It might not be saving Gotham City, but the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)'s Bachelor of Agricultural Technology and Management – affectionately known as "BATMan" to its teaching staff – is leading the way with using the latest technologies to solve real-world agricultural challenges.
UniSQ student Mia Ketterer was instantly drawn to the BATMan program after a traineeship at the Sunshine Coast's Templeton Ginger sparked her interest in the many applications of ag tech for improved productivity, sustainability and efficiency.
"The farm on which I worked was trialling a Weedseeker – a form of precision spraying technology – which sparked my interest in ag tech and helped me see where the future of agriculture was heading," Ms Ketterer said.
"I've always had an interest in plants and animals and anything to do with the outdoors, so I knew I would enjoy a career involving that.
"This degree is exactly what I was looking for; it covers so many different aspects of agriculture, with a focus tailored to ag tech."
Ms Ketterer, who grew up around agriculture and is currently based at Gympie, said she was particularly interested in drone operations. She recently put her drone-flying skills to use at the UniSQ Toowoomba residential school, which she passed with flying colours.
BATMan Acting Program Director Michael Scobie said it was Queensland's first dedicated degree in Agricultural Technology and Management, and one of only two in Australia.
"While UniSQ offers degrees in Agricultural Engineering for those who want to design technologies, and Agricultural Science for those who want to understand the basis of ag-related issues, the BATMan is a practical, hands-on degree that attracts students who want to be on the forefront of solving agricultural issues using the latest technologies," Mr Scobie said.
"The degree is different to many other university courses as it is very applied; our students are consistently working with researchers and industry on real world problems and research projects so they can see the realities of working in agriculture."
Students in the BATMan program have the opportunity to work with international businesses such as John Deere, Raven and Incitec Pivot. They learn to use innovative technologies to improve productivity and opportunities for farmers across Australia and the globe.
So, while students may not be operating the Batmobile, they are helping to save the world.
