Our Mission
Who We Are
We are environmental scientists who study how the Earth works as a planet, what its history has been, and how this knowledge can benefit society. The mission of the Department of Earth Sciences is to advance research and prepare the next generation of scientific leaders and global citizens to solve the grand challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, geological hazards, finding water and other natural resources, and environmental degradation. We promote scientific research and public engagement that advances understanding of Earth system processes.
Earth Sciences at UConn
The main campus of the University of Connecticut is located in the rural, forested, and rolling highlands of Mansfield, Connecticut. Regional campuses are located on the state's saltwater shore at Avery Point and Stamford, in its central capitol city of Hartford, and in its western interior at Waterbury.
The story of earth science at UConn began in 1698 when an English farmer named Samuel Storrs chose this place for its rich glacial soil. His descendants donated the land to found as a state agricultural school in 1884. It became the state's flagship university in 1939 with a commitment to basic and applied science and the liberal arts. These efforts were re-focused and strengthened in July 2019 with the creation of its new Department of Earth Science, a.k.a. Earth and Environmental Science, a.k.a. Earth System Science. Located within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, we provide undergraduate and graduate education, career training, scientific research, and service to the state, nation, and world on behalf of the University.