Geological Sciences

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Welcome

Geological Sciences is closely tied to the other three departments and the interdisciplinary programs within the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. In GS, fields of research and education encompass the entire planet from its deep interior to the surface, throughout the long span of geological time up to the human timescale. The scale of view ranges from global to atomic. Physical, chemical, and biological processes as well as the unique history of the Earth are within our broad scope.

Research Groups

Geological and Environmental Sciences focuses on the history and structure of the Earth, the physics and chemistry of Earth materials, the processes that cycle those materials on a global scale, and the interaction of human activities with geological processes and resources.

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Graduate Program

Graduate Studies in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES) involve academic course work and independent research. Students are prepared for careers as professional scientists in research, education, or the application of the earth sciences to mineral, energy, and water resources. Programs lead to the M.S., Engineer, and Ph.D. degrees.

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Undergraduate Program

The purpose of the undergraduate program in Geological and Environmental Sciences is to provide students with (1) a broad background in the fundamentals of the Earth sciences and (2) the quantitative, analytical, and communications skills necessary to conduct research and think critically about questions involving the Earth.

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Research Facilities

Our researchers have access to a wide variety of laboratories and equipment, either within our department or in associated departments.

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Industrial Affiliate Programs

Stanford encourages the close collaboration with companies and welcomes industry to participate in our research.

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Congratulations, Theresa Schwartz on passing your dissertation defense!

Graduate Program

Graduate Studies in the Department of Geological Sciences (GS) involve academic course work and independent research. Students are prepared for careers as professional scientists in research, education, or the application of the earth sciences to mineral, energy, and water resources. Programs lead to the M.S., Engineer, and Ph.D. degrees.

Undergraduate Program

The purpose of the undergraduate program in Geological Sciences is to provide students with (1) a broad background in the fundamentals of the Earth sciences and (2) the quantitative, analytical, and communications skills necessary to conduct research and think critically about questions involving the Earth.

Research Facilities

Our researchers have access to a wide variety of laboratories and equipment, either within our department or in associated departments.

News

Research in action: On the ground during the Nepal earthquake

Stanford News

PhD student Anne Sanquini studies how to motivate people to take precautionary action to protect their homes and schools against earthquakes. Her work led her to Kathmandu Valley, Nepal where she was on the ground for the magnitude-7.8 earthquake, the very quake she had been preparing for.

Ancient asteroid impacts boiled Earth's oceans for a whole year

Smithsonian

A new study by Don Lowe suggests that Earth's oceans boiled for whole year when two asteroids measuring 30 and 60 miles across hit the Earth about 3.29 and 3.23 billion years ago.

Animal functional diversity started out poor, became richer over time

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

New research by Jonathan Payne's lab refutes a hypothesis by the famed evolutionary biologist Stephen J. Gould that marine creatures underwent an “early burst” of functional diversity during the dawn of animal life.

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