-
Courses
Courses
-
Future Students
Courses
-
Current Students
You and Your CourseOpportunities
-
Research and Teaching
Our ResearchResearch Degrees
-
Partners and Community
Partner with JCU
- About JCU
Partner with JCU- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Accommodation
- Alumni
- ATSIP
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Careers and Employability
- CMT
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
- Estate
- Graduation
- IERC
- International Students
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Halls of Residence
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- Library
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- Open Day
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to University
- Planning and Performance
- Policy
- Professional Experience Placement
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- JCU Connect
- Scholarships @ JCU
- Staff
- Tropical Sustainable Design Case Studies
- VAVS Home
- Media & Comms
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- About JCU

College of Science and Engineering Academic Groups Geoscience Geoscience Research Themes
Geoscience Research Themes
Geosciences at JCU boasts a globally recognised research profile, as recognised by scores of 5 for "Geology" and "Physical Geography and Environmental Geosciences" and a score of 4 for "Geochemistry" in the 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) ratings.
We are at the forefront of research in a number of geoscience themes, including:

Economic Geology
Chang, Dirks, Spandler, Cheng, Sanislav, Corral, Huizenga, Roberts, Placzek
Through the world-renonwed Economic Geology Research Unit (EGRU), and with close industry ties, we are engaged with comprehensive research on a range of mineral systems. Our current focus is on porphyry-epithermal-skarn deposits, Archean lode gold, rare earth elements, Sn-W-Mo systems, and U deposits.
Find out more:

Environmental Geoscience
Bird, Wurster, Plasczek, Joyce, Beaman, Munksgaard, Dirks, Daniell, Rowe, Haig
Environmental Geosciences researches the ‘critical zone’ – the skin of the earth where soil, water, plants, humans and climate interact. Research in this theme is concerned with understanding these interactions: how they have evolved in the past, hoe they operate in the present, and how they will change into the future in the face of population growth, land use pressure, food security issues, pollution and climate change.

GIS/Remote Sensing
Joyce, Duce, Daniell, Beaman, Maier
The remote sensing group uses satellite, airborne, and field survey data to map and monitor the environment. They have a large emphasis on using drone technology to complement field survey, and have some of the most sophisticated sensor (hyperspectral, thermal, and photogrammetric camera) and platform technology in Australia. Ongoing projects include mapping the Great Barrier Reef, monitoring water circulation and thermodynamics on the reef, documenting sites of archaeological significance, long term mangrove monitoring, and horticultural yield estimates.

Marine Geoscience
Daniell, Beaman, Roberts, Joyce, Duce, Smithers, Ridd
Marine Geoscience researches the history and structure of the ocean floor. It is a broad research theme incorporating disciplines such as sedimentology, basin analysis, geophysics, oceanography, and benthic habitat mapping. A detailed understanding of the structure of the seabed and sub-seabed enables our research to focus on a diverse range of activities ranging from energy security, geohazards, the evolution of the Great Barrier Reef, and the responses of benthic habitats to climate change and anthropogenic influences.
Find out more:

Petrology and Geochemistry
Spandler, Sanislav, Huizenga, Huang, Cheng, Rubenach, Whitehead
Using the state-of-the-art analytical facilities in JCUs' Advanced Analytical Centre, we investigate a range of Earth processes, including; continent formation and evolution, magmatism related to plate tectonic processes, Mantle petrology and geochemistry, magma fertility, the evolution of metamorphic rocks, and whole Earth geochemical cycling.

Sedimentology and Palaeontology
Roberts, Dirks, Hilbert-Wolf, Placzek, Knutsen
Our research in continental sedimentary systems, and the origins and evolution of life on Earth regularly reach high profile science journals and feature in general-interest Science forums. In particular, our reserch on the new hominid "homo Naledi" is receiving ongoing international attention.
Find out more:

Structural Geology and Tectonics
Dirks, Sanislav, Spandler, Roberts, Henderson
We are actively researching the tectonic evolution and associated metallogeny of Eastern Australia, the south-west Pacific region, and central and southern Africa.
- James Cook University
- Bachelor of Advanced Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Business / Laws
- Bachelor of Business & Environmental Science
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Primary Education
- Bachelor of Secondary Education
- Bachelor of Environmental Practice
- Bachelor of Geology
- Bachelor of Information Technology
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Nursing Science (External)
- Bachelor of Midwifery
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Planning
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Speech Pathology
- Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science
- Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Honours)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
- Bachelor of Engineering / Science (Honours) MBA in Tourism
- Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- Master of Data Science
- Bachelor of Sports Psychology
- Bachelor of Marine Science
- Bachelor of Medicine / Surgery
- Bachelor of Nursing Science [Pre-Registration]
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours)
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Master of Conflict Management & Resolution
- Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management & Resolution
- Master of Global Development
- Master of International Tourism & Hospitality Management
- Bachelor of Technology and Innovation
- Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Laws
- Diploma of Higher Education
- Diploma of Higher Education (Business)
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in Business Studies
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in Engineering and Applied Science
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in General Studies
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in Health
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in Information Technology
- Diploma of Higher Education Majoring in Science
- Diploma of Higher Education, Majoring in Society and Culture