Important information
Agriculture Discovery Week is for commencing students in the Bachelor of Agriculture and Diploma in General Studies courses. Attendance is compulsory, and you will need to confirm your attendance prior to the week via a survey. We'll arrange transport, accommodation and meals for you.
When is it?
Monday 26 February to Friday 1 March 2024.
How do I get there?
We depart at 8.30am from Naughtons Hotel, 43 Royal Parade, Parkville.
What does it cost?
There is no additional cost for students.
How do I register?
Registrations have now closed.
What happens at Agriculture Discovery Week?
You and your new classmates will hear from academics on what to expect in your degree and how to make your time at university the best it can be. You’ll also hear from industry experts and have a chance to talk with them about their work.
The Dookie campus – our living laboratory – is a perfect example of the possibilities ahead of you in your degree and career. You will be able to explore the campus by touring our state-of-the-art robotic dairy, wine tasting at our winery, and take on your own agriculture research project in our labs or in the field.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get to know your new friends including:
- Get competitive at the trivia night and the Melbourne University Agricultural and Food Sciences Society (AFSS) Games
- Enjoy the live band at the annual Dookie Social
- Relax with your new friends at movie night
- Play sport on the courts, or relax at the pool
- Build connections for your future at the industry panel
- Learn about the student groups and activities on offer at the University of Melbourne
- Enjoy dinner from a choice of food trucks and the Dookie Dining Hall.
A full schedule of activities will be posted soon – check back closer to the date for more information.
Do I have to go?
Yes. This week has timetabled classes which contribute to your attendance hurdle. There are also assessments within and associated with classes and workshops run during this week. If you are having trouble attending, see Special Consideration information on what to do.
Important health update
Paper wasps are currently actively building nests on the Dookie College Campus.
Paper wasps are native to Australia and are distinguished by their inverted cone-shaped nests, found under the eaves of houses and in trees. Paper wasps are currently actively building nests on the Dookie College Campus.
Paper wasps are not venomous, but will give a nasty sting if their nest is threatened. Unlike bees, wasps can issue multiple painful stings, and some people can respond with a severe allergic reaction.
Please note:
- Paper wasps are not venomous, but can deliver multiple painful stings.
- Do not touch a paper wasp or approach its nest.
- To protect yourself, wear long-sleeved shirts, trousers and fully-enclosed shoes in areas of paper wasp activity. Gloves and face masks may also be required.
- If you see a paper wasp or a paper wasp nest, report it to your local area contact
If you encounter a paper was or its nest, inform a staff member immediately or report it to the below number:
Dookie Campus Reception: 5833 9200
If you have an allergy and require medication (such as antihistamines or epipens) always carry these with you.
In case of injury caused by a paper wasp:
- Seek first aid treatment and advise your supervisor
- Seek medical assistance as required
- Advise your local area contact
- Submit an OHS Incident Report via the University’s online incident reporting system (ERMS)
What should I bring?
Dookie campus is situated some distance from the nearest towns, so we strongly recommend you arrive prepared with everything you’ll need for the week.
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Academic items
- Laptop or tablet, chargers, writing materials, notebook (as you would take to any class)
- Strong footwear that covers your feet completely, is good for walking, and which can get wet and muddy – ballet flats and sandals aren’t appropriate for Dookie as it’s a working farm, and you’ll also be in the laboratory
-
Social items
- Swimwear and a towel
- Gym attire, if you wish to use the gym
- Walking or running shoes for outdoor activities
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Personal items
- All toiletries
- Pillow, pillowcase & sleeping bag or sheet & doona (single bottom sheet provided)
- Cash to pay for drinks or to use the vending machines (small notes, coins, etc.) – there is no ATM on site
- Chargers for all devices
- Clothes suitable for both cool days and extreme heat during the day and cool nights, including a warm, waterproof jacket
- Driver’s licence or proof of age card – you will not be allowed to purchase alcohol without this
- Medications, if necessary
- Snacks for five days
- Sunglasses
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Practical items
- Keep cup to make yourself a coffee or tea
- Mosquito repellent
- Reusable water bottle
- Small backpack or satchel to carry with you throughout the day
- Sun protection (hat and sunscreen)
- Raincoat with a hood
Discover Agriculture Research Project Preferences
Agriculture is a broad discipline, with many different areas you can get involved in. Part of your time at Discover Agriculture will involve you participating in a Research Project of your preference, where you will be able to learn more about a particular agricultural discipline. Please read the 2024 Research Project descriptions below.
Which Whey to go?
Producing quality dairy products relies on the quality of milk produced from cows. But, not all milk is the same. In this project you will investigate the properties of milk that are important in dairy production. You will see our Robotic dairy and learn more about Australia’s dairy industry and in our new lab space conduct an analysis of milk to determine its quality.
Buyer Beware: Understanding Wool Market Needs
Australia has a strong reputation for producing high-quality wool where we produce some of the best in the world. Determining what wool goes into what sector of the market is a function of a number of parameters that together ultimately determine the value of a sample of wool. In this exercise as a wool buyer you will be required to follow a brief from a client to fulfil their order. You will be provided with Merino wool samples from a number of different lots and it will be your job to evaluate these different lots using a number of production parameters and come up with your recommendation to the client of which wool you have decided to purchase.
Food for Thought
Efficiency and sustainability in Dookie’s dairy relies on offering high quality grazing pasture for our dairy cows. In this project, you will visit the dairy to measure pasture grazed on by Dookie’s dairy cows, and return to the lab to analyse and determine its quality, and how much is being eaten with the aim of improving feeding efficiency and ensuring production of quality dairy products.
From Vine to Wine
For this research project, you will aim to determine harvest date for grapes growing at Tallis Family vineyard. To do this, you’ll head to the nearby Tallis Family vineyard do a selected sampling of Shiraz grapes, then, using various apparatus in the winery lab, take measurements that will give us a snapshot of those grapes characteristics and analyse the data to determine when harvesting might ideally take place.
Kitchen Table Conversations: An Introduction to Social Science for Agriculture
When we think about what is involved in agriculture our first thoughts might be about crops, or farm animals, or soils, or tractors. Our thoughts often don’t turn first to farm people. But in fact it is people who make farms tick. It is usually farm families who decide what it is that they want to achieve on their farm and in their business, and it is farm families and farm employees who navigate the myriad challenges and opportunities that agriculture presents. That is why social science – learning about people – is as important for the future of agriculture as soil science, animal science or plant science. In this project you’ll learn some fundamental social science skills, and apply them in a live research interview with a local farmer.
Animal Agriculture
Production from animals is dependent on the environment that the animal lives within - changing the environment can have negative effects. Given the impact of climate change, and sustainability challenges for agriculture it is important to understand and mitigate these negative effects. Working with collected research data you will examine the effects of environment on animal production.
Diploma in General Studies students are to select which Research Project they would like to participate in when they are confirming their attendance for Agriculture Discovery Week.
All commencing Bachelor of Agriculture students are to be enrolled into the subject AGRI10053 Agriculture Discovery. To select your Research Project, please go to your MyTimetable page and select the Research Project you would like to participate in. Please note that students will be allocated based off a first-in-first-serve basis.
If you require assistance navigating MyTimetable, please visit the Help using MyTimetable page.
More ways to get ready for your course
Looking for more ways to get to know your degree in the meantime? Visit the Bachelor of Agriculture Getting Started page or Diploma in General Studies Getting Started page information.