Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Students spend spring break conducting field work in Hawaii. Photo: Phil Skemer

The stunning surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute

Professor Mike Krawczynski using a microscope in his lab in Rudolph Hall. Photo: Devon Hill/Washington University

Hawaiian Pahoehoe. Photo: Phil Skemer

About the Department

Whether you are interested in studying the world beneath your feet, or worlds farther away, the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Washington University provides the tools for understanding the processes that shape our planet and other solar system bodies.

Our faculty are leaders in their fields, and they are passionate about their work and training the next generation of scientists. Our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities allow our faculty to push the boundaries of their fields and give our students the chance to do their own research. We apply geology, mineralogy, petrology, biology, chemistry, physics, and math to investigate diverse topics such as early life on Earth, the structure of the Earth's deep interior, the nature of contaminant transport, and the evidence for water on Mars. Our students are uniquely poised to help solve some of society's most pressing problems through careers in government, non-profit organizations, academia, and industry.

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Inno Under 25: WashU student channels ambition into defense job with NGA

Flooding and Erosion from Climate Change, Shifting Rivers and Changing Landscapes

Claire Masteller, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences is engaged in collaborative research that will help scientists distinguish between climate-driven change and the natural variability of river channels.