Research Programs

The Department of Geological Sciences has research strengths in several areas. Our externally-funded research programs involve collaborations with international researchers, and provide graduate students with the opportunity to address research problems in the far reaches of the world as well as on other planets.

For example, current research project locations outside of the continental U.S. include Alaska, Italy, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, Iceland, Bolivia, New Zealand, England, Canada, Mars, and Europa.

Examples of research programs that currently exist in the department:

• Clarkia Tertiary Research Center
• Computational Hydrology
• Geomicrobiology
• Glacial and Arctic Sciences Institute
• Health Effects of Mineral Dusts
• Hydrogeology Program (Idaho Falls)
• Hydrogeology Program (Moscow)
• Juneau Icefield Research Program
• Optical Mineralogy
• Planetary and Terrestrial Geomechanics