Earth and Environmental Sciences

Develop an understanding of the fundamental natural processes that shape Earth and its environment, and an appreciation of how humans are influencing its future. The Earth and Environmental Sciences program allows you the flexibility to pursue your interests, from the solid earth sciences to the environment. Choose from courses covering mineral resources, water resources, river hydrology, climate and paleo-climate, hydrogeology, land use management, environmental assessment, geochemistry, and other topics. By the time you graduate, you'll have gained skills in experimentation, observation, data collection, laboratory techniques, and spatial data analysis, and learned how to integrate multiple information sources and communicate your conclusions.

As a Bachelor of Science student on UBC's Okanagan campus, you can choose a major, honours, or minor in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Complement your major with a minor in topics such as Biology, Data Science, Environmental Chemistry, or Geography. Or choose courses that meet the academic requirements you need to register as a Professional Geoscientist or Professional Agrologist.

Experiential learning and research

Work with renowned UBC faculty members on research projects related to hydrology, geomorphology, geochemistry, environmental systems, and tectonics. Or study at other universities around the world through the Go Global program.

In your third or fourth year of study, you'll have the option of completing directed studies and conducting independent readings and research. If you choose the honours option, you'll undertake an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member. The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science holds an annual undergraduate research conference on UBC's Okanagan campus to showcase student research projects.

• Go Global
• Irving K. Barber School Undergraduate Research Awards
• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards
• Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund

Campus features

The Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences is home to a wide range of research facilities:

• Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Research (FiLTER), a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility with equipment for major and trace element analysis and electron microbeam imaging
• Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services (BRAES), a collaborative research institute working in ecology, biodiversity and conservation, water conservation and quality, and environmental sustainability

In addition, individual faculty members have active research programs backed by modern laboratory facilities, including the Complex Environmental Systems Lab, the PALEO Lab, and the
Structural Geology and Tectonics Group.

Explore how the planet works and its deep history, then discover how to deploy that knowledge to benefit society and the environment. You'll study the nature and properties of Earth systems, while learning how to apply scientific knowledge from a broad range of disciplines.