Earth & Environmental Sciences

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (E&ES) at Wesleyan University covers many aspects of the natural world, on Earth and on other planets.  Our investigations range from active volcanoes to climate change and eco-conservation to the fate of water on Mars and the Moon.  Our students perform cutting edge research in our own backyard and around the world.  Our graduates enter jobs in Earth and environmental industries, the non-profit sector and academia. 

 

Spotlight

Stearns Lecture

Stearns Lecture: Crazy Weather, Kooky Climate, and Carbon Dioxide: What is Going On?

Presented by: Maureen Raymo of Columbia University

Thursday, October 15, 7:00pm

Casper Life Sciences Building A102

Student Awarded Udall Scholarship

Jesse Chang-Frieden '27 was awarded the Udall Scholarship, which is awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in leadership and service seeking careers in environmental policy or Native American affairs. This is the first time since 1992 that it was awarded to a Wesleyan student.

Jesse Chang Frieden '26 Wins First and Third Place at NASA ECOSTRESS Hackathon

Jesse Chang Frieden (E&ES/ENVS, '26) just won first AND third place at the NASA ECOSTRESS Hackathon. Jesse and Professor Poulos gave presentations on their research in September at the ECOSTRESS Science and Application Team Meeting. In addition to his participation in the hackathon--make an image in an afternoon session, Jesse presented on his summer internship that showed significant increases in bacteria after high-severity fire in coastal watersheds of the Palisades Fire in LA.

 

Image of Kilauea Volcano from HackathonJesse Chang Frieden '26

Team photo

Ellen Thomas has won the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge

Ellen Thomas has won the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the climate change category. This is an extraordinary international award that was established in 2008 to acknowledge significant contributions in the areas of scientific research and cultural creation. The recipients in the Climate Change category, in which Ellen is now a recipient, Reads like who’s who in climate research.

A film crew visited campus to interview Ellen Thomas, please open the link to the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bQdF_j9pHY

Recent Grants Awarded

Helen Poulos was awarded a Faculty Research Grant from the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Program.  Her research proposal, "Springpulse: Modeling Groundwater Discharge in Large Texas Springs Using Field Data, Remote Sensing, and Machine Learning"  can be found here.

Graduate student, Mary Clare Greenlees, also received a travel award grant to travel to the 55th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Her proposal can be found here.

From Our Department

See all EES News

Events

Stearns Lecture: Crazy Weather, Kooky Climate, and Carbon Dioxide: What is Going On?

October 15, 7:00pm

Casper Life Sciences Building A102

 

Listen or read a transcript of Marty Gilmore's interview on NPR "Earth may seem like a one-of-a-kind planet, but it actually has a twin"

E&ES Jobs

... are important

... pay well

... are in high demand

Related Sites

College of the Environment

Planetary Science

College of Integrative Sciences

GIS Resources on Campus

Inclusion in STEM