1. Main closing date for applications for the first half-year 2004 is 31 October, 2003.
2. Second round enrolments are due by 28 November, 2003 (this will entail a late fee).
3. Final closing date for first half year units for external or distance programs is 19 December, 2003
4. Final closing date for first half year units for on campus courses only is 16 January, 2004.

See Postgraduate and Beyond website for more information

Contemporary reef systems: This will be essentially a unit we have mounted and progressively modified over the past 28 years, originally as a major part of a unit in palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography and, in recent years, as a unit (35-45 students per annum) for senior and postgraduate students entitled GEOS428 Coral Reef Dynamics and GEOS856 Coral Reef Environments. These we have mounted at the research station on Heron Island near the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, except for one year (1979) when it was successfully mounted on the Yaté-Goro coast of southern New Caledonia. We have run a similar 2-week unit on Heron Island for scientists from Siberia and Uzbekistan, and several Continuing Education courses on Heron and in the SW Pacific. We have published papers on our experience in running these units (Talent et al., 1987; Talent & Mawson, 1993).

Late Cainozoic reef systems: There are several places in the southwest Pacific where ancient reef systems have been exposed by uplift and planed off (like giant polished tabletops) providing elegant areas (some vast as on the Yaté-Goro coast of southern New Caledonia) for study of relationships between fossil frame-building and cementing organisms and associated carbonate sediments. These reef systems, juxtaposed beside recent reef systems, range in age from late Oligocene-early Miocene (Mangaia and Maré islands in the Cook Islands and Iles Loyautés) to Pleistocene (Efate island, Vanuatu; Yaté-Goro coast and the Isle des Pins of New Caledonia; and Atiu in the southern Cook Islands). These areas are familiar to us, are easily accessible and, because of the superb exposures, can be utilised for extending studies from contemporary to fossil reef systems (where there has been information loss, some due to diagenetic processes). Because of the polished nature of the outcrops, continuous traverses and quadrat mapping are easily carried out (more easily than on contemporary reefs). The late Cainozoic reef systems of Mangaia, Maré, Atiu and the Isle des Pins potentially could form the bass for a number of doctoral projects. We have units of study available in which work at these venues will be possible if sufficient students plan them into their program.

Palaeozoic reef systems: Over many years, we have been working on stratigraphy and stratigraphic alignments (based primarily on conodonts) between the Silurian and Devonian carbonate units of eastern Australia. Our stratigraphic conclusions have been summarised in two recent papers (Mawson & Talent, 2000; Talent et al., 2003); a selection of other relevant works (the most important ones asterisked) from a corpus of about 100 publications on the Silurian to Early Carboniferous of eastern Australia is available from us. There are several areas where Silurian and Devonian carbonate systems can be studied in transects from nearshore to slope environments, and for which we now have a lot of age-control from conodont and, to a lesser extent, chitinozoan data. The most elegant of these are in the Broken River and Burdekin Basin regions of the Townsville hinterland of northeastern Australia. In the southern Broken River region there are six such carbonate systems: 1) Wenlock; 2) late Ludlow-earliest Lochkovian; 3) late Emsian-early Eifelian; 4) late Eifelian-early Givetian; 5) mid-Givetian; 6) latest Givetian-earliest Frasnian. With the exception of No 6, these are a few hundred metres in thickness, extend for about 10 km along strike, and are steeply dipping-in other words as though they had been stood on end and sliced off with a chain-saw. This makes them easier to investigate than the famed, nearly flat-lying Canning Basin Late Devonian (Frasnian-Famennian) reefs of Western Australia. These Silurian-end Middle Devonian reef systems of the Broken River region and the Devonian carbonate systems of the Burdekin Basin could form the basis for a number of doctoral dissertations.

Similar Devonian/Early Carboniferous carbonate to slope systems are represented in the Rockhampton (Carboniferous) and Biloela-Kroombit-Monto (mid-Devonian) areas in central Queensland, and the Tamworth Belt of NE New South Wales (Devonian), as well as in several Late Ordovician, Silurian and Early Devonian of areas of east-central NSW. Except for some recent carbonate petrological work N of Tamworth (S. Pohler), a sedimentation-conodont study of allochthonous sequences SE of Wellington (Talent & Mawson, 1999) and assorted conodont/silicified brachiopod investigations, these areas have not been foci of recent sedimentary/palaeontological work. GEOS807 is a field-based unit held in one of the above areas and a plethora or viable projects are available for project work at various levels up to doctoral level.

Publications cited in above text

Mawson, R., & Talent, J.A., 2000. The Devonian of eastern Australia: stratigraphic alignments, stage and series boundaries, and the transgression-regression pattern re-considered. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg 225: 243-270.
Talent, J.A., Mawson, R., & Stewart, M.I., 1987. Teaching paleontology with an acid-leaching facility. Journal of geological Education 35: 246-255.
Talent, J.A., & Mawson, R., 1993. Teaching reef environments and paleoecology on contemporary and Quaternary reefs. Journal of geological Education 41: 231-243.
Talent, J.A. & Mawson, R, 1999. North-eastern Molong Platform and adjacent Hill End Trough, New South Wales: mid-Palaeozoic conodont data, age-inferences, and implications regarding platform exposure and carbonate sedimentation offshore. Abhandlungen der Geologische Bundesanstalt (Wien). 54: 49-105.
Talent, J.A., Mawson, R. & Simpson, A.G., 2003. Correlation of the Silurian of Australia and New Guinea. In: Landing, E. & Johnson, M.E. (eds), Silurian Lands and Seas-Paleogeography outside of Laurentia. New York State Museum Bulletin 493: 181-220.

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR MSc (Palaeobiology)

Program Structure

Students must complete 12 credit points of core units and two elective options. Note: Units for the electives may also be drawn from approved postgraduate units offered by the Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, or Department of Ancient History.

How to Apply

1. You must apply through UAC (Universities Admissions Centre) for the Masters program. Please contact the Student Enquiry Service (Level 1, Lincoln Building) for the UAC Postgraduate application form or apply online at www.uac.edu.au/postgraduate.html.
2. At the same time as submitting you application to UAC, you must also provide a copy of your CV, a covering letter stating your full name, daytime telephone number, UAC application number and course of study you are applying for.
   
   Post to:
   Joy Monckton,
   Program Coordinator,
   Graduate School of the Environment, Environmental and Life Sciences,
   Macquarie University, NSW, 2109
   OR
   e-mail to: joy.monckton@mq.edu.au
3. rmawson@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au to inform Ruth that you have submitted an application.

1. Application forms and information about scholarships are available at the Study Programs on the Macquarie International website, or from the Macquarie University International Postgraduate Guide. Students must also contact the Australian Diplomatic post in their own country to ascertain procedures for obtaining an appropriate visa.
2. Please e-mail us on rmawson@laurel.ocsmmq.edu.au to let us know that you are lodging an application.

The International Office

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

NSW 2109

Australia

Tel: +61 2 9850 7346; fax: +61 2 9850 7733

e-mail: iso@mq.edu.au

Web: www.mq.edu.au/international/

Brief descriptions of units involved in this initiative

Note: 300-level units are normally taken during the third year of Macquarie's degrees but can be taken as part of a postgraduate program if required; 400-level units are for postgraduates, students taking their Honours year (fourth year), and senior students who have taken appropriate prerequisites (or are taking these concurrently); 800-level units are for postgraduates and students taking their Honours year. The 800-level units are often based on units for undergraduates, but with the additional material. For instance, GEOS821 (Earth Sciences) is primarily for students coming into palaeontology/ palaeoecology from biological sciences, archaeology and museum studies who have little or no experience of the materials which make up the Earth.

GEOS312 Invertebrate Palaeontology
4 credit points
Prof J Talent, A/Prof R Mawson
Fieldwork: A compulsory weekend excursion in March to localities in the central west of New South Wales.
Summary:
Evolution, classification, and techniques of preparation of stratigraphically important invertebrate groups, particularly brachiopods, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs and trilobites; particular attention is given to functional morphology.

Our aim is to bring students into contact with as wide a range of fossil invertebrates as possible whilst not sacrificing depth of understanding. We integrate as far as possible the excursion, practical work, lecture material, and the reading of pivotal palaeontological papers in order that students might gain some in-depth appreciation of the sort of problems that palaeontologists are currently coming to grips with. The old approach to palaeontology involved much wading through morasses of terminology, an approach that requires many years for one to become familiar with the gamut of forms and structures in the fossil record only to miss the broad things. The unit will de-emphasizing 'potted' learning. We bring a variety of skills (and backgrounds: biologic, geologic, historic or archaeologic) to bear on specific questions that we hope will help illuminate much broader areas or specific questions.

GEOS312 Web Site

GEOS389 Special Interest Seminar
2 credit points
Various MUCEP staff
Summary:
A choice of seminars may be offered, each specialising in a particular area of interest in geography, geology or geophysics. The choice is based on patterns of staff and/or student interest. Intended seminar offers will be advertised annually within the Department; offers will be formalised during the enrollment period. Students are asked to note that University Regulations state that no unit taken under the same code number can be counted more than once for credit towards a degree; accordingly they must take care to select only the most appropriate of the topics on offer. Students wishing to enter this unit are required to check with advisers about topics on offer prior to enrolling.

For the present initiative, program the topic offered is Research in Palaeontology. Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a research internship with a palaeontologist in the Centre of Ecostratigraphy and Palaeobiology. This may involve a modicum of fieldwork, laboratory work and practice in research procedures and techniques - experiencing the research process from data collection to publication.

GEOS397 Applied Palaeontology and Biogenic Sediments
3 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Summary:
This unit focuses on using past life forms to solve environmental and geological problems. It is essentially a practical unit, with fossil and recent materials being used to elucidate problems concerning databases, biotopes, biofacies, proxies for climate change, palaeotemperature and palaeobathymetry, changes in vegetation and biodiversity, and the principles and importance of chronologic alignment and isotopic signatures. The unit is especially useful for students interested in the environment, Quaternary geology, palaeontology or geology.

All life forms, past and present, tell us something about the environment we live in and by looking at the past we can make an attempt at predicting the future. We need to understand changes in the past record of life in order that decision making regarding the future might have a sound basis. Based on this premise, GEOS397 aims at illustrating the sorts of things that past life forms can tell us about the environment and climate of the past, and what effect extinction events have made to subsequent evolution. Fossil and recent materials will be used to elucidate problems concerning:

a) Databases
b) Principles and importance of chronologic alignment
c) Marine environments: biotopes, biofacies, proxies for climate change, palaeo-temperature, palaeobathymetry
d) Terrestrial environments: proxies for climate change, changes in vegetation, changes in biodiversity

GEOS397 Web Site

GEOS413 Geological Problems
4 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Prof J Talent
Summary:
A project/assignment-oriented unit based on the solving of a series of geological problems in the field and/or laboratory; these may include topics in the philosophy of science relating to the earth sciences. Topics will be designed according to student background and program of study.

This Unit may consist of a number of topics concerning geoevents we consider to be of major importance in the context of things palaeontologic and/or geologic. It is primarily a reading unit; for each topic we ask you to probe appropriate literature and then write your answer to the assignment in a style suitable for a scientific journal. We encourage conciseness of expression in answers to the questions asked; we have therefore suggested that answers be restricted to approximately 1000-1500 words. Each of the topics will require time to be spent in the library hunting down suitable references from various data bases You are allowed approximately 3 weeks for each of the assignments. The first two weeks should be spent accessing the literature and the last week should be spent writing and re-writing the assignment. As this is equivalent to a 4-credit-point unit, students are expected to devote at least 16 hours per week to it, equating to 48 hours to be spent on each topic.

GEOS425 Palaeobiology
4 credit points
Prof J Talent, A/Prof R Mawson
Fieldwork: Compulsory 8 day excursion in the April mid semester break
Summary:
Evolutionary palaeontology and the science of form with particular reference to shell form, musculature, vision and buoyancy of extinct invertebrates; palaeoengineering (including jaw mechanics and flight) and approaches to physiology and behaviour of extinct vertebrates; models of phylogeny.

In GE0S425 we will present you with an array of topics supplementary to the suite broached in GE0S312 Invertebrate Palaeontology. In making our selection we have given preference to areas where there are competing hypotheses, consideration of which will illuminate larger spheres of form, function and evolution. For obvious reasons we have omitted groups that were emphasized in GE0S312: brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods and trilobites. Time is short. We have therefore deliberately tried to avoid prolonged contact with the dead hand of heavy philosophizing and the ponderous emptiness of topics such as 'models' (Kuhnian and Rudwickian), 'species concept', and so on; such things, in our view, are best approached obliquely. Our foray into vertebrate palaeontology diverges from the main thrusts of comparative osteology, classification and the panorama of morphological evolution; the normal range of topics probed in a vertebrate palaeontology unit; we will scrutinize the exciting interplay between palaeontology and neurophysiology (fossil mammalian braincases documenting the evolution of behaviour). We may also look briefly at mammalian origins and probe the debates on dinosaur mechanics, physiology and behaviour.

GEOS425 Web Site

GEOS427 Palaeoecology and Biogeography
2 credit points
Prof J Talent, A/Prof R Mawson
Compulsory weekend on-campus session
Summary:
A unit highlighting the interplay of palaeontology and geology, evolution and ecology. Fossil assemblages (marine, freshwater and terrestrial) with special emphasis on reef environments; palaeocommunities and `community evolution'; the principles of biogeography, dynamics of provincialism, and the purpose of biogeographic analyses.

The unit has been designed to cater for students with fundamentally different backgrounds - in this case for some with strengths in ecology and others without, though both with or gaining a common background of GEOS312 or its equivalent. This disparity in background has not proved a major obstacle. Students who have taken ecology at Macquarie University become more experienced with terrestrial and lacustrine populations and communities than with marine communities; students of earth sciences who have not taken a formal unit in ecology will develop appreciation for the broader ecological concepts relevant to palaeoecology as the unit progresses. Information and stimulus is engendered by contributions from students of heterogeneous backgrounds in the earth and biological sciences. Time is short and we must therefore avoid lengthy digressions into the fundamentals of biology and geology, except where these prove to be relevant and nettlesome. We will avoid some of the contemporary morasses, but will paddle in others (such as stability vs diversity) to get a feel for the sort of thing that have profoundly influenced broader scale thinking in palaeoecology. We will of necessity have to probe into such aspects of marine ecology as are essential for understanding the various approaches to marine palaeoecology at the population, community and province levels, though the unit embraces both marine and non-marine palaeoecology.

The assignments for GEOS427 follow a sequence of topics wherein attention is focused on models and examples of strategies used to develop a view of segments of the ecological history of the earth; taphonomy and information losses in fossil communities; population: dynamics in the 'palaeo-context'; the community approach; persistence of community structure through time; analysis of trophic relationships in marine palaeocommunities; food webs and evolving terrestrial community structure; models in biogeography; plate-regulation of provincialism and diversity. There will be four types of laboratory or library assignments -

1.	Differentiation of palaeocommunities from faunal lists representing differing depths and sedimentary contexts within a sedimentary basin.
2.	Trophic analysis of ancient marine faunas for comparison with Turpaeva's rules deduced from contemporary faunas. This is readily accomplished with silicified limestones or poorly lithified rocks where total shell material can be obtained either by washing or acid leaching.
3.	Postulation of hypothetical food webs for published faunas (and floras) of appreciable diversity.
4.	A palaeobiogeographical exercise based on published materials.

GEOS427 Web Site

GEOS428 Coral Reef Environments
2 credit points
MUCEP staff
Fieldwork: Practical fieldwork on Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef (9 days during the mid-semester break)
Summary:
The unit aims to provide students with practical experience in a coral reef in environment in order to study the biodiversity and dynamics of a living reef, problems facing modern day reefs, and reefs through time. Excellent background for student teachers, biologists, environmentalists, students of natural history and earth sciences.

Lectures and seminars during the field work. One day (early March) spent at Macquarie in preparation, allocation of seminar topics, etc. Practical fieldwork on Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef (9 days during the mid-semester break). Fieldwork in groups, involving traverses, quadrat mapping, faunal behaviour, population estimations, and seminars.

Written evaluations (one 1000 words, one 3 pages); seminars on topics allocated at the one day on-campus session in March; and group activities on Heron Island. No final examination.

GEOS428 Web Site

GEOS800 Earth Science Project
4 credit points
MUCEP staff
Summary:
A 5,000-word paper, students to contact a supervisor. The subject matter may take the form of a review of the literature, or of an individual investigation, or both. A written report of the content must be presented in a style suitable for publication or a seminar presentation given. The offering will be closely tied in with work carried out during field studies of ancient reef broached in GEOS807. Much of it will be prepared during the field camp at Kroombit where field facilities are available for working in the evenings.

GEOS807 Problems in Sedimentary Geology
4 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Fieldwork: 20 days fieldwork in northern Queensland (west of Townsville )based at Greenvale and west of Gladstone based at Kroombit.
Summary:
A field-based unit for postgraduate palaeobiology students, focused on discrimination of communities (especially reefal situations) in field mapping of these as parts of sedimentary units, and measurement, collection and logging of stratigraphic sections as a basis for preliminary biozonation on macro faunas preparatory to advanced laboratory work that could form part of dissertations. The areas chosen are those where carbonate sediments and fossil reef structures can be observed and mapped. For the sake of economy the fieldwork will commence in Townsville (with a visit to what is arguably the best coral reef aquaria in the southern hemisphere) and be based in the Greenvale-Broken River area (camping) and then move south to Kroombit, an area west of Gladstone and south of Biloela. We will use a field study facility available on the banks of Kroombit Creek.

GEOS 821 Earth Sciences
4 credit points
Dr K Dadd
Fieldwork and on-campus sessions: 2 two-day and one 3-day weekends in August-October.
Summary:
For students without previous formal studies in geology. The dynamic links between internal and surface features of the earth, and their effect on the environment, such as plate tectonics and the dependence of the environment on geological cycles. This unit provides an introduction to earth sciences suitable for students of geosciences and environmental and life sciences and law. Short fieldtrips provide practical experience.

GEOS844 Applied Palaeontology
4 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Summary:
Application of palaeontology to the solving of stratigraphic, palaeobiologic, and environmental problems; practical introduction to procedures in micropalaeontological laboratories.

As part of the Module concerning field and laboratory studies of ancient reefs, this unit will include techniques and procedures allied to the fossils that will be collected in the field. It is anticipated that a mobile thin sectioning unit will be available for use in the field for the examination of fossils and for sedimentological interpretation.

GEOS855 Earth Systems Evolution
4 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Summary:
Interdisciplinary perspectives on the origin and evolution of the Earth, especially the changing web of interrelationships between the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere and from this back-drop, consideration of current environmental concerns in a way that will help participants make informed decisions no matter what those decisions might be. This unit does not count for credit with GEOS272.

GEOS856 Coral Reef Dynamics
5 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Fieldwork: 9 days fieldwork on Heron Island in the April mid-semester break. One on-campus day during a weekend in March.
Summary:
The unit involves in-depth studies of coral reefs: the process of formation, large and small scale controls, reef accretion, response to global warming and the changing patterns of reef dynamics/carbonate buildups through time. Special attention will be paid to biodiversity of a reef, symbiosis, recruitment, the effects of bioturbation and bioerosion, the interaction of the biota of the reef, and management of reefs. This unit does not count for credit with GEOS424. Students who have completed GEOS428 will be undertaking individual projects
When offered
Semester 1

GEOS428 Web Site

GEOS899 Geoscience Research Project
12 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr G Brock, Prof J Talent
Fieldwork: May include 2 weeks fieldwork on reefs in the Pacific, e.g. Noumea, the Loyalty Islands, Vanuata OR elsewhere.
Summary:
This unit allows students to demonstrate the successful application of knowledge gained from formal units and literature to an area of specialised research. The student may be assigned an individual supervisor depending upon the area of the topic. This unit may form the basis of the work on contemporary and raised reefs of the Pacific. Students will spend a week on islands of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands and a week investigating fossil reefs at wither the Cook Islands or Vanuatu.

ELS400 Museum Field Studies
4 credit points
Prof J.Talent, A/Prof R Mawson, Dr A. Simpson
Fieldwork: A period a 12 days fieldwork is compulsory. This may take place in southern NSW and Victoria. In special cases this may be completed in the Sydney metropolitan area. With at least 6 students, this may take place in Thailand.
Summary
In small, specialist and large city Museums which offer employment opportunities (in SE Australia, SE Asia or the Sydney metropolitan area), students will investigate the range of curatorial roles and assess the scientific and cultural value of individual objects in collections, the range of public programs and the status of information management. Note: Some assignment work will be required to be handed in after the completion of the excursion.
When offered
Semester 1 (fieldwork 6-17 July - after the mid-year examinations)

ELS400 Web Site

ELS820 Museum Studies and Information Management
5 credit points
A/Prof R Mawson, Dr A. Simpson
Fieldwork: A weekend visiting an array museums and collections from Sydney to the Bowral district.
Summary:
The unit centres on museum issues such as: the philosophy of information organization and the role of museums; the collection, preservation and provision of access to materials; mushrooming of stored knowledge related to digital storage of data: image capture, written materials, links to other sites; social and political background to information storage; copyright issues; web based presentations and case studies, for example the Lachlan Macquarie Room in the Library. Assignments will include web-based exercises, research essays, practical exercises and a 'mini' internship with a Museums Curator to gain practical experience with the AdLib or BioTrack programs. This unit does not count for credit with ELS202.
When offered
Semester 1 X; Semester 2 D.

ELS820 Web Site

AHPG810 Archaeological Evidence
4 credit points
Dr R Kearsley
Summary:
An introduction to archaeological method and theory, including the results of field work, ancient technology, and methods of scientific study of antiquity, with particular reference to the study of history. The unit will include practical exercises in the use of archaeological material on items in the University's Museum of Ancient Cultures. The unit does not count for credit with AHST210.
When offered
Semester 1

Links

General Information
Higher Degree Research Unit
Macquarie International
Macquarie International Study Programs page
Postgraduate and Beyond
UAC (Universities Admissions Centre)

Unit Web Pages
GEOS312 Invertebrate Palaeontology
GEOS397 Applied Palaeontology and Biogenic Sediments
GEOS425 Palaeobiology
GEOS427 Palaeoecology and Biogeography
GEOS428 Coral Reef Environments
ELS400 Museum Field Studies
ELS820 Museum Studies and Information Management