UMD Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

UMD Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences The official page of the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD and Ph.D.

A Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences with an undergraduate major was established at the university in 1973 with 5.5 full-time equivalent faculty, following c. 20 years during which Geology courses had been offered on Campus. Programs for the M.S. degrees started in 1982, by which time the Department comprised ~ 10.5 full-time equivalent faculty. There are currently app

roximately 18 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, 58 professional-track faculty members, five staff members, 79 undergraduate and graduate students, average research funding of more than $4 million annually and the support of 10 philanthropic funds. The Department contributes to the University Honors Program, provides leadership of the College Park Scholars Program in Science and Global Change, and sponsors the Earth Surface Processes Specialization within the campus-wide Environmental Science and Policy Program. The Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences encourages interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the Earth and participates in the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC). This Center has been formed through collaboration between the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to carry out preeminent research and teaching programs in Earth System Science. The Department is part of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

We pleased to announce that Professor Sarah Penniston-Dorland has been named Chair of the Department of Geological, Envi...
06/03/2026

We pleased to announce that Professor Sarah Penniston-Dorland has been named Chair of the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, effective July 1, 2026.

Sarah has been with the department since joining as a lecturer in 2004 and was promoted to professor in 2020. Between 2017 and 2022 she served as the department's director of graduate studies.

She is taking over from Professor James Farquhar who has served as chair for the past five years, overseeing our 50th anniversary celebration as well as the change to our new name to better reflect the many areas of study by our faculty and students.

You can read the full announcement here: https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/sarah-penniston-dorland-chair-geological-environmental-planetary-sciences

PhD Student Elizabeth Huang recently competed in the final round of the university-wide Three Minute Thesis (3MT) compet...
05/15/2026

PhD Student Elizabeth Huang recently competed in the final round of the university-wide Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Elizabeth was one of only 20 3MT Finalists across every college, representing CMNS with her presentation entitled A Tapestry of Stone.

2026 3MT Competition at the University of Maryland

Maryland Day was a big success this year! Check out the photo album to see the fun the visitors had at our events.
04/27/2026

Maryland Day was a big success this year! Check out the photo album to see the fun the visitors had at our events.

Jay Kaufman is the recipient of the 2026 the Francis J. Pettijohn Medal for Sedimentology, awarded by the Society for Se...
03/18/2026

Jay Kaufman is the recipient of the 2026 the Francis J. Pettijohn Medal for Sedimentology, awarded by the Society for Sedimentary Geology. Jay has been recognized for his "Excellence in Sedimentology." The award ceremony is planned for the 2026 GSA Connects in Denver, October 19-22.

is your chance to support and uplift ! Even small gifts can have a huge impact. Learn how you can give back to our de...
03/04/2026

is your chance to support and uplift !

Even small gifts can have a huge impact. Learn how you can give back to our department programs and support geology students:

I’m ready to support College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences on March 8, 2023 during Giving Day . Learn more about College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and all the other areas participating in Giving Day .

Sujay Kaushal was named as the Goldschmidt Conference F. Earl Ingersol Lecturer (a 30 minute keynote presentation) for t...
03/04/2026

Sujay Kaushal was named as the Goldschmidt Conference F. Earl Ingersol Lecturer (a 30 minute keynote presentation) for the upcoming meeting in Montreal (12-17 July 2026).

F. Earl Ingerson was a founder and the first president of the Geochemical Society. He also helped establish Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta and served on its first editorial board. The Ingerson Lecture is named in his honor, and is awarded annually.

02/18/2026

As D.C.’s snow and ice finally melt, rising sodium levels from road salt are fueling a growing water‑quality threat. Scientists warn that decades of heavy salt use are driving harmful salinization in local rivers and streams, endangering aquatic life and long‑term ecosystem health.

10/06/2025

Part 11

10/06/2025

Part 10

Address

8000 Regents Drive
College Park, MD
20742

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UMD Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to UMD Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences:

Shortcuts

Share

Category