About Earth and Environmental Sciences

Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) aim to understand planets as an integrated system of physical, biological, and chemical processes and materials that shape our past, present, and future. We work together to study how these geological and environmental processes transform planets over timescales ranging from milliseconds to billions of years and length scales from atoms to solar systems, producing the landscapes, hazards, resources, and environments we encounter today. This knowledge is critical for the stewardship of our planet and understanding Earth’s origin and co-evolution with life as an inhabited world.

 

Earth and Environmental Sciences apply interdisciplinary concepts from biology, chemistry, physics, math, and computational sciences to study the Earth and planets. In addition to supporting curriculum across science and engineering, EES courses supply knowledge and tools relevant to a wide variety of careers in industry, stewardship, and research. Our curriculum provides a foundation in geological and environmental sciences, and allows students to explore a broad range of subdisciplines. This multi-disciplinary curriculum provides a unique perspective on issues that impact communities in Michigan and around the globe such as the availability of natural resources, assessment and response to environmental hazards, and the influence of humans on Earth systems. Our goal is to prepare graduates to lead the way in shaping decisions concerning the stewardship of our planet.