Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Understanding Planet Earth and its interrelated processes is complex. How has it evolved? Why are there earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain chains, continents and oceans? What can we learn about climate variability? And most important, what can we do with this knowledge?
The study of Earth sciences combines experiential learning, interdisciplinary study and a culture of innovation and discovery.
Coursework will provide you the basis for:
- Understanding natural hazards.
- Assessing climate variability and global change.
- Predicting the migration of man-made pollutants.
- Exploring the energy and mineral resources upon which society depends.
- The nature of our planet and insights into some of humanity’s deepest questions.
In addition to coursework, you can take advantage of extensive field and extracurricular opportunities and gain hands-on experience. Work with a faculty member on a research project, participate in an intensive field study or join the Geology Club.
Faculty have diverse interests in the nature of our planet and are heavily committed to research and education in these fields:
- Solid earth sciences
- Paleoclimatology
- Water resources
Field-based research brings faculty and students to every continent on the planet to collect observational data. State-of-the art laboratory and computing facilities allow for sophisticated analytical and numerical study of Earth systems. You’ll be broadly trained in field work, geochemical and geophysical methods, quantitative analysis and professional skills.
As a scholar-scientist, you’ll be prepared and sought-after by employers. Graduates are well placed in academic, government and private sector positions. They are prepared for careers in:
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Paleontology
- Oceanography
- Climate and environmental sciences.
Events
Events
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Upcoming Events
Ongoing Events
Books by Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty
Recent News
Adapting the Changing Climates – Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Covid-19 Pandemic has forced our Department to adapt rapidly in the interests of health, safety and compliance with a wide range of ever-changing regulations. Every part of the Department has been affected and here is just a sampling of adjustments we have made.
Welcome New Hires
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences welcome two new full time faculty members and one joint appointment with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Using the Past to Predict the Future
A&S researchers lay the groundwork to reconstruct global climate through Earth's history.
Where Does The Water Go?
NSF grant funds research to determine the effects of artificial beaver dams.
Latest Publications
Woda, J., Wen, T., Lemon, J., Marcon, V., Keeports, C.M., Zelt, F., Steffy, L.Y. and Brantley, S.L., 2020. Methane concentrations in streams reveal gas leak discharges in regions of oil, gas, and coal development. Science of The Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140105
Ana C. Lossada, Julieta Suriano, Laura Giambiagi, Paul G. Fitzgerald, Greg Hoke, José Mescua, Ana Tedesco, Guadalupe Arzadún, Sofía Bordese, (2020), Cenozoic exhumation history at the core of the Andes at 31.5°S revealed by apatite fission track thermochronology, Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Volume 103, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102751
Hopper, E., Gaherty, J. B., Shillington, D. J., Accardo, N. J., Nyblade, A. A., Holtzman, B. K., Havlin, C., Scholz, C. A., Chindandali, P. R. N., Ferdinand, R. W., Mulibo, G. D. & Mbogoni, G., Preferential localized thinning of lithospheric mantle in the melt-poor Malawi Rift. Aug 1 2020, In : Nature Geoscience. 13, 8, p. 584-589 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-020-0609-y
Judd, E.J., Bhattacharya, T., Ivany, L.C. (2020) A dynamical framework for interpreting ancient sea surface temperatures. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 47, e2020GL089044, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089044.
Christopher A. Scholz, Donna J. Shillington, Lachlan J.M. Wright, Natalie Accardo, James B. Gaherty, Patrick Chindandali; Intrarift fault fabric, segmentation, and basin evolution of the Lake Malawi (Nyasa) Rift, East Africa. Geosphere doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02228.1
Agarwal, A., Wen, T., Chen, A., Zhang, A.Y., Niu, X., Zhan, X., Xue, L., Brantley, S.L., 2020. Assessing Contamination of Stream Networks Near Shale Gas Development Using a New Geospatial Tool. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b06761