School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews

20/10/2026

🌍 Research in the spotlight!

Earlier this month, PhD student Joseph Benson attended the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he presented his research on Li-Sn-Ta pegmatite mineralisation in Namibia

Joseph's research combines fieldwork, geochronology and geochemistry to better understand the evolution of the pegmatite swarm around Uis.

The conference also included a field trip exploring the copper skarns associated with Utah's Alta Stock. ⛏️

👏 Great to see our PhD research being shared on the international stage!

15/10/2026

🔬 We're hiring! Research Technician – Geochemistry Laboratories

The School of Earth & Environmental Sciences is looking for a Research Technician to support our analytical facilities and exciting research in Earth and environmental sciences.

📅 Deadline: 10 November 2026

🔗 Find out more and apply:
https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/6010/0/475769/889/research-technician-tg1321

Please share with anyone who might be interested!

05/10/2026

📻 St Andrews earth science on BBC Radio Scotland! 🪨🌍

One of our PhD students Grace Nielson was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s The Sunday Show yesterday!

Catch her a few minutes before the end of the programme, bigging up Scottish geology and St Andrews — and expertly putting the interviewer in his place when he suggests that science is basically just guesswork… 👏😂

Well worth a listen!

🎧

News, discussion and interviews from politics and beyond.

28/09/2026

🪨 The Accidental Geologist ⛏️
A lovely feature from St Andrews Alumni on our Dr Catherine Rose, reflecting on how she discovered Earth Sciences as a student at St Andrews and the journey that eventually brought her back.
🌍 Read the full story: https://alumni.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2026/09/07/the-accidental-geologist/

24/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr Nicky Allison, who has been awarded funding through the NERC Pushing the Frontiers scheme for her project, “The impact of amorphous calcium carbonate precursor phases on CaCO₃ palaeoproxies.”

The project brings together researchers across Earth, biological and chemical sciences from the Universities of St Andrews, Edinburgh and Sydney, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. It will also support a 3.5-year postdoctoral research fellow.

Fantastic news — congratulations, Nicky! 👏

22/09/2026

🌍 Can Humanity Flourish in a Warming World?

Join Professor James Rae from the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences for a James Gregory Public Lecture exploring solutions and reasons for hope in tackling the climate and energy crises.

📅 Monday 28 September, 5:15pm
📍 Booth Lecture Theatre, Medical Sciences Building
🎟️ Free admission

All welcome!

21/09/2026

Our Honours and MSc students have been out in the field on the Highland Bling ✨💎, exploring the rocks and minerals on the Aberdeenshire coast.

They’ve been treated to some nice September sunshine — although with plenty of wind to remind them they’re still doing fieldwork in Scotland! ☀️💨⛰️

18/09/2026

Applications for Geology Field Camp in Scotland 2027, running from June 6th to July 10th 2027, are now OPEN! ⛰️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Explore Scotland’s spectacular landscapes, while building your geological fieldwork skills and gaining experience that will stay with you long after the end of the camp.

Spaces are limited and fill fast, so get your applications in early! ✨

Find out more and apply here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/earth-sciences/geology-field-camp/
Any questions? You can email us at [email protected] or contact us via our socials!

14/09/2026

🌍🪨 Welcome back to SEES! 🌱🌋

A huge welcome back to all our students — and an especially warm welcome to everyone joining us for the first time! 👋

Today is the first day of teaching and we’re excited to kick off a new academic year filled with fieldwork, labs, maps, mountains and, inevitably, some Scottish weather. 🥾🗺️🌧️

Have a great first week and a fantastic semester! 💚🌍

08/09/2026

🏔️ Back from the Alps! 🇮🇹🇨🇭

Our 4th-year BSc and MGeol students have just returned from our iconic Alps field trip! 🪨⛺

Two weeks of camping across Italy and Switzerland, following a spectacular transect through the Alpine orogen and exploring the minerals, rocks, and structures that tell the story of mountain building. 🔨🧭🏔️

A few highlights from an unforgettable two weeks in the field! 📸