Who we are
The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences is a multidisciplinary centre with 30 academic staff and a further 21 research staff. Our strategy is to be a leading research and education centre for the study of the earth and environmental sciences in the tropics. We have an excellent reputation, both nationally and internationally, for the quality of our teaching and research. Our major research and teaching disciplines are:
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Environmental Science
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Geology and Economic Geology
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Geography and Spatial Sciences
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Environmental Earth Science and Hydrology
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Tropical Urban and Regional Planning
EES is host to the Centre for Disaster Studies, the Centre for Tropical Urban and Regional Planning, the Centre for Fisheries Science and Fishing, and the Economic Geology Research Unit. Staff are also active in the collaborative Australian Tropical Forests Institute, which is located on the Cairns campus.
The School is recognized as a national leader in the geosciences, with research programs supported by the Australia Research Council and industry. Special strengths lie in the areas of economic geology, marine and sedimentary geology, structural and metamorphic geology, surficial processes and hydrology.
Please download our 2007 Annual Report (.pdf 6 mb)
Where are we?
The school is active on both the Townsville and Cairns campuses of James Cook University, in tropical north Queensland. We are on the doorstep of some of the world’s most spectacular tropical environments. Our students have safe and easy access to the World Heritage Areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforests. In addition, we regularly visit the tropical savannas of Cape York Peninsula and the deserts of the arid outback. The world class mineral districts of Mount Isa and Charters Towers are available for our geology programs.
School Capabilities
Research in SEES focuses on themes in
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Natural Resources Management and Conservation
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Water Sciences
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Social Dynamics of Change in the Tropics
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Tropical Environmental Change
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Crustal Dynamics and Mineralisation.
Teaching and learning – we provide undergraduate degrees, postgraduate training at doctorate and masters levels, postgraduate coursework and specialist short courses.
Stakeholder access – we can provide advice, knowledge and expert consultation for businesses, government, and community groups about environment and natural resource issues.
Consultancy services - we have considerable in-house expertise recognized nationally and internationally.
Our facilities are world class with specialist laboratories on both campuses, GIS laboratories, and a wide range of field equipment. We have access to a range of 4WD vehicles and boats, including the 20m research vessel James Kirby. JCU field stations are located at Orpheus Island, Paluma and the Canopy Crane Facility at Cape Tribulation in the Daintree rainforests.
