Earth Sciences Research at UB

Research participants in SE Alaska.

UB Professors Jason Briner and Elizabeth Thomas, and graduate students Karlee Prince and Caleb Walcott (left to right) in SE Alaska.

Our dedicated faculty are engaged in high-level research across all areas of earth sciences, advancing scientific understanding of Earth processes and tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Key research areas:

  • Climate Change
    4/14/26
    Studying glaciology, polar geophysics, and past climate systems to better understand future impacts.
  • Geohazards, Volcanoes and Geodynamics
    4/14/26
    Exploring volcanic systems, plate tectonics, and geohazards to mitigate risks and inform policy.
  • Water and the Environment
    4/14/26
    Investigating hydrology, watershed dynamics, and environmental geology through fieldwork and computational analysis.
  • Computational Geosciences
    4/14/26
    Utilizing cutting-edge modeling and data analysis to unlock insights into volcanology, climate, sea-level rise, and more.
  • Research Labs
    4/14/26
    The department offers state-of-the-art facilities to support research projects that advance the knowledge of the field.
  • Center for GeoHazards Studies
    2/6/25
    The Center for Geological and Climate Hazards supports research and training that improves our understanding and mitigates the consequences of natural hazards. Hazards of interest are mainly those with relatively rapid onsets, such as volcanic eruptions, geological mass flows, floods, and earthquakes; hazards that are exacerbated by climate change are also of interest (For example, strengthening storm surges). We seek to maximize interdisciplinary contributions including geosciences, engineering, social sciences, communications, and others. ​