Summer Research Scholarships are designed for talented students considering undertaking postgraduate research in the future. They are an excellent opportunity to work with distinguished academics, while providing an insight into higher degree research.

- Integrative theory, methods and applications;

- Global change;

- People in environments.

Dr Jack Pezzey
http://fennerschool.anu.edu.au/people/academics/pezzeyj.php

- Develop an energy balance model for undergraduate laboratory exercises

- Characterise the optical properties of Australian aerosols

- Coupled one-dimensional numerical modelling of atmospheric chemistry

Dr Frank Mills
http://fennerschool.anu.edu.au/people/academics/millsf.php

Many of Australia's plants and animals have evolved to tolerate fire or even thrive when their habitat burns. However, in human dominated landscapes land clearing and climate change are changing the way fire affects ecosystems. Understanding how, and more importantly WHY animals respond to fire is fundamental to effective fire management. Why do some species thrive in burnt habitats, while others are more abundant in old growth? One explanation is that successional responses in prey could produce a parallel responses in their predators. This summer research project will involve field work in the mallee ecosystems of South Australia to examine invertebrate diversity and abundance in relation to time since fire. An analysis of the diet in three fire sensitive lizard species will also be undertaken to determine if these reptiles are generalist or specialist feeders, and to what degree their diet may explain their successional response after fire.

Dr Don Driscoll
http://fennerschool.anu.edu.au/people/academics/driscolld.php