Future students

Welcome to the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Study with us, change the world

To shape our world for a sustainable future, you need to know how it works

Studies in Earth, Atmosphere and Environment (EAE) encompasses the whole Earth system, from the core of the Earth to our planet’s atmosphere. Our purpose is to better understand the world around us in order to find solutions to contemporary global challenges. Our students can explore ways to tackle climate change, take on measures to preserve our local ecologies and
secure sustainable resources, predict weather and identify natural hazards.

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Where will it take you?

Combine your love of Biology with Earth Science to understand how life and planets develop together. The biology of the Earth embraces the investigation of all life (animals, plants, microorganisms) and its dynamic ecosystems, from the first record of fossils ~3.7 billion years ago to the present.

Physical, chemical and biological processes have worked together to make the surface of our planet what it is today. But how do these landscapes form and how and why do they change? You can find out by studying Geographical Science.

The first chemists were geochemists. Studying geochemistry will give you an understanding of the building blocks of our planet, from minerals to mountains and from our ever-changing environment to the formation of the solar system.

Did you know that the Earth behaves as one big magnet? Have you ever considered that the Earth’s resources are a consequence of the interaction between the deep mantle interior of the Earth and the movement of thin plates that form the skin of the Earth? These same plate movements are responsible for many of the natural disasters that affect modern society.

Ever wondered why we can make accurate weather forecasts? Do you want to know how a tornado works? What does the science really say about human-induced climate change?

Our students gain practical experience in our unique learning spaces, including our state-of-the art laboratories and a dedicated Earth Sciences Garden that has been tailed designed to enhance and accelerate the learning experience.

Throughout your studies with us, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a myriad of local, interstate and international fieldtrips with field-based units

After completing an undergraduate degree you may have further opportunities to become part of our vibrant research community and undertake an Honours project, Master’s degree or a PhD and in doing so will continue to be trained as an independent leader in your field of interest and speciality.

Your career network
We have our eye on your future and we work collaboratively with industry so our students develop an early link with real-world problems. EAE has links with employers including the Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne Water, Snowy Hydro, Hydro Tasmania, ESSO, Rio Tinto, Mount Isa Mines, MMG, AusIMM, Navarre Minerals, Agnew Gold, ANSTO, MTEC, Shell International, Geoscience Australia, Victorian Department of Land, Water and Planning, Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, and a number of Co-operative Research Centres.

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Areas of study

The School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment offers three major and minor sequences:

Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric Science is an interdisciplinary science that draws on the strengths of Environmental Science, Applied Mathematics and Physical Geography. It also applies concepts derived from Physics and Chemistry. Atmospheric Science explains how the weather and climate system works, from a gust of wind to global-scale climate change. Weather and climate are both critical to understanding the natural environment and how it is changing with human influence.

Earth Science
Earth Science is a broad discipline that addresses the major processes that have shaped our planet over deep geological time and continue to pose natural hazards to society, but also provide elements that we need to sustain a modern society. You will learn about geological processes (plate tectonics, basin formation, volcanology, earthquakes, and the formation of ore deposits); the Earth’s physical environment (such as rivers, groundwater, soils, and landscapes) and the interaction of physical systems with the biosphere; and/or the Earth’s climate and how we understand and predict natural and anthropogenic climate change.

Geographical Science
Geographical Science is the interdisciplinary study of understanding how natural and human processes affect our planet including soils, vegetation, water, landforms and climate throughout time. You will learn to analyse and synthesise complex environmental, economic, social and political information to enable a geographical understanding of humans, environments and the planet.

Environmental and climate units offered by EAE also form part of the Environmental Science extended major managed by the School of Biological Sciences.

Research project: EAE3000

Third year undergraduate students have the opportunity to take on a major research project, which will introduce you to current research in the Earth, Atmospheric or Environmental sciences.

Climate change: SCI1300

Students University-wide are encouraged to participate in our specialised climate change unit. Upon completion of this unit, students will be equipped with the essential scientific background to investigate what options humankind has to respond to the economic, ethical and political challenges of climate change, including global and national governance models required to mitigate and adapt to its effects