Research
The Department's research is mainly grouped under three interlinked thematic research programmes: Isotope Geochemistry and Earth Systems, Volcano Dynamics and Environmental Change in Earth History. Earth systems science continues to be our main research focus, as well as forging stronger links across CEPSAR in the areas of environmental change (past, present and future), climate and ocean modelling (including planetary systems) natural hazards, planetary geosciences, and planetary materials and processes.
Earth and Environmental Sciences has an excellent range of laboratory facilities including gas and solid source mass spectrometry, electron microprobe, XRF, ion and gas chromatography and controlled environment units, . This complements the development of facilities in PSSRI. Earth Sciences has world leading expertise in noble gas mass spectrometry.
Recent investment includes the completion in 2006 of new combined facilities for ecosystems and geobiology research housing staff and postgraduate students, mainly from Earth Sciences, but also from PSSRI, Biological Sciences and Technology who share research interests and is located adjacent to the main Earth Science Building.
Teaching
Just over 2000 students are registered on the current Geoscience programme. Courses supported by Earth Sciences include traditional geology courses, as well as courses looking at the Earth's systems, and also planetary and environmental science courses. They range from short 10 point courses (about 100 hours of study) to longer 60 points (c. 600 hours of study time).
Students can take courses on a one-off basis or put them together for a named award (Diploma in Geosciences; BSc Geosciences, or BSc Natural Sciences) or 'pick and mix' for a BSc/BA Open. The Open University's style of teaching 'supported open learning' (better known as 'distance learning') means that students study in their own time at home and most have full-time jobs. They are expected to study course materials, carry out activities and write assignments. They are supported by a tutor and we have a network of part-time Earth Science Associate Lecturers based throughout the UK. There are no academic entry requirements to study our undergraduate courses. We do not offer any taught postgraduate courses although there is a taught MSc in Science, but we plan to be able to introduce a geoscience MSc in the future.
General
The Department was established in 1969 and the founding professor was the late Professor Ian Gass FRS. The Department comprises about 65 staff and 25 full-time PhD students. There is a large and very active undergraduate student society, Open University Geological Society (OUGS). They have >2000 members, run more than 150 field trips/events every year, as well as an annual 2-day conference and publish both a journal and national newsletter.
