VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR A BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE STUDY ON HUMPBACK WHALES IN AUSTRALIA from 11 September to 16 October, 2025
The Cetacean Ecology Group (CEG) at the University of Queensland is seeking volunteers to participate in fieldwork from 11 Sep.-16 Oct. at Peregian Beach on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. Building on a series of successful behavioural response studies (BRS) at Peregian Beach, this field study will assess how humpback whales respond to various acoustic deterrent signals to inform more effective entanglement mitigation strategies. Each year, approximately 5,000 humpback whales pass within 10 km of the study site during the peak southbound migration (September/October), making a local coastal vantage point, Emu Mtn, an ideal location for observing whale behaviour. During acoustic playback experiments, teams of volunteers atop Emu Mountain will use binoculars, a theodolite, and tracking software to record whale behaviour and movement patterns before and during sound exposure. Volunteers should expect their roles to be primarily land-based; opportunities for volunteers to collect data on the ‘source vessel’ may sometimes occur, but boat time cannot be guaranteed. In addition to assisting with data collection and processing, volunteers will be expected to contribute to communal living tasks like cooking, shopping, cleaning, and other shared duties. The team will include up to 15 or more people (researchers, staff, and volunteers) living and working together in close proximity, so it is vital that all participants be sociable, responsible, respectful, and team-orientated. Positions are unpaid, but room and board at Peregian Beach will be provided. Accommodation will be in shared rooms (double occupancy), and meals will be communal (dietary restrictions can be accommodated). The field housing is modern, comfortable, and within walking distance of both the beach and local cafés/shops. Peregian Beach is part of Australia’s famously beautiful Sunshine Coast, and volunteers often use downtime between shifts or during periods of unsuitable survey conditions to surf, hike, or explore popular destinations such as Noosa National Park and Australia Zoo. This project is best suited to individuals with a background in science, including recent graduates, graduate students, or advanced undergraduates, who are keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques, bioacoustics, and behavioural research. Applicants should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, and capable of maintaining focus for extended periods. Prior experience with marine mammal or wildlife surveys is desirable but not required. *Please note: this project involves working long, consecutive days outdoors in a range of weather conditions (including rain, wind, and heat). Volunteers will also be required to carry the survey equipment to and from the observation site daily. While the hike up Emu Mtn is short (~10 min), the terrain is uneven, and some gear is heavy and/or fragile. A high standard of safety will be maintained throughout the project, and volunteers will receive comprehensive training related to equipment use, data collection protocols, and safety procedures at the start of the season. As such, only applicants available for the full 5 weeks of fieldwork will be considered. Volunteers must arrive at Peregian Beach on 11 September and will be responsible for arranging and funding their transport to the study site (approximately 1.5 hours from Brisbane Airport or 30 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport). International volunteers are welcome but will need to organise their own visas, travel insurance, and any other requirements for entry into Australia. This field study forms a vital component of CEG PhD candidate Kelsey Stone’s research, which aims to develop a reliable acoustic deterrent signal to reduce baleen whale entanglements and is made possible through funding from the Sea World Foundation’s Marine Megafauna Research Grants Program (Gold Coast, Australia) and the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries Queensland). TO APPLY: Please email Kelsey Stone (kelsey.st...@uq.edu.au), Liam Johnson (l.e.john...@uq.edu.au), and Rebecca Dunlop (r.dun...@uq.edu.au) your resume/CV, contact information for two references, and a brief statement of interest that addresses: *your relevant experience, *why you are suited to this work, and *why you would like to participate. The application deadline is 30 May, and successful applicants will be notified in mid-June. A downloadable PDF of this call for volunteers can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1am6XR2dQC57BWqT0rJD0VV0g9blJ4yBm/view?usp=sharing Learn more about the past and present research by the Dunlop and Noad labs at UQ by visiting the CEG social media pages: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CetaceanEcologyGroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cetaceanecologygroup_uq/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CEG_UQ Cheers, Kelsey Kelsey Stone PhD Candidate, Cetacean Ecology Group School of the Environment The University of Queensland Email: kelsey.st...@uq.edu.au
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