The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences achieves international excellence in teaching and research, building on the foundations of our subjects at Birmingham – geology in 1881 and geography in 1924. We welcome students and staff to a supportive interdisciplinary community of some 60 academic staff, 28 technical and support staff and 24 research staff.
Our interdisciplinary research spans three major themes - economy, society and development; earth and environmental systems; environmental health and risk management. Staff have active links with other Schools on campus and with research organisations worldwide. We support the University's Centre for Environmental Research and Training (CERT), which provides a particular focus for interdisciplinary environmental research.
We have a thriving postgraduate community, with around 90 research students and more than 150 following our acclaimed taught postgraduate programmes.
Our undergraduate teaching programmes reflect our research expertise, enabling students to benefit from the immediacy and excitement of hearing from staff actively involved in innovative, leading-edge research and in a collegial and stimulating environment. Our teaching has been ranked ‘excellent’ in the HEFCE quality review. Our graduates are successful and highly sought after by employers.
The School is located in the centre of the campus close to the University train station, a 10-minute journey to the heart of the City. Staff, students and visitors benefit from extensive map and archive facilities, an environmental library, fully digital drawing office, environmental chemistry, sedimentology, ecology, groundwater and palaeobiology laboratories all with state-of-the-art equipment, and specialist computer facilities. We are home to the nationally important Lapworth Museum of Geology.
Our success reflects the ability, energy and enthusiasm of everyone in the School.