About

Students sitting in rock formations

Perspective of our Science

The record of Earth's 4.6 billion year history provides a vast wealth of information about the materials, processes, and events of its past, present, and likely future. Earth processes such as volcanic eruptions, droughts, earthquakes, and tsunamis frequently impact society. Our students need to understand how physiochemical processes affect Earth and may translate to other planets, as these new frontiers of science continue to expand. It's critical, therefore, we educate our students to study and understand Earth systems, so that humans may live equitably and with minimal impact on Earth's natural environments, energy resources, and water reservoirs.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to educate Tufts students to apply scientific methodology and principles to the study of Earth and other planets, and to produce state-of-art scholarly research using field and lab observations, experiments, and theoretical modeling.

We will accomplish our mission through the following teaching and research goals:

  • Discover and convey fundamental knowledge of Earth and other planets through research and a curriculum with depth and breadth in the fields of Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Investigate past and present Earth processes for their significance to current societal problems and predictions about the future.
  • Impart an understanding of the complexity and the coupling of the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.

Department Chair