Program Description The interdisciplinary program in Environmental Earth Sciences is offered jointly though the departments of Geography, Geological Sciences, and Soil Science. It explores the relationships—both modern and ancient—among the solid Earth, the atmosphere, the oceans, and the biosphere. Its primary emphasis is on the physical sciences, rather than the biological sciences. The program trains students in how human activities influence near-surface environments. Students in this program study the landscapes and climates in which we live and work, the soils we cultivate and the effects of natural and human-induced change upon them, and the rocks we mine and how they are used.
Students will also explore issues related to the transport and fate of toxic materials, waste treatment and disposal, and other aspects of environmental management. An important part of the Environmental Earth Sciences program is training in field and laboratory research techniques - investigating and interpreting near-surface environments and the effects of human activities upon them.
