The department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in Earth Sciences, Environmental and Coastal Sciences.
Specific graduate topics for research supported by the department are diverse and include Aquatic Ecology, Geomorphology, Coastal Oceanography, Coastal Processes, Coastal and Marine Geology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Paleontology.
MP2 stands for Mineralogy, Pegmatology, and Petrology. A research group dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and research in the classical fields of Mineralogy and Petrology specializing in the investigation of pegmatites, their mineralogy, paragenesis and mechanisms of formation.
Currently the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences benefits from the gratis appointments of several geologists with many decades of experience in oil and gas to provide students with a wide-range of experience the approach to finding and delineating hydrocarbon reserves. Students of EES have opportunities to take several courses in oil and gas exploration as well as periodic involvement in the International Barrel Award and American Association of Petroleum Geologists competition amongst teams on an international basis.
The physical environment of the Louisiana Coastal Zone is composed of barrier island chains, wetlands, marshes and numerous estuaries and bays. The complexity of these systems presents intriguing and extreme hydraulic challenges in describing fluid motion, and subsequently the fate and transport of sediments, nutrients, contaminants and other waterborne constituents. Coastal and Environmental Hydrodynamics and Coastal Studies provide students the opportunity to pursue a wide range of theoretical and applied research interests.
The Louisiana Coastal Zone is a premiere location to examine fluvial, deltaic, and coastal processes. Through Stratigraphic, Geomorphologic, and Coastal Studies students are presented with a wide range of opportunities to investigate theoretical and applied research interests such as the role of interior marsh loss on tidal prisms, shoreline change, Holocene stratgraphy, coastal zone evolution and other areas.
Sedimentary geology studies within EES are conducted by Dr. Robert Mahon and Dr. Mark Kulp. Dr. Mahon conducts a wide range of sedimentary geologic projects including experimental stratigraphy in flumes and examination of the sedimentology and stratigraphy of units within modern and ancient systems. Dr. Kulp focuses on physical stratigraphic studies of modern and ancient systems to better understand the many contributing processes.
One of the primary focuses of environmental management at the University of the New Orleans Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is the study of fishes and other aquatic organisms of the Louisiana Coastal Zone. Scientists in the Nekton Research Laboratory in conjunction with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences study how natural and anthropogenic effects influence the fishes and aquatic animals of the Louisiana Coastal Zone to develop sound solutions that addresses the increasing ecological threats to natural resources. Personnel conducting this work include undergraduate workers, graduate research assistants, full-time technical associates, post doctoral researchers, and research professors.
For the past 25 years, UNO scientists and students have studied both vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology. The vertebrate work has focused upon dinosaurs of the western United States, bird origins, and fossil marine reptiles of North America. A number of students and volunteers have helped by preparing fossils in UNO's Vertebrate Paleo Lab. Invertebrate projects centered upon early echinoderms worldwide and Gulf Coast molluscs. UNO is proud to note that every student who earned a graduate degree for paleontology research has subsequently worked as a professional paleontologist. Many of our undergraduates have also successfully pursued careers in the field, especially those who participated in our summer field expeditions.
These degrees emphasize original research in an area of expertise, under the guidance of a faculty advisor within the department. Please visit the faculty web pages and focus areas for more information on research areas and directions within the department. Prospective students are encouraged to contact individual faculty members directly to discuss potential research opportunities; securing an advisor prior to application to the program is a requirement.
