Academic expertise. Research prowess. Student success.

There’s a whole world of discovery in the ground beneath your feet. From the shifting of tectonic plates to the eruption of volcanoes, learn about the Earth and all of the natural processes that have shaped it over time.

Department faculty, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students pursue field, laboratory, experimental, and modeling studies of geological and environmental problems around the world. The department's excellent facilities and technical personnel support a range of methods and the department's ideal location also provides ready access to the many natural laboratories of Nevada, California and the western United States. Research specialties include Earth and planetary surface processes, geodynamics, volcanology, geochemistry, petrology, earthquakes and seismology, mineral and energy resources, hydrology and hydrogeology.

Recent news from the Department

Five students smile in front of a research poster.

Undergraduate students prepare fossils found during class field trip

Alumnus and department chair provide unique opportunity to prepare fossils as part of paleobiology course

Side-by-side before and after satellite imagery shows a far more pronounced riverbank on the right in a green, mountainous region. An image of a resort buried at least one story in rubble is superimposed on the image.

Researchers call for increased collaboration around domino effect of natural hazards

Early identification of risks can mitigate future harm

A group photo of the Nevada Seismo Lab outside the Reno Ice rink.

Outreach at the ice rink

Nevada Seismological Laboratory visits the Reno Ice Raiders