To answer these questions, we use a wide range of tools and methods. Our faculty and students use hands-on fieldwork, lab-based geochemistry, seismology, remote sensing, and advanced computational modeling to decode the planet’s complex systems.

Geologists study rock formations to uncover the processes that have shaped them. Geochemists and mineralogists analyze the elemental and isotopic makeup of rocks, sediments, and fossils with high-precision instruments. Geophysicists use seismic waves to peer deep into the Earth’s interior. Environmental scientists sample air, water, and soil—sometimes from ships, aircraft, or remote wilderness. Planetary scientists rely on spacecraft missions and satellite data to explore other worlds and monitor Earth from above.

Across all these specialties, computer models help us simulate past, present, and future conditions—providing insight into the dynamic systems that define our planet and its place in the universe.