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Welcome to the university of utah's

department of geology and geophysics

Welcome to the department of geology & geophysics

As Geoscientists, we apply the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to understand the composition, structure, and history of the Earth and the processes that govern it. Our students use this knowledge to address societal needs and problems, such as locating and characterizing mineral, energy, and groundwater resources, assessing seismic and other geologic hazards, and evaluating and remediating environmental contamination.

 


 

DEPARTMENT RESEARCH & NEWSView all news

Photo of Gabe Bowen

New Chair of Geology & Geophysics

Gabriel "Gabe" Bowen assumes the position of chair in the Department of Geology & Geophysics beginning July 1, 2025

A special thank you to Kip Solomon for serving as interim chair over the past year. 

Snowmelt's Journey From Mountains to Groundwater

Paul Brooks, a professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, tells us more about this study and our water’s trajectory. - KPCW's Cool Science Radio

New Monstersaur Honors Tolkien's Ruthless Goblin Prince: Meet Bolg

“Discovering a new species of lizard that is an ancestor of modern Gila monsters is pretty cool in and of itself, but what’s particularly exciting is what it tells us about the unique 76-million-year-old ecosystem it lived in,” said co-author Randy Irmis, associate professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah and curator of paleontology at NHMU.

Ryker Ray (left) and Hunter Hastings

One of the newest majors available for undergraduate students at the University of Utah is Earth & Environmental Science (EES).

The program fuses principles from atmospheric science, geology, and ecology to address key questions about the environment — including freshwater availability, the effects of extreme weather, and ecosystem resilience, among other topics.

 


 

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Students in the field
Last Updated: 6/24/25