Science Division

Earth & Planetary Sciences

Professors and students standing on the rim of an impact crater in Arizona. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_Crater

High Impact Experiences

From the deep Earth to distant worlds — discovery starts here.

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Welcome

The Earth & Planetary Sciences Department at UC Santa Cruz is home to a vibrant community of faculty, researchers, and students working at the forefront of geoscience and planetary exploration. We are among the largest departments of our kind in the UC system, offering robust undergraduate and graduate programs that combine rigorous coursework with transformative opportunities for research and field experience. Our faculty are internationally recognized for their contributions to topics ranging from seismology and climate change to planetary interiors and astrobiology. Join us in exploring the processes that shape Earth and other worlds—and in preparing the next generation of scientists to tackle the challenges of a changing planet.

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News

Research news from the Earth & Planetary Sciences Department
Conceptual illustration of the three subdomains

UC Santa Cruz joins NASA project probing ocean worlds for signs of life

Earth and planetary sciences professor Andrew Fisher will lead hydrogeology simulations to study how water, heat, and chemicals circulate between rocky seafloors and subsurface oceans on worlds like Europa and Enceladus

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ARCS Foundation scholarships support 14 outstanding graduate students in science and engineering for 2025-26

The scholarships are awarded to students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the scientific and technological strength of the country.

 Scientists releases a salmon at Scott Creek

A Lifeline for Salmon: UCSC and NOAA Join Forces to Secure a Future for California’s Most Iconic Fish

A decades-long collaboration is giving Central California’s dwindling coho salmon population a fighting chance.
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Whole Earth Seminars

  • January 14, 2026 – Amy East, USGS
    Speaker/Affiliation: Amy East, U.S. Geological Survey  Title: Understanding physical landscape effects of climate change: how much do we know, and what are we doing about it? When: Wednesday, January 14 12:00pm PST  Location: EMS B214  Abstract: Today, climate change is affecting virtually all terrestrial and nearshore settings. How well do we understand the physical landscape effects, and how have planning and economic… Read more: January 14, 2026 – Amy East, USGS

IGPP Seminars

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Department Spotlight

  • Andy Fisher wins the NEXTies “Brainwave Award”
    The “Brainwave Award” recognizes groundbreaking research, innovation, or scientific discovery. It was awarded to Andy Fisher in 2025 for his research into urban flooding, saltwater intrusion, and freshwater supply in the Pajaro River Valley.
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Support Us

Support the future of Earth and planetary science by giving to our endowments. Your gift fuels research, hands-on learning, and real-world impact—empowering the next generation to meet the challenges facing our planet.

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Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
epsadmin@ucsc.edu | (831) 459-4089
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Last modified: Oct 07, 2025