine biologist.

Students Shelene Bailey and Matthew Porena were two of the recipients chosen and will travel from New South Wales to take up the opportunity. Victorian students Chelsea Stewart, Mitchell Vieth and South Australian student Jaydon Kovarik will also be in attendance.

Tasmanian scholarship recipients Claudia Fone, Xavier Ryan, Nicole Bryan and Eloise Bennet will also be attending the five day course.

There were 234 applications for this course, with 80% of all applications coming from interstate. All scholarship recipients scored full marks on the assessment criteria.

You can follow the journey of these students on social media via the hashtags #xas101 and #doitforthedata.

The course 'XAS101 A Practical Introduction to Temperate Marine Biology' is part of the University of Tasmania University Connections Program which provides specialised courses for Year 11 and 12 students.

The course runs during the April school holidays from Wednesday 19 April until Monday 24 April and includes 5-days on Maria Island and one day in the classroom.

Course coordinator Dr Scott Ling said the University College Program allows Year 11 and 12 students to study university level units alongside their TCE studies.

"This is a great chance for students with an interest in science to live and breathe the life of a marine biologist for a whole week as they develop keen skills of observation and explore the marine environments of spectacular Maria Island," Dr Ling said.

"The course is designed to inspire, challenge and engage potential students.

"One of the great attractions of the course is the chance to get out of the classroom or laboratory and into the wild and ocean environs.

"The trip will allow students to apply marine biology theories, techniques and sampling methods during a practical field investigation of species diversity across a range of intertidal and sub-tidal habitats."

XAS101 is offered HECS-free and successful completion can be used to contribute one unit (12.5%) to a University of Tasmania Marine Biology degree.