Department of Geosciences
Geosciences cover all aspects of planet Earth. Our faculty pursue a range of traditional and contemporary research - from environmental to structural geology, geomicrobiology, petrology, stratigraphy and paleontology. Our professors direct and instruct approximately 150 undergraduates.
A focus within our department is Terrestrial Records of Environmental Change (TREC). This research covers such diverse but related topics as hydrogeology, paleoclimate reconstruction, climate change, modern siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentology, geomorphology, and aqueous geochemistry. We are also a recognized leader in earth science educational research. The Department maintains excellent modern instrumentation for geologic and environmental research. This includes an environmental scanning electron microscope, environmental magnetism laboratory, and a full suite of instruments for aqueous geochemistry.