Students undertake research work on wildlife conservation with University and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) staff at Yathong and Nombinnie Nature Reserves. These projects are integrated with students' theory lectures. Students go out to the Nature Reserves for a four day trip, where they see the sites, contribute to the research, collect data for DEC and complete an assessment.

One of the collaborative projects aims to assess the effects of the extensive 2003 fire on reptile communities in the Mallee remnant by collecting data on the diversity, abundance, size and sex ratio of reptile populations in burned and unburned areas of the reserve. Randomly selected sites, covering recently-burned and long-term unburned areas, within similar vegetation communities and topographic relief are identified for sampling during successive years. The comparison provides information on the resident reptile communities in 2003-burned remnant mallee and in areas with 20 years of fire-free conditions.

Students also collect data to assist DEC in vegetation management of the Nature Reserves. Four different types of fenced exclosures have been established at three replicate sites. The students undertake vegetation assessments in these exclosures which have been designed to exclude grazing by kangaroos and goats, exclude grazing by rabbits, exclude grazing by all herbivores and at control sites.

At the end of the field trip students use the skills they have gained in vegetation identification and wildlife observation to write a scientific report that compares and contrasts two vegetation communities within the Nature Reserve. This report is a significant part of the overall assessment for the subject. The best student report is submitted to the DEC to contribute to their database.

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