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Department of Earth and Space Sciences:
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The mission of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) is to further the understanding of Earth, the solar system, and their histories. The department's scope extends from the center of Earth to the rim of the solar system, and its activities cut across traditional disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and mathematics. Our faculty, students, and staff examine Earth's interior structure, chemistry, motion, and dynamics; geologic hazards; processes affecting the surface environment; the surrounding space environment; planetary processes; and geobiology.
Graduate work in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington is an unusually comprehensive program of instruction and research, including the traditional fields of geology and geophysics, along with newer rapidly-evolving specialties. Much research in the department represents a blend of field studies with theoretical and quantitative approaches. While the department enjoys the usual library, computer, media and analytical facilities offered by a major research-oriented university, ESS also benefits by being part of a large earth sciences community that includes the Atmospheric Sciences Department, the Burke Museum (paleontology), the School of Oceanography, the Global and Environmental Chemistry Program (GEC), the Quaternary Research Center (QRC), and the Volcano Systems Center (VSC).
Graduate students, who typically number 50-60, arrange programs of study tailored to their individual professional goals within a broad spectrum of career opportunities. Since 1982, 44% of the Ph.D. graduates in geological sciences have university and college tenure-track appointments. Of the remainder, 24% work in federal, industry or academic research laboratories, and 13% are involved in industry and government consulting. Postdoctoral positions are held by 11%. Students entering with a Bachelor's degree may work first toward an M.S and then a Ph.D., or they may work directly toward the Ph.D. degeree. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for the M.S. degree. Students must pass a Qualifying Examination before entering the Ph.D. program, and then must pass a General Examination to be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy."
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Volcano Systems Center:
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"The University of Washington established the Volcano Systems Center (VSC) to link volcano-related activities of Geological Sciences, Geophysics, Oceanography, the U.S. Geological Survey, and a number of other departments and schools on campus. Many intrinsically interdisciplinary volcanic processes and problems are not studied effectively by traditional research efforts; a major intellectual benefit of the VSC is the interplay among the wide-ranging disciplines involved in the study of volcanic systems. Emphasis throughout is on understanding volcanic processes -- as a foundation for various practical applications.
Magma-chamber evolution and hydrothermal circulation are so closely linked that major progress in understanding either will require successful models to predict the behavior of the other. Recently discovered chemosynthetic and thermophilic bacteria live in intimate association with both submarine and land-based hydrothermal systems. We are now integrating studies of the physical, chemical, and biological interactions within these volcanic ecosystems. Volcano-related active geothermal systems form modern analogues to those responsible for formation of ancient ore deposits. These systems are now being studied by the same group of investigators.
Defining hazard potential and developing viable recovery strategies are components with the most immediate societal impact in a comprehensive volcano research effort. VSC scientists conduct research that will be useful to the USGS as it forecasts eruptions, and to engineers and community leaders as the search for the best ways to cope with volcanic threats. Scientists of the Volcano Systems Center are also active in study of the roles of volcanic systems in planetary evolution."
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