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Department of Earth Sciences

Providing education, research, and knowledge to help shape a sustainable future for Earth and its inhabitants.
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About the Department of Earth Sciences

We are living through a time of unprecedented change on Earth. Scientific understanding of geological hazards, sustainability, infrastructure, climate change, energy, and natural resources has never been so important, and Earth Sciences sit at the heart of the debate.

We aspire to help shape the future by providing the highest quality education for our students and by undertaking research that is both intrinsically excellent and relevant to society. 

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7th in the Guardian University Guide 2024
Joint 7th in the UK for world-leading research impact (REF 2014)
8th The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
World Top 100 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Study with us

  • Undergraduate study

    We place research-led teaching at the centre of our undergraduate programme because we want our undergraduates to be at the forefront of knowledge generation in the 21st century.

    Man reading while overlooking sea

  • Postgraduate study

    We aspire to help shape and improve the future by training the next generation of Earth Scientists through provision of high-quality postgraduate training and research opportunities. 

    Woman sat on rocks

Undergraduate study

We place research-led teaching at the centre of our undergraduate programme because we want our undergraduates to be at the forefront of knowledge generation in the 21st century.

Man reading while overlooking sea

Postgraduate study

We aspire to help shape and improve the future by training the next generation of Earth Scientists through provision of high-quality postgraduate training and research opportunities. 

Woman sat on rocks

Our research

This is how we make an impact on the world around us.

We are a vibrant and collaborative community of 50 academic and postdoctoral staff, and 70 postgraduate research students (PhD and MScR). We conduct and disseminate rigorous research that deepens our understanding of the Earth and environment, and that transforms and enhances practices and outcomes in academia, in industry, and amongst practitioners.

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Diversity initiatives

Our values are an integral part of our identity and form the basis of almost everything we do.

Earth Sciences aims to support equality, diversity and inclusion across the department, encompassing all aspects of inequality. We consider inclusiveness to be fundamental to a supportive, progressive and successful Department. We aim for the Department to be a pleasant and supportive work and study environment for all, respecting the dignity of staff and students, regardless of their gender, gender identity, race, or disability.
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Diverse team of people all with speech bubbles

What's new?

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Ancient cave clues reveal secrets of the Maya civilisation collapse

A team of scientists, including researchers from our Earth Sciences Department, has discovered new evidence that long-lasting droughts played a major role in the decline of the ancient Maya civilisation more than a thousand years ago.

Research news
Tourists explore the ‘Dome of the Cathedral’, the largest chamber in Grutas Tzabnah (Yucatán, Mexico), and the origin of Tzab06-1. The artificial well ‘La Noria’ now illuminates the cave.

A Bermuda stalagmite reveals how the Gulf Stream shifted – and what it might do as the climate changes further

An ancient Bermuda stalagmite has revealed more about past shifting of the Gulf Stream. Professor James Baldini, in our Department of Earth Sciences, and PhD candidate Edward Forman, Climate Tipping Points, University of Southampton, tell us more and what it could mean for a major system of ocean currents.
Global research
A cave with stalactites hanging from the ceiling being reflected in a pool of water beneath them.

The recipe for finding clean hydrogen

Clean hydrogen could be key to a greener future and there is a lot if it right beneath our feet in the Earth’s crust. The trick is knowing exactly where it is and in which conditions it survives. For this, the geology needs to be just right.
Research news
Blue water-like bubbles of different sizes

500-million-year-old ancient fossil mystery solved by scientists

A new study led by our Earth Sciences department has made a surprising discovery about a mysterious fossil from the Cambrian period — over 500 million years ago.
Research news
Shishania fossil

University spin-out company receives prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise

University spin-out company Geoptic has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for its pioneering approach to assessing the condition and safety of railway tunnels.
Business and Partnerships
View looking through an old brick railway tunnel.

Professor awarded prestigious fellowship for contributions to geochemistry

Professor of Geochemistry in the Department of Earth Sciences Chris Greenwell has been named a Learned Society of Wales Fellow.
Research news
Professor Chris Greenwell poses for a portrait in front of a beige background

Spotlight on: Professor Jon Gluyas - Pioneering Geoenergy Solutions for a Sustainable Future

This instalment of our ‘Spotlight on’ series focuses on Professor Jon Gluyas - a leading geoscientist who has spent his career addressing some of society's most pressing energy challenges.
Global research
Professor Jon Gluyas looking straight to camera in front of a dark background
More news items

A Bermuda stalagmite reveals how the Gulf Stream shifted – and what it might do as the climate changes further

An ancient Bermuda stalagmite has revealed more about past shifting of the Gulf Stream. Professor James Baldini, in our Department of Earth Sciences, and PhD candidate Edward Forman, Climate Tipping Points, University of Southampton, tell us more and what it could mean for a major system of ocean currents.

A cave with stalactites hanging from the ceiling being reflected in a pool of water beneath them.

Spotlight on: Professor Jon Gluyas - Pioneering Geoenergy Solutions for a Sustainable Future

This instalment of our ‘Spotlight on’ series focuses on Professor Jon Gluyas - a leading geoscientist who has spent his career addressing some of society's most pressing energy challenges.
Professor Jon Gluyas looking straight to camera in front of a dark background

Durham scientist onboard drilling ship investigating major Japanese earthquake

A Durham scientist is part of an international research team drilling into the seabed off the east coast of Japan to learn more about the 2011 Tohoku great earthquake.
The deck of a large ship at sunset

Ancient cave clues reveal secrets of the Maya civilisation collapse

A team of scientists, including researchers from our Earth Sciences Department, has discovered new evidence that long-lasting droughts played a major role in the decline of the ancient Maya civilisation more than a thousand years ago.

Tourists explore the ‘Dome of the Cathedral’, the largest chamber in Grutas Tzabnah (Yucatán, Mexico), and the origin of Tzab06-1. The artificial well ‘La Noria’ now illuminates the cave.

The recipe for finding clean hydrogen

Clean hydrogen could be key to a greener future and there is a lot if it right beneath our feet in the Earth’s crust. The trick is knowing exactly where it is and in which conditions it survives. For this, the geology needs to be just right.
Blue water-like bubbles of different sizes

500-million-year-old ancient fossil mystery solved by scientists

A new study led by our Earth Sciences department has made a surprising discovery about a mysterious fossil from the Cambrian period — over 500 million years ago.
Shishania fossil

Durham undergraduates survive sea survival training

Two Durham geophysics undergraduates, have successfully completed a sea survival training course.

Student wearing sea survival gear in the water

Taught postgraduate courses (MSc degrees)

The Department is now offering and participates in 2 taught postgraduate degree programmes:
Satellite image with nodes and edges

New opportunity to study climate science

We are excited to announce the launch of our new 3 year Climate Science degree course!
New Climate Science Course at Durham Earth Sciences
I selected Durham University because it has a high world ranking, and I enjoy the small, quiet atmosphere of the city. The staff, students, and facilities in the Earth Sciences department are of the highest quality.
Jaafar H. Jotheri
PhD in Palaeoclimate - from Babylon, Iraq

Get in touch

Contact us to find out more about the exciting things our students do, research breakthroughs, and life at the cutting edge of Earth Science.

Earth Sciences,
Arthur Holmes Building,
Science Site,
South Road,
Durham. DH1 3LE

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2300

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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