Careers

How will cyclones intensify as greenhouse gases warm the planet?

How do ocean currents determine Australian drought cycles?

Can we improve weather forecasting over Australia?

What impact will climate change have on our marine ecosystems?

These are the type of questions being investigated at CCRC. If you are interested in pursuing University studies in oceanography, climate science, meteorology, or ecosystems modelling consult the UNSW Handbook. For more infromation on the undergraduate courses available at UNSW browse Undergraduate Programs. For more information on the postgraduate courses available at UNSW please browse Postgraduate Programs.

Careers in Climate Change

In a time when environmental issues are of great concern, there are a number of career opportunities available for graduates in oceanography, meteorology and climate science. In research, you could expect to work within the CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, Universities or within government agencies. Work could include the development and maintenance of ocean, atmosphere and climate models that are used to understand and predict our future climate or tomorrows weather.

A more hands-on career could focus on the operational aspects of climate and environmental dynamics. Here, you might be involved in the collection of data and the interpretation of the variability of a system. This information could then be used to advise government agencies on environmental management issues. Agencies interested in these skills include Sydney Water, the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Finally, there is the decision-making or managerial path. Fisheries or oil companies require personnel trained in these areas to liaise with scientists to develop policies that require an understanding of the complex issues that surround the long-term preservation of our environment.

How do I study at UNSW?

For more information on the courses available to undergraduates, go to the UNSW Handbook or the CCRC undergraduate and CCRC postgraduate information pages.

Latest news

Indian Ocean causes Big Dry: drought cycles over the southeast linked to the Indian Ocean Dipole
The causes of south-eastern Australia's longest, most severe and damaging droughts have been discovered, with the surprise finding that they originate far away in the Indian Ocean.

Water vapor doubles global warming: case closed
Water vapour released into the atmosphere adds one degree Celsius to global warming for every one contributed by humanity through greenhouse gas emissions.

Southern Ocean to acidify much sooner than thought
The Southern Ocean will acidify much earlier than previously thought from increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, taking it past the point where the shells of sea creatures will start to dissolve, according to a new study.

More news...

Reading past climates to see the future

With the massive Antarctic Circumpolar Current circling the Southern Ocean, largely preventing north-south flow across it and thereby isolating Antarctica from the subtropics, many scientists believe the existence of the Southern Ocean acts to cool Antarctica. But what other climate patterns might the Southern Ocean control?

An addiction that fouls the air

Coal provides nearly 80 per cent of Australia's electricity needs. Not the US, Russia or even China has a bigger coal addiction, despite having vastly more coal reserves than Australia. The Australian Greenhouse Office says emissions from coal-dominated electricity generation rose 50 per cent between 1990 and 2004.

Bali or bust

The Bali Climate Declaration has made the scientific view on emissions targets patently clear. It is now over to the policy makers to give the planet a decent future.

The Big Engine: oceans and weather

Federation Fellow and 2008 Eureka Prize winner, Professor Matthew England of CCRC, on the latest research into the role oceans play on weather.