Searching for life outside our own planet compels us to distinguish between the types of planetary environments that can host life, and those that cannot.

Departmental research seeks to constrain modern and ancient biogeochemical cycles and how the environmental distribution of carbon and nutrients are affected by natural and anthropogenic processes.

In the face of a changing climate, it is important to understand and characterize Earth’s past climate states, and the complex interactions between Earth’s systems that are intertwined with changes in climate.

Departmental research in inorganic geochemistry focuses on chemical equilibria and transport phenomena in solid-Earth systems (and to some extent in other terrestrial planets and meteorites).

Our department provides some of the most powerful computational tools and evaluation techniques required to interpret the complicated nature of metamorphic reactions within the Earth.

Departmental research in this area utilizes assemblage and geochemistry changes in the marine microfossil group benthic foraminifera, integrated with biostratigraphy, lithology, geophysical well logging, and seismic profile studies.

Our department is at the forefront of using new seismological techniques to resolve the structure of the crust and mantle, and their dynamics.