Earth Sciences

Modern Earth and Planetary Sciences relate diverse phenomena including climate change, volcanoes, sea-floor spreading, evolution, mountain-building and the location of natural resources. Earth scientists also play a central role in studies of environmental problems such as heavy metal contamination, the storage of nuclear waste and the mobility and availability of ground water. The study of these fields involves the use of apparatus ranging from satellites and mass spectrometers to high speed computers, synchrotrons and electron microscopes. Thus, although students' interests in geology may have been kindled by a love of the mountains, or by collecting minerals or fossils, as a modern earth scientist they are also likely to be someone with an excellent background in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Worcester is fortunate to have a special travel fund (the Oppenheimer Fund) to assist geology undergraduates who wish to carry out additional field studies in this country or abroad, perhaps as field assistants for research students or members of staff. The College also has a very well equipped undergraduate library, including a complete set of geological maps.