Work/Training Schedule for the
Volunteer Botanical Training Program

a typical January-February schedule

Week and day	Event
Week 1	Induction Training
Tuesday	Registration and official welcome. Introduction to the CANBR, the ANBG and the ANH. Outline of the roles of integrated Gardens and Herbarium; scientific, educational, reference, leisure, conservation.
	Orientation tour of ANBG site and CSIRO sites.
	Tour of Australian National Herbarium
	Introduction to general principles of biological collections and herbaria (on CSIRO site). Introduction to vascular Herbarium; practical on mounting and handling of vascular plant specimens; navigating the Herbarium
Wednesday	INTRODUCTORY HERBARIUM TRAINING
	Mounting of vascular specimens. Navigation in the Herbarium; specimen retrieval and put-away
	Computing overview. The Internet; electronic mail; botanical sites on the Web (including AVH, CPBR homepage and the WA Herbarium’s Florabase)
Thursday	Specimen mounting and other herbarium tasks
	Lecture: "Plant nomenclature and description." Names of Plants: scientific names - why have them and what do they mean? The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, type specimens and differences of taxonomic opinion
Friday	Regular work in teams
	WORKPLACE ESSENTIALS
	EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) and OHS (Occupational Health and Safety). All jobs now require a basic knowledge of EEO and OHS principles. This session will explain the obligations on employer and employees.
	Specimen mounting and other herbarium tasks

Week 2	Technical skill development
Monday	Workshop: "Map reading" - Latitude and longitude; grid references; geological maps; exercises
	Formation of work teams of 2 or 3 people each; commence assigned work
Tuesday	COLLECTING TECHNIQUES & Fieldbooks: practical session on "ordinary and difficult" collections, bulky material, soft and aquatic specimens, what data to record, site assessment, insect/mould control. Demonstration of GPS unit
	Discussion session: Permits, protocols, collecting ethics
	Regular work in teams
Wednesday	Lecture: "Revision of the Melaleuca uncinata complex"
	Lecture: "Taxonomic Techniques: Dendrobium orchids – a case study"
	Lecture: "Molecular systematics"
Thursday	FIELD TRIP: Eucalypts - field identification.
Friday	Regular work in teams

Week 3	Field trip
Monday	Library tours - ANBG, CSIRO and Herbarium libraries.
	Introduction to Jervis Bay - briefing on Jervis Bay field trip
	Workshop: "Principles of plant identification".
Tues - Frid	JERVIS BAY FIELD TRIP: Four-day trip based at the Uni of Canberra’s Field Station at Jervis Bay. Vascular plant collecting techniques; vascular plant identification; use of floras, handbooks and electronic interactive keys; area management issues
Tuesday	Travel via Kangaroo Valley to Jervis Bay Field Station
	BOODEREE BOTANIC GARDENS - Botanic Gardens management and bush tucker interpretive walk
Wednesday	BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK
	Lecture: “Reserve Management Issues at Green Patch”
	Site tour: “Bitou Bush and native vegetation management”
	Vegetation Survey Exercise
Thursday	Vegetation Survey Exercise continued
	Vascular plant identification: Identification of material from morning fieldtrip. Tips for identification in selected families and ‘difficult' groups; using printed and electronic keys.
	Group reports – short presentations on survey results
Friday	ESCARPMENT VEGETATION - Barren Grounds Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve and return to Canberra.

Week 4 (NOTE: there is usually an Australia Day public holiday sometime in week 4)	Communication and job skills
Monday	Regular work in teams
Tuesday	Communication Skills 1: Writing for non-scientists, seminar presentations - slides, overheads, and speaking.
	Growing Native Plants project overview
Wednesday	Regular work in teams
	JOBS AND FUNDING IN SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION
	"Where the jobs are". Three speakers, addressing job opportunities in the public sector, conservation agencies, and private sector consultancies.
	CVs, Job Applications and Scientific Grants - how to write them. Developing a CV; first publications and developing a publication list; putting your job application together
Thursday	Regular work in teams
Friday	Regular work in teams

Week 5	Cryptogams and CSIRO
Monday	Overview of Bryophytes, Lichens and Fungi - Session 1. Talk on recognition of major groups, introduction to Cryptogam collection.
	Regular work in teams
Tuesday	Overview of Bryophytes and Fungi - Session 2. A half-day fieldtrip ANBG site.
	Regular work in teams
Wednesday	Lecture: "Lichens: ecology, economics, taxonomy"
	Lecture: "Fungi: ecology, economics, taxonomy"
	Lecture: "The Bryophytes"
	Regular work in teams
Thursday	Visit Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) and CSIRO Microscopy Centre
	Regular work in teams
Friday	Regular work in teams

Week 6	Advanced curation
Monday	Regular work in teams
Tuesday	Regular work in teams
	Lecture: "Weeds in Australia"
Wednesday	Discussion session: "GMOs: friend or foe?"
	Lecture: "The Final Frontier: towards sustainable management of Papua New Guinea's gaharu resource"
Thursday	Regular work in teams
Friday	Regular work in teams
	Job application deadline

Week 7	Seminar presentations and completion of tasks
Monday	Regular work in teams
Tuesday	Participant Seminar Presentations I
	Tour of ANBG Plant Records and Seed Store
	Regular work in teams
Wednesday	Participant Seminar Presentations II
	Regular work in teams
Thursday	Return of job applications; demonstration interviews of participants
Friday	Formal presentation of Program Certificates
	Farewell BBQ

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Work/Training Schedule for the Volunteer Botanical Training Program

a typical January-February schedule

Week and day

Event

Work/Training Schedule for the
Volunteer Botanical Training Program