Geology

The geological sciences increasingly are addressing complex processes that require the means to work with very large data sets and to conduct high-resolution numerical simulations of complex, strongly nonlinear physical systems. Graduate students and undergraduate majors need to be prepared to address complex natural systems and their interaction with man-made hazards using advanced computational methods. Students in the geology program and the geophysics minor would take courses in scientific computing offered by CS&E faculty. Areas of geological sciences that could benefit from the development of the CS&E Initiative include seismology, geodesy, geodynamics, geophysical fluid dynamics, quantitative geomorphology, and modeling of hydrological systems. Although we do not explicitly incorporate CS&E positions in our most recent departmental plan, our plan includes appointments in geophysics, quantitative geomorphology, and other areas that would benefit from and interact with CS&E faculty.