UC Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences

09/09/2026

What can we learn about protecting water in an arid region?

UC Davis students are in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, as part of AguaEd: Water Stewardship Through Bilingual STEM Education, a partnership between CalTeach/MAST and Eco-Alianza de Loreto.

Now in its third edition, AguaEd brings UC Davis students into local middle school classrooms for hands-on, Spanish-language lessons focused on water conservation, hydrology, environmental health and scientific literacy. Students also take their learning into the field, exploring Loreto’s local geology under the guidance of Susann Pinter and Dr. Nicholas Pinter.

For Loreto students, the program connects science to the environment they know firsthand. For UC Davis students, it offers experience teaching science across borders while engaging with one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges: understanding and protecting freshwater resources.

Image descriptions:
1) A group of people posing beside a rock wall
2) A group of people climbing a large boulder, viewed from above
3) A group of people gathering beside a lake under a sunny sky
4) A group of people climbing over large boulders
5) A person posing beneath a large rock

09/08/2026

Meet our incoming Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate students!

Jade Wells, an incoming Ph.D. student, is excited to dive into new research questions.

"I'm originally from Arizona, but I spent several years growing up on Maui. Exploring tide pools and snorkeling in Hawai'i is where I first became captivated by marine life and the history of our planet, eventually leading me to pursue a B.S. in Earth and Space Sciences with a minor in Paleobiology at the University of Washington. As an undergraduate, I studied ancient microbial structures called stromatolites to better understand how early life is preserved in the rock record. Outside of research, I enjoy photography, hiking, and spending time outdoors, and I'm excited to explore California's coastline.

Our planet's history and the search for life beyond Earth have always fascinated me. UCD stood out because of its collaborative Earth and Planetary Sciences community and the opportunity to work with Dr. Kathleen Campbell and other faculty on projects that connect Earth's ancient environments with planetary exploration. The department's strengths in geobiology and its interdisciplinary approach make it an exciting place to pursue research at the intersection of Earth history and astrobiology.

I'm looking forward to diving into new research questions, getting involved in fieldwork, and learning from the incredible faculty and students in the department. Graduate school is such a unique opportunity to learn from people with different perspectives, and I'm excited to see where those collaborations lead."

Image descriptions:
1) A headshot of a young woman smiling in front of trees and text "Meet our incoming graduate student Jade Wells, Ph.D. student.
2) A blue tile image with a light blue airbrush and gold text "Why UCD Earth and Planetary Sciences?" and white text "Our planet's history and the search for life beyond Earth have always fascinated me. UCD stood out because of its collaborative Earth and Planetary Sciences community. The department's strengths in geobiology and its interdisciplinary approach make it an exciting place to pursue research at the intersection of Earth history and astrobiology."

09/03/2026

Meet our incoming Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate students! 🌎

Today, meet Sam Randall, an incoming Ph.D. student excited to build and run experiments, and put roots down in Davis.

"I just finished my M.S. in volcanology and geochemistry at Western Washington University, studying a ~6,700-year-old Mount Baker tephra deposit under Kristina Walowski. Before that I got my B.S. in Geoscience and Environmental Studies at Eckerd College, then worked at the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center. Outside the lab I love to cook, surf, snowboard, play volleyball, read sci-fi, and write indie-folk songs on guitar!

I'll be joining Jim Watkins's lab in experimental petrology, using a computer-controlled cold-seal rapid-quench pressure vessel to experimentally recreate oscillatory zoning in plagioclase, reproducing in the lab the compositional banding that natural crystals record as magma moves through the crust. UC Davis was the clear choice for the strength of its experimental facilities and the chance to work directly with Jim. I'm also very excited to explore all that the gorgeous nearby California landscape has to offer!

Getting hands on with experimental work after several years of mostly analytical and field-based research, along with building and running experiments myself instead of just characterizing natural samples. I'm also looking forward to putting down roots in Davis and building a life here alongside the science."

Image descriptions:
1) A man wearing a hat and backpack stands smiling above a canyon.
2) A blue tile with light blue airbrush and gold text "Why UCD Earth and Planetary Sciences?" and white text "“UC Davis was the clear choice for the strength of its experimental facilities and the chance to work directly with Jim Watkins. I'm also very excited to explore all that the gorgeous nearby California landscape has to offer!I'm looking forward to putting down roots in Davis and building a life here alongside the science.”

09/01/2026

Meet our incoming Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate students! 🌎

Today, meet Cindy Su, an incoming Ph.D. student excited to join the program and explore Caifornia.

"I have studied paleontology since my undergraduate years. My main research focus is the functional morphology of marine vertebrates, and in my free time, I enjoy photography, swimming, and Pokémon!

I chose the EPS department at UC Davis to learn from leading experts in paleontology and to collaborate with brilliant students from diverse scientific backgrounds.

As I start my graduate program, I am most excited to meet everyone, explore this new environment, and head out on field trips across California."

Image descriptions:
1) A woman in reading glasses stands in front of a red and white research poster showing various rocks.
2) A blue tile image with a light blue airbrush and gold text "Why UCD Earth and Planetary Sciences?" and white text "My main research focus is the functional morphology of marine vertebrates. In my free time, I enjoy photography, swimming, and Pokemon! I chose the EPS department at UC Davis to learn from leading experts in paleontology and to collaborate with brilliant students from diverse scientific backgrounds."

08/27/2026

Meet our incoming Earth and Planetary Sciences graduate students! 🌎

Today, meet Alicia Manzo, an incoming Ph.D. student with a passion for exploring the outdoors and understanding what happens beneath our feet.

"I’m a Californian through and through and have always loved spending time outdoors. Some of my passions include birding, hiking, and traveling. I’m always looking for new adventures and opportunities to learn more about the world around me.

My previous research focused on the connections between tectonics, magma storage, and magma transport. I’m interested in understanding how magma moves through the crust and how these processes influence volcanic systems. UCD was a great fit because of its strong petrology and geochemistry community and the opportunity to work with faculty whose research aligns closely with my interests.

I’m most looking forward to developing as a researcher and exploring new questions about magmatic systems. I’m also excited to become part of the EPS community, learn from people working across different areas of Earth and planetary science, and take advantage of the opportunities that come with being at UCD."

Image descriptions:
1) A woman in a blue windbreaker stands beside a river with a mountainous landscape in the background.
2) A blue tile with text "Why UCD Earth and Planetary Sciences? I'm interested in understanding how magma moves through the crust and how these processes influence volcanic systems. UC Davis was a great fit because of its strong petrology and geochemistry community and the opportunity to work with faculty whose research aligns closely with my interests."

08/14/2026

Dr. Goabaone Jackie Ramatlapeng, UC Davis Earth & Planetary Sciences alumna, is leading water chemistry research in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, monitoring water quality to better understand and protect the wetland.

As Botswana’s first female hydrogeochemist, Ramatlapeng studies water quality, climate change and the pressures shaping the delta’s long-term health and resilience. Her work also brings insights from Indigenous and local communities into conversations about how this vital resource can be protected for generations to come.

Growing up in Botswana, Ramatlapeng experienced water scarcity firsthand, contributing to her commitment to understanding and protecting the country’s water resources.

Read more about Ramatlapeng’s work protecting the Okavango Delta below.

Goabaone Jaqueline Ramatlapeng vividly remembers when she would go without water from domestic pipes for days. Growing up in Kopong, a small village in Botswana, Ramatlapeng, her family and those in surrounding villages faced a similar plight: water scarcity. And when the water did flow, it was salt...

08/11/2026

What does it look like to spend three weeks learning geology in the field? For students in UC Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences, the classroom this summer was Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Students put geologic field methods into practice, mapping complex bedrock geology, studying active faults and geomorphology, and developing geologic maps and cross sections - all while living and working together at base camp. The course took the group to places like Deer Creek and the North Fork Feather River, with plenty of time in between for shared meals, exploring the landscape and getting to know their fellow peers.

And when the day's work was done, there was time to gather around the picnic tables, share a meal and enjoy a summer evening.

A few scenes from three weeks of GEL 110A: Summer Field Geology!

Image descriptions:
1) A group of students sits together at picnic tables at a forested campsite, eating hot dogs and enjoying a meal together.
2) A clear, shallow river flows through a forested landscape, with large rocks along the riverbank and trees surrounding the water.
3) A group of students gathers outdoors at a picnic table surrounded by trees, enjoying an evening together at base camp.
4) A grassy meadow stretches toward a forested mountain range, with an old wooden fence in the foreground.
5) A shallow river flows between a mountain range surrounded by trees.

08/06/2026

What happens when ice melts thousands of miles away? The impacts can travel across the planet and affect climate.

A UC Davis study reveals that melting icebergs in the northeastern Pacific Ocean may have played a key role in weakening a massive ocean current system that helps regulate Earth’s climate - the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Chijun Sun, lead author Earth and Planetary Sciences assistant professor, and his colleagues used paleoclimate data and supercomputer simulations to show that Pacific meltwater could travel across the globe and disrupt the ocean “conveyor belt” that moves heat around the planet.

Read how Earth’s ancient climate holds clues for understanding future ocean change.

Melting and breaking icebergs in the far-off, northeastern region of the Pacific Ocean can weaken a massive current system in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a University of California, Davis study published in Nature Communications.

08/05/2026

Glacier-fed streams are changing, and scientists are working to understand what comes next.

This summer, Earth and Planetary Sciences Professor Nicholas Pinter spent two weeks in the Italian Alps alongside colleagues from Watershed Sciences, the University of Trento, the University of Canterbury, and graduate students as part of an NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) Advanced Studies Institute.

The team explored pro-glacial streams, or rivers fed directly by glaciers, to better understand how climate-driven glacier retreat is reshaping mountain watersheds. This collaboration is helping scientists tackle complex environmental challenges that no single discipline, or country, can solve alone.

Image descriptions:
1) A high-altitude landscape showing rugged mountain peaks, ice caps, and small streams flowing through a valley.
2) A stream flowing from an ice cap down a mountain.
3) A high-altitude landscape showing mountain peaks, ice caps, and a small stream flowing through a valley.
4) Three people measuring water levels in a stream fed, with snow-covered peaks and ice caps rising in the background.

08/05/2026

Want to know what the next "Big One" could look like in California?

Join us next Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. for a Conversation with Earth and Planetary Sciences Professor Mike Oskin. This Science Café is hosted by UC Davis Chemistry at Wunderbar.

Image description: Promotional flyer for a Science Café featuring UC Davis Professor Mike Oskin discussing California earthquakes and the next "Big One," with a photo of Oskin beside an earthquake fault rupture. The event takes place Wednesday, August 12, at 5:30 p.m. at G Street WunderBar in Davis.