Our Geoscience research explores Earth’s dynamic systems — from the origin of life to climate history, natural hazards, and sustainable resource management — and advances solutions for global sustainability.
We apply multidisciplinary methods across geophysics, geochemistry, palaeontology, hydrogeology, archaeological and Indigenous sciences to investigate environmental change, the intersection of geoscience with geographic, cultural and political landscapes, all the way to processes from atomic to the planetary scales.
Our research tackles global challenges such as carbon cycling, bioremediation, the responsible use of natural resources, origins and future of life on Earth and beyond. By studying Earth’s surface and subsurface dynamics, we support progress on climate resilience, environmental sustainability, long-term planetary health and future habitability.
Research groups studying geoscience
-
Archaeological Science
Archaeological science is concerned with the application of various scientific techniques to solve problems related to archaeology, human origins and cultural history.
-
AuScope Subsurface Observatory
Providing geophysical monitoring and rock property analysis to support crustal geological modelling, geohazard assessment, mineral exploration, and infrastructure planning.
-
Environment, Wellbeing and Sustainable Communities
Researching how interdependent environmental and social systems affect the wellbeing and sustainability of people and populations.
-
Geothermal Energy and Heat Flow
The Geothermal Energy and Heat Flow Research Group investigates where and how geothermal energy can be used in Australia and elsewhere around the world.
-
Lithospheric Processes Research Group
The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth. The Lithospheric Processes research cluster works to understand the lithosphere over many length scales and time scales.
-
Melbourne Analytical Geochemistry
Melbourne Analytical Geochemistry—MAG—builds on over 20 years of field-leading trace element and isotope geochemistry.
-
Palaeontology
The Palaeontology Group at the University of Melbourne investigates interactions between Earth, life, climate, and environments over geological time.
-
Past Climates and Environments
Investigating the nature, magnitude and timing of past climate and environmental change, and the interactions between climate, environments and past human populations.
-
Renewable Energy
We research the potential of energy resources within our natural environment to provide energy across a range of spatio-temporal scales, from individuals to the planet.
-
Responsible Mining and Energy Transition
Our group combines expertise in remote sensing, GIS, geosciences, environmental engineering, and human and physical geography to explore the human and environmental impacts and risks of mining and energy transitions.
-
The Carbon Trap Lab
The Carbon Trap Lab develops technologies to permanently store CO2 in rocks.