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School of Earth Sciences

School of Earth Sciences

New dating techniques reveal Australia’s oldest known, intact, Aboriginal rock paintings - dating back 600 generations

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Earth scientists in action

We teach and research in the areas of climate science, meteorology and geoscience – including geology, geochemistry and geophysics. With a particular emphasis on sustainability and the environment, our research is interdisciplinary and diverse.

  • A small inflatable boat at sea, with two scientists aboard. Two other scientists are aboad a marine monitoring buoy next to the boat..

    Deploying a marine monitoring buoy

    Deploying a marine monitoring buoy
  • Groups of stdents and lecturers stand on a red rocky outcrop.

    Studying and exploring ore deposits

    Studying and exploring ore deposits
  • Aerial view of a rocky coastline, with a tall metal monitoring tower sited on a cliff.

    Cape Grim Air Pollution Baseline Station

    Cape Grim Air Pollution Baseline Station
  • A female scientist and a male Indigenous collaborator hold a small sheet of alumninium up to the top of a rock overhang.

    Sampling rock art to determine its age

    Sampling rock art to determine its age
  • Six male scientists in hard hats and high-vis vests stand in front of a tank and pipes with a sign saying

    Research on geological CO2 storage

    Research on geological CO2 storage
  • A group of nine people, some in army uniform, some in civilian clothes, stand in a Nepalese street

    Earthquake response in Nepal

    Earthquake response in Nepal
  • A male and a female scientist stand on a ship's deck, holding a large white balloon.

    Launching an air quality balloon

    Launching an air quality balloon
  • A female scientist in a high-vis vest lies on a rocky surface, next to a green pool of water, collecting water samples

    Sampling bacteria at hot springs

    Sampling bacteria at hot springs
  • Contact us

    General contacts and maps for the School of Earth Sciences.

  • Our research

    Our high-quality multidisciplinary research in the areas of climate science, meteorology and geoscience.

  • Dynamic Earth updates

    Live weather, seismic and electricity updates.

News from Earth Sciences

  • Australia's oldest known Aboriginal rock paintings

    New dating techniques reveal Australia’s oldest known, intact, Aboriginal rock paintings - dating back 600 generations

    25 Feb 2021 News
  • When the Earth's magnetic field flipped

    Research finds the first Australian-based record of a major global event where the Earth’s magnetic field ‘switched’ – and north became south.

    17 Feb 2021 News
  • Dr Linden Ashcroft awarded AMOS Science Outreach Award

    The 2020 AMOS Science Outreach Award has been awarded to Dr Linden Ashcroft of Melbourne University. She has used her expertise in historical and future climate change to educate the broader public, through dozens of TV, radio and newspaper interviews. This includes her extensive radio work with the Einstein A-go-go program on 3RRR where she has a semi-regular slot explaining and discussing recent STEM stories to the broader public.

    04 Dec 2020 News
  • What could Australia’s clean energy future look like?

    Amid the gloom, the COVID-19 crisis has created opportunities to accelerate existing and emerging technologies to make Australia a renewable energy superpower

    17 Jul 2020 News
  • When Central Australia slipped and trembled

    The 2016 magnitude 6.0 earthquake in the Petermann Ranges gives researchers key insights into how some faults may break in Australia to produce larger earthquakes

    05 Jun 2020 News
  • Innovation during crisis

    Mark Quigley, Associate Professor in Earth Sciences discusses how the impacts of the 2010-2012 Canterbury earthquakes have many parallels to the current COVID-19 crisis – both inspired innovative responses

    05 Jun 2020 News
  • Australia’s mountains are still growing

    Research using the age of caves shows the Eastern Highlands of Victoria have been steadily growing at a rate of 76 metres every million years, and are still going

    05 Jun 2020 News
  • Australia’s ancient geology controls the pathways of modern earthquakes

    New research near Uluru in Australia’s arid centre shows that rock structures formed deep within the ancient Gondwana supercontinent controlled the rupture pathways of one of Australia’s largest modern earthquakes.

    05 Jun 2020 News
  • The dual risks of natural disasters and COVID-19

    How would people and systems cope if a major earthquake or cyclone occurs while the COVID-19 pandemic continues? The answer is – preparation is key

    08 May 2020 Pursuit
  • Meteoritic mineral named in honour of David Wark

    Dr David Wark, a former research assistant and PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences, has had a newly discovered meteoritic mineral named after him.

    04 May 2020 News
  • Inaugural Kimberley Foundation Minderoo Chair of Archaeological Science announced

    Dr Rachel Popelka-Filcoff will lead the University of Melbourne’s Archaeological Science Group as the Kimberley Foundation Minderoo Chair in Archaeological Science.

    18 Mar 2020 News
  • Petex gives School of Earth Sciences access to cutting-edge geological modelling software

    Software with a commercial value of more than £1.525m (AUD$3.1m) has been given to the University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences, by engineering firm Petroleum Experts.

    09 Mar 2020 News
  • Victoria's volcanic history confirms the state's Aboriginal inhabitation before 34,000 years

    New techniques for dating volcanic eruptions, a lone axe and Indigenous oral traditions give us a new minimum age for human occupation in Victoria

    28 Feb 2020 Pursuit
  • When will Australia's drought break?

    For drought-busting rains, Australia might just have to wait for the tropical oceans to serve up some moisture, finds new research

    28 Feb 2020 Pursuit
  • Is Donald Trump anti-science? The data says yes

    An analysis of the words and actions of past and present US Presidents confirms Donald Trump’s hostility to science, and suggests it may hurt him politically

    21 Feb 2020 Pursuit
  • How fast the planet warms will be crucial for liveability

    A rapid rise in global temperatures would lead to more extremes, whereas a more gradual and stabilised rate of climate change would decrease the temperatures we would experience.

    17 Jan 2020 Pursuit
  • Iron and ice how life survived snowball earth

    Iron-rich rocks deposited by ancient glaciers tell a tale of evolving complex life forms, taking refuge in an oasis of oxygenated seawater

    17 Jan 2020 Pursuit
  • Explaining Melbourne's crazy but predictable weather

    Melbourne’s weather is renowned for its variability, but it is still predictable, explained partly by its position on a large hot continent close to the cold Southern Ocean

    16 Jan 2020 Pursuit
  • Why more clouds can mean less rain in Australia

    A giant, continent-sized cloud that dumps rain from Broome to Hobart has increased in frequency over the past 33 years, but its impact may not be what you expect.

    15 Jan 2020 Pursuit
  • Probing Earth's deep and ancient secrets

    A rock that is the source of most of the world’s diamond deposits is giving us insights into the Earth’s formation

    09 Oct 2019 Pursuit
  • Planting trees is no substitute for natural forests

    Allowing degraded natural forests to re-grow is a more effective, immediate and low-cost method for removing and storing atmospheric carbon than planting new trees

    17 Sep 2019 Pursuit
  • Climate is warming faster now than last 2000 years

    The speed of global warming has never been as fast as it is today, and is affecting the whole planet at the same time, for the first time in at least two millennia

    16 Sep 2019 Pursuit
  • Saving the secrets of the jars of Laos

    The mysterious Plain of Jars in Laos, which is giving archaeologists clues to an ancient civilisation, has just joined the list of UNESCO World Heritage protected sites

    16 Sep 2019 Pursuit
  • Marine geology methods unveil history of ancient Roman port

    The results of an international research project including researchers from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and ANSTO in Australia, and international collaborators in Canada and France, is published this month in Quaternary International. The team innovated by applying marine geology methods for the first time at a port archaeological site in Italy. McKenzie Fellow Agathe Lisé-Pronovost from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne led this project with geoarchaeologist Jean-Philippe Goiran from CNRS (France).

    17 Jun 2019 News
  • What the past can tell us about the future of climate change

    For several millennia during the Last Interglacial period, temperatures were higher than pre-industrial levels and that had an impact on our climate system. But with recent dire forecasts of global warming, what can the past tell us about the future of our climate?

    12 Jun 2019 News
  • University congratulates Australian Academy of Science Fellows

    Professors Kerry Landman, David Balding and David Karoly are among six new fellows elected from the University of Melbourne

    28 May 2019 News
  • A day in the life of a sedimentologist with Jin-Sol Lee

    Jin-Sol Lee is a University of Melbourne student who ventured on the CAPSTAN Voyage. Read his blog about conducting soil samples and the daily life of a sedimentologist.

    16 May 2019 News
  • Kimberley Reid: rivers in the sky

    Kimberley is a PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences. Read about her research in atmospheric rivers and her goals for future study.

    16 May 2019 News
  • Ewan Short: studies in land-sea breeze

    After studying the physics of fluid flow in his honours year, Ewan resolved to study atmospheric science at a graduate level. Read about his research and experiences as a graduate student.

    16 May 2019 News
  • Welcome to CAPSTAN Voyage 2

    Maddie Brown in a University of Melbourne student currently on the RV Investigator for the CAPSTAN Voyage 2. Read her blog about the experience.

    06 May 2019 News
  • Petex gives School of Earth Sciences access to cutting-edge geological modelling software

    Software with a commercial value of more than £1.308m (AUD$2.4m) has been given to the University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences, by engineering firm Petroleum Experts.

    24 Oct 2018 News
  • Scientific drilling of lake sediments at Darwin Crater in Tasmania

    Fieldwork was completed on April 16-25 th 2018 at Darwin Crater, a 1.2 km diameter and 800,000-year-old meteorite impact crater in western Tasmania. The drilling team included two drillers, two PhD students, and two scientists from the University of Melbourne (Dr Michael Fletcher and Dr Agathe Lisé-Pronovost).

    01 Jun 2018 News
  • David Karoly - Reflections on a decade of climate research

    On 14 February 2018 Professor David Karoly gave a talk to friends and colleagues about his ten year tenure as Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

    07 Mar 2018 News
  • Key greenhouse gases higher than any time over last 800,000 years
    02 Jun 2017 Pursuit
  • McCoy Building celebrates 40 years
    23 May 2017 News
  • PhD student Catherine Wheller presents on Scope
    20 Mar 2017 News
  • PhD opportunities in speleothem palaeoclimate studies
    25 Nov 2016 News
  • Hidden stories in Madagascar
    07 Oct 2016 Pursuit

Banner photo: Earth scientists exploring and sampling in a cave to unravel paleoenvironmental change.

In Earth Sciences our teaching is focused on the geosciences (geology, geochemistry, geophysics), meteorology, and climate science.

Learn more about our courses:

  • Bachelor of Science (Geology)
  • Bachelor of Science (Climate and Weather)
  • Master of Science (Earth Sciences)
  • Master of Geoscience
  • Our courses

    Explore our programs and become a leader at the forefront of studying the Earth and its changing climate.

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  • Careers in earth science

    Get ideas about your future career and possible employers, read in-depth careers snapshots, and hear from our alumni.

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  • Awards, prizes & scholarships

    Scholarships on offer are some of the most generous and comprehensive in Australia.

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  • Field trips

    Field trips are an important part of undergraduate and graduate study within Earth Sciences courses.

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Master of Science (Earth Sciences)

For students commencing the Master of Science (Earth Sciences) in 2021, the list of potential research projects is now available.

View projects


Shows a day in the life of the School, with snapshots of some of the fascinating research happening in the fields of geology and climate science.

Student societies: Engage with us

A group of students smiling, sitting and stnading over a laptop

Join the Earth Science Students Society (ESSS), and Earth Science Postgraduate Group (ESPG) - new students welcome!

The School of Earth Sciences conducts high-quality multidisciplinary research in the scientific areas of climate science, meteorology and geoscience, with particular emphasis on sustainability and the environment.

  • Research themes

    Read about the broad range of research conducted in the School of Earth Science.

    Read more
  • Research centres

    The School participates in several research institutes, centres and organisations, which facilitate inter-disciplinary research and education.

    Read more
  • Industry collaboration

    We work with a large number of companies in support of collaborative research, student projects and community engagement.

    Read more

Find profiles and contact details for staff in the School of Earth Sciences.

  • Academic staff

    Research and teaching staff in the School of Earth Sciences.

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  • Honorary staff

    Research and teaching staff in the School of Earth Sciences.

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  • Professional staff

    Administration, technical, and support staff in the School of Earth Sciences.

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The School of Earth Sciences is committed to community engagement and education within our discipline areas of Climate, Weather and Geological Sciences.

Our academic staff and students regularly take part in community and media forums and we have an active program of engagement with high schools in the Melbourne region. In particular, we provide information and presentations to high schools on a range of topics including studying Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne and more topical scientific issues such as climate change science, volcanoes in Victoria, and rocks and minerals of Victoria.

Our researchers lead a citizen science volunteer program known as SEARCH - South Eastern Australian Recent Climate History - if you are keen to help, please visit the SEARCH website.

For more information or to arrange presentations to your high school or community organisation, please contact:
Katrina Sewell
Phone: +61 3 8344 9866
Email: katrina.sewell@unimelb.edu.au

  • Alumni

    Keep in touch with the School of Earth Sciences and fellow alumni.

  • Dynamic Earth Updates

    View live weather and seismic updates from instruments located in the School of Earth Sciences.

  • Facilities and equipment

    The School uses a range of resources – from chemistry labs to cyclone trackers.

  • Image gallery

    The study of Earth Sciences takes researchers to beautiful places in the world.

  • Theses

    The School maintains a collection of theses (Honours, Masters, PhD) completed before 2010. Contact the Assistant to the Head of Department for loans.

  • Support Earth Sciences

    We gratefully acknowledge and thank the benefactors partnering with us to advance research and scholarship of the highest level.

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The School of Earth Sciences is dedicated to high quality research and teaching in the disciplines of Climate, Weather and Geological Sciences.

The School of Earth Sciences was formally established in 1990, following the amalgamation of the Department of Geology (1900) and the Department of Meteorology (1937). Since its inception, the School has gained a national and international reputation for innovative research and teaching in the inter-disciplinary fields of Geological Sciences and the Climate and Weather Sciences. The School offers a wide range of undergraduate Science and Breadth subjects across these discipline areas, as well as several postgraduate degrees.

The School is one of seven within the Faculty of Science and comprises approximately 11 teaching & research staff, 33 research-only staff, 40 postgraduate students and 20 associates supported by 10 professional staff. Among the research-only staff the School hosts 2 ARC Australian Professorial Fellows, 1 ARC QEII Fellow, 2 ARC Research Fellows, 1 ARC Future Fellow, 3 Australian Postdoctoral Fellows, 3 ARC Discovery Early Career Researchers and 1 McKenzie Fellow.

Located just north of the Melbourne downtown central business district, the School forms part of the vibrant Parkville campus environment and represents an exciting learning environment, as is evident from our international ranking indicators.

  • Welcome

    A message from Professor David Phillips.

    More information
  • History

    A brief history of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

    More information
  • Contact

    Location and contact information for the School of Earth Sciences.

    More information
  • Science Facebook
  • Science Twitter
  • Science YouTube
  • Contact us
  • Staff Intranet

Support Earth Sciences

School of Earth Sciences

  • News and Events
  • Research
    • Research centres
      • Thermochronology and Noble Gas Geochronology and Geochemistry Organisation
    • Industry collaboration
    • Research themes
      • History of life and environments
      • Environmental geochemistry
      • Economic geology
      • Geomicrobiology
      • Geophysics
      • Isotope geochemistry
      • Noble gas geochronology
      • Palaeoclimatology
      • Tectonics, geodynamics & geohazards
      • Theoretical petrology
      • Thermochronology and Continental Tectonics
      • Atmospheric Composition
      • Climate Change & Variability
      • Meteorology and cloud processes
      • Tropical meteorology & climate
      • Computational Geodynamics
      • Archaeological Science
      • Data Assimilation, Ensemble Forecasting, Renewable Energy
      • Computational and Applied Petrology
  • Study
    • Courses
    • Awards, prizes and scholarships
    • Field trips
      • GEOL20001 - Geology of Southeast Australia
      • GEOL20003 - Minerals and Magmas
      • GEOL20004 - Field Mapping and Sedimentary Geology
    • Master of Science projects in earth sciences
    • Careers in earth sciences
  • Engage
    • Alumni
    • Dynamic Earth Updates
      • The McCoy Building Weather Station
      • Seismic Monitoring
      • Electricity Demand
      • Greenhouse Gas Factsheets
    • Theses
    • Image gallery
    • Support Earth Sciences
    • Facilities and equipment
      • AIRBOX
      • Cyclone Tracker
      • Melbourne TrACEES Platform
  • News
    • When the Earth's magnetic field flipped
    • The dual risks of natural disasters and COVID-19
    • PhD student Catherine Wheller presents on Scope
    • Hidden stories in Madagascar
    • Key greenhouse gases higher than any time over last 800,000 years
    • Welcome to CAPSTAN Voyage 2
    • A day in the life of a sedimentologist with Jin-Sol Lee
    • University congratulates Australian Academy of Science Fellows
    • What the past can tell us about the future of climate change
    • Saving the secrets of the jars of Laos
    • Climate is warming faster now than last 2000 years
    • Planting trees is no substitute for natural forests
    • Probing Earth's deep and ancient secrets
    • Why more clouds can mean less rain in Australia
    • Explaining Melbourne's crazy but predictable weather
    • Iron and ice how life survived snowball earth
    • How fast the planet warms will be crucial for liveability
    • Is Donald Trump anti-science? The data says yes
    • When will Australia's drought break?
    • Victoria's volcanic history confirms the state's Aboriginal inhabitation before 34,000 years
    • Inaugural Kimberley Foundation Minderoo Chair of Archaeological Science announced
    • Australia’s ancient geology controls the pathways of modern earthquakes
    • Australia’s mountains are still growing
    • Innovation during crisis
    • When Central Australia slipped and trembled
    • What could Australia’s clean energy future look like?
    • Australia's oldest known Aboriginal rock paintings
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Contact
    • Welcome
  • People
    • Academic staff
    • Honorary staff
    • Professional staff
  • Current Students
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