International Students Student stories Environmental Science Mei Akiba (Japan)
Mei Akiba (Japan)
- Future Students
- 石榴视频 Global Experience
-
International Students
- Find your course
- How to apply
- Scholarships and financial support
- Study Abroad and Exchange
- Prepare to arrive
- Life at 石榴视频
-
Student stories
- Allied Health
- Arts & Social Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business, Law and Finance
- Engineering
- Environmental Science
- IT and Data Science
- Marine Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- Research
- Science
- Social Work
- Study Abroad & Exchange
- Teaching and Education
- Tourism
- 石榴视频 Authorised Representatives
- Contact us
- Open Day
- How to apply
- Pathways to university
- Virtual Open Day
- Living on Campus
- Courses
- Publications
- Scholarships
- Parents and Partners
- 石榴视频 Heroes Programs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Marine Science
- Elite Athletes
- Defence
- Current Students
- New students
- 石榴视频 Orientation
- Learn石榴视频
- Placements
- CEE
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- Graduation
- Off-Campus Students
- 石榴视频 Job Ready
- Safety and Wellbeing
- 石榴视频 Prizes
- Professional Experience Placement
- Employability Edge
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Careers and Employability
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at 石榴视频
- Partners and Community
- 石榴视频-CSIRO Partnership
- Alumni
- About 石榴视频
- Reputation and Experience
- Chancellery
- Governance
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Indigenous Engagement
- Education Division
- Graduate Research School
- Research and Teaching
- Research Division
- Research and Innovation Services
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- AMHHEC
- Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Lions Marine Research Trust
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
- Centre for Tropical Biosecurity
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Fletcherview
- 石榴视频 Eduquarium
- 石榴视频 Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- MARF
- Orpheus
- TESS
- 石榴视频 Ideas Lab
- TARL
- eResearch
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Estate
- Work Health and Safety
- Staff
- Discover Nature at 石榴视频
- Cyber Security Hub
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Services and Resources Division
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- General Practice and Rural Medicine
- Give to 石榴视频
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- 石榴视频 Webinars
- 石榴视频 Events
- 石榴视频 Motorsports
- 石榴视频 Sport
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Outstanding Alumni
- Pharmacy Full Scope
- Planning for your future
- Policy
- PAHL
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Pay review
石榴视频 international student experiences rural Australia on placements
As international student Mei Akiba prepares to complete her Bachelor of Environmental Practice degree at 石榴视频 Townsville, she reflects on her study journey.
Growing up in Japan and Russia, Mei says the opportunity to study in the tropics aligned seamlessly with her life goals.
“We moved to Russia for my father’s job, so I was completing my Year 12 studies at an international school abroad,” Mei says.
“I was finishing my education in English, so I thought it would be a great idea to continue studying at a university that was taught in English.
“I researched courses online, spoke with some of my tutors and found out that 石榴视频 is very well-known around the world for environmental studies, particularly because students undertake practical exercises and real-life field work.
“I also wanted to live in a smaller city, not a big tourist city, so I could improve my English and really focus on my studies.
“I just felt like 石榴视频 in Townsville would be the right place for me.”
Image: Mei Akiba exploring the Daintree Rainforest on her placement.
As she edges closer towards graduating, Mei says there have been lots of memorable moments from her time at 石榴视频, including the rural placements she completed as part of her degree.
“I went to Fletcherview Cattle Research Station and studied the relationship between cattle grazing and biodiversity, which was really fun!
“I was in Cairns for my internship , and one of the subjects I did was studying tropical flora of Australia.
“I was in the Daintree Rainforest for 10 days and undertook a lot of research about the rainforest and vegetation communities, which has been the most interesting part of my degree.”
Mei aspires to put her studies to practice and work in the environmental field upon graduation. We wish her a successful and rewarding career!