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Dept of Earth Sciences (DES)

Organisation profile

About

The Department of Earth Sciences (or DES) is one of four academic departments in the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University.

The Earth Sciences contribute to answers on a wide range of societal and economic questions in areas such as:

  • the natural means of existence (water, raw materials, the energy transition),
  • the terrestrial environment (influenced by the changing climate, but , e.g., also searching for new methods to remediate pollutions),
  • natural hazards and disasters (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods),
  • and the safe, responsible and sustainable use of terrestrial space (specifically near surface and underground space).

It is our mission to advance our understanding and prediction capability of processes that govern the evolution of System Earth. This system is Earth’s structure, together with the internal workings and surface processes, that determine its evolution and current dynamic state. Our scientists study the Earth, and other planets, on scales from the molecular to the planetary scale; from the microsecond to the geological time scale; and from its birth about 4500 million years ago to the present-day, including the origin and evolution of life. We strive to understand the processes that give rise to its immense riches of life and natural resources.

We honour James Hutton’s early insight that "from what has actually been, we have data for concluding with regard to that which is to happen thereafter".

The Geological Society of London demonstrated in an educational poster how the Earth Sciences contributes to all UN Sustainable Development Goals. The work done at DES is primarily of interest for the SGDs shown below. 

 

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  2. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  3. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  4. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  5. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  6. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  7. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

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View all 271 people
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