About the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

We are a community of scholars, professional staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as donors, alumni, collaborators and anyone who loves to learn about Earth.

Celia McMichael
Professor Celia McMichael

Head of School's Welcome

Our purpose is to benefit society through outstanding education, research and engagement in geography, geoscience, atmospheric science, and allied multidisciplinary areas, including climate change, environmental studies and archaeological science.

Our School is one of the leading schools of its kind in Australia. It has an international reputation for its research excellence, undergraduate courses, and challenging and rewarding postgraduate experience.

Our work takes all around the world – from our labs to some of the most remote and inaccessible places on Earth. We value the pursuit of fundamental and applied knowledge, respecting the strength of individual disciplines while working together to solve local and global challenges.

We share our knowledge and its impact with the broader community. We put the wellbeing of our staff and students first, and we are a collective that supports equitable and transparent decision-making.

In learning about the world, we practise ethical and culturally aware teaching and research that honours Indigenous knowledge and rights.

With six multidisciplinary research themes and membership of 14 research centres our School community is broad but united by these values. They underpin our research, teaching, and engagement, and how we support and develop our staff and students and equip them for meaningful careers.

They sit alongside our commitments to inclusion, academic freedom, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Professor Celia McMichael
Head, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

two people looking at rock paintings, one has a headtorch on and is hammering something into foil

Indigenous connections to Country

An important element of our teaching and learning is to acknowledge Indigenous connections to Country. We are committed to empowering Indigenous communities and making the University of Melbourne a more inclusive place for Indigenous people through robust research partnerships and engagement with communities.

Our Indigenous engagement

Get in contact

If you would like to study with us, or discuss opportunities for collaboration, or helping to fund our work, please get in touch with us.

Contact the School