The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) was formed in 2002 to consolidate the University of Adelaide’s research and teaching in earth and environmental science and the management of natural resources. It is one of five schools in the Faculty of Sciences.

There are three disciplines within the School: Soil & Land Systems (SLS) located on the Waite Campus, and the disciplines of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and Geology & Geophysics (G&G) located on the North Terrace Campus. The School has over 141 staff, 258 higher degree students, and 110 visitors and titleholders.

Disciplines

Discipline of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The Discipline of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is concerned with understanding, managing and conserving the natural systems of the Australian continent. Marine and coastal systems, natural and constructed wetlands, estuaries, woodlands and the arid zone are all covered. More than 100 staff and postgraduate students undertake research on the biology of plants and animals from taxonomic and systematic studies, to physiological and behavioural studies on individual organisms, to ecological studies on populations, communities and ecosystems. A suite of strategically placed field stations on islands, on coasts and inland promote field research.

Discipline of Geology and Geophysics

The Discipline of Geology and Geophysics teaches about and undertakes research into our planet, earth. We investigate the earth, from its surface, through its crust and to its deep mantle using outcropping rocks, boreholes and geophysical remote sensing. From cataclysmic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to imperceptibly slow surface weathering, we investigate the processes that have shaped our planet, its resources endowment and its environment throughout its 4.5 billion year history.

Soil and Land Systems Discipline

The Soil and Land Systems Discipline brings together a unique mix of expertise in the physics, chemistry, biology & hydrology of soils, and spatial information & analysis. Our research sets out to better understand the management of resources in natural and agro-ecosystems, aimed at environmental and agricultural sustainability and soil health.