Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences

Chair: James Wright

Undergraduate Program Director: Lauren Adamo

Distinguished Professors:

Marie-Pierre Aubry, B.S., Rouen (France); D.Sc., Pierre et Marie Curie (France)

Paul G. Falkowski, B.S., M.A., CUNY (City College); Ph.D., British Columbia

 

Kenneth G. Miller, A.B., Rutgers; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Ying Fan Reinfelder, B.S., Beijing; M.S., Utah; Ph.D., Utah State

Craig S. Feibel, A.B., Dartmouth ; M.S., Iowa State; Ph.D., Utah

Mark D. Feigenson, B.S., Maryland; M.S., George Washington; M.A., Ph.D., Princeton

Dennis V. Kent, B.S., CUNY (City College); Ph.D., Columbia

Robert E. Kopp, S.B., Chicago, M.S., Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Gregory S. Mountain, B.A., Brown; Ph.D., Columbia

Roy W. Schlische, B.A., Rutgers; M.A., Ph.D., Columbia

Carl C. Swisher III, B.A., Montana; M.S., Nebraska; Ph.D., California (Berkeley)

James D. Wright, B.S., Louisiana Tech; M.S., South Carolina; Ph.D., Columbia

Lauren Neitzke Adamo, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Rutgers

Katherine R. Bermingham, BSc (Hons) Australian National(Australia); PhD Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)

Benjamin A. Black, A.B., Harvard; M.F.A., New York; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Shaunna Morrison, Ph.D. Geosciences - University of Arizona

Robert M. Sherrell, B.A., Oberlin; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Starting in January 2025:

Yoshnori Miyazaki, B.Sc., The University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan); Ph.D., Yale (New Haven, CT) , Earth and Planetary Sciences

Lujendra Ojha: B.Sc. University of Arizona; PhD Georgia Tech

 

James V. Browning, B.A., Ohio Wesleyan; M.S., Southern California; Ph.D., Rutgers

Cathleen, Doherty, B.A., M.S., Montclair State; Ph.D., Columbia

Richard Mortlock, B.A., Pennsylvania; M.S., Florida State; Ph.D., Rutgers

Gail Ashley B.S., M.S., University of Massachusetts, Ph.D. University of British Columbia (Canada)

Michael Carr

Claude T. Herzberg, B.S., Alberta (Canada); Ph.D., Edinburgh (UK)

Roger Hewins B.Sc., University of Aberdeen, Ph.D., University of Toronto

Dennis Kent B.S., City College of New York, Ph.D., Columbia

Martha O. Withjack, B.A., Rutgers; M.A., Ph.D., Brown

Geological sciences explores Earth's past, present, and future, as well as other planets in our solar system and beyond. Through education and research, we examine Earth and planetary interiors, surface environments, and life through time; these are interdisciplinary fields that draw on fundamental knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Our studies have scientific and societal relevance: global change to the solid Earth and its environment, oceans, climate, and life; natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and landslides); natural resource exploration and management (hydrocarbons, ore minerals, groundwater); and planetary geology and the search for extraterrestrial life. Several faculty have joint appointments in other departments: anthropology (in the School of Arts and Sciences), environmental sciences, and marine and coastal sciences (the latter two in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences). The geological sciences major covers the core areas of the Earth and planetary sciences yet still allows opportunity for students to specialize through additional high-level courses in geological sciences, mathematics, and allied sciences. The major can be completed in four semesters once students have taken foundational courses in mathematics and the cognate sciences. Our majors enjoy employment opportunities in geological and environmental consulting, the energy industry, government agencies, and secondary education as well as excellent placement in top graduate programs.