The Stone Pavilion is a small hexagonal stone building that houses a unique collection of stones from every U.S. state and a statewide assemblage of stones from all 169 Connecticut towns. It was originally dedicated in 1937 before falling into obscurity after the 1938 hurricane. It holds scientific, educational, and cultural significance, embodying the Geological […]

Lijing Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, led a study that examines how beaver ponds influence groundwater movement under varying subsurface structures. The work uses a combination of field data, geophysical surveys, and a neural density estimator to calibrate a hydrologic model of a mountainous alluvial floodplain in the Upper Colorado […]

Two UConn scholars, including Department of Earth Sciences Professor Robert Thorson, published an essay in the Atlantic on why Concord, Massachusetts is the source of many historically significant events. For instance, it is the site of the first armed resistance to British rule in April 1775 when local militia defeated British troops, an event later […]

Department of Earth Sciences PhD candidate, Joey Schnaubelt, led a new study quantifying the role of atmospheric rivers on Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance during the last interglacial. Atmosphere rivers are long, narrow bands that transport exceptional amounts of moisture and heat. They are known for causing extreme weather events. The last interglacial is […]

A new study led by Mojtaba Fakhraee, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, shows that the ocean can stabilize large carbon releases through a feedback mechanism involving iron sulfide (pyrite) formation under low oxygen (anoxic) conditions. This process preserves ocean alkalinity, buffers against acidification, and helps the Earth system recover from extreme […]

A team of scientists, including UConn professors Tracy Frank, Chris Fielding, and Michael Hren, studied how plants responded to the catastrophic climate changes of the End-Permian Extinction, the most severe ecological crisis in Earth’s history. By analyzing fossil plants and sedimentary rocks from Australia, they discovered that conifers were the first to recolonize the land, […]

New England’s stone walls hold historical, geological, and cultural significance. Professor Robert Thorson advocates for their systematic conservation. In a paper published in The Public Historian, he outlines a step-by-step approach using GIS and LiDAR technology to locate, map, and catalog these structures. His plan involves engaging communities, identifying property boundaries, classifying walls based on […]

UConn students traveled to Taiwan for a three-week Earth science field course, where they studied the country's unique geology and geohazards while engaging in cultural exchange. Led by Professor Tim Byrne, the program included fieldwork, lectures, and visits to sites like volcanoes and earthquake zones. Students collaborated with peers from National Taiwan University, broadening their […]

Traditional CO2 emission reduction methods appear insufficient to meet the climate change goal set by the Paris Agreement, highlighting the need to development of carbon capture solutions. A new study led by Dr. Mojtaba Fakhraee, an incoming assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, explores the potential of carbon capture from fish farms. The […]

After evaluating 183 U.S. institutions with degrees in geological and earth sciences, College Factual ranked UConn's Department of Earth Sciences 16th overall, with the master’s program ranked 9th, and the bachelor’s and doctoral programs ranked 19th. Additionally, the department was recognized as the leading university for geological and earth sciences degrees in New England. College […]