Faculty, staff, and students are not the only ones committed to the important work of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Our community includes members of local and national businesses and foundations, alumni, and other individuals who help push the Department’s research and teaching forward through their support. From mentoring students and serving on defense committees, to giving guest lectures, partnering on research, and supporting the department financially, their contributions and generosity enrich our community and are essential to the success of our students and faculty.
ESS appreciates all members of our community!
The Department
Earth and Space Sciences is a strong, vibrant, and interdisciplinary department with more than 30 faculty, nearly 100 graduate students and more than 150 undergraduate majors, and a small support staff. Use the following links to find our directories for current faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and staff.
Check out our rotating community-member Spotlights page:
There are many ways to get involved in the ESS Community. Your gift, whether of time and expertise or financial support, can make the difference in our ability to provide enriching and meaningful experiences for our excellent students. Thank you for your generous support.
Financial Support
For more information on making a financial gift to the Department of Earth and Space Sciences, please look here.
Our weekly department colloquium, rotates through topics of general interest throughout each academic quarter. Other regular seminars include the Tuesday Glaciology lunch and the Wednesday Seismolunch. See the Events Calendar for the most up-to-date information, and check with Summer Caton if you would like your event listed on the calendar.
ESS Research Gala
The ESS Research Gala is an annual, graduate student-organized research symposium supported by the Department of Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) at the University of Washington. The Gala is an annual showcase of the incredible graduate and undergraduate research, with three days of conference-style talks and posters to the department and wider UW community. This event is both a celebration of department research, and an opportunity for students to receive constructive feedback on their work. The Gala includes talks and posters, a photo contest, an alumnus keynote speaker, and a reception and awards ceremony.
Cash prizes go to the best talks and posters. Information and updates on the Gala can be found below.
A social event following our weekly colloquium, where graduate students, undergraduates, postdocs, and faculty mingle and can interact with the colloquium speaker.
Lunches with Visiting Colloquium Speakers
Graduate students attend an informal lunch to meet and talk to our distinguished speakers and get inspired by their science and career experiences.
Rockin' Out
Inspiring students and the community of the Seattle Metropolitan area through engaging earth-science education. Rockin’ Out is a K-12 student-led outreach program that sends UW undergraduate- and graduate-student volunteers to schools in the greater Seattle area, as well as host school groups on campus. We teach lessons and run hands-on demos about topics related to all things earth and space.
Topics we love to share include earthquakes, geomorphology, glaciers, climate, rocks, and minerals.
ESS sometimes partners with the UW Geology Club (RSO). All UW students, including undergraduates in ESS, with an interest in geology are welcome to join.
“Our goal is to encourage academic and professional interest in geology and all related disciplines, by helping students to make connections and find opportunities outside the classroom. We organize field trips – both local and long distance – and try to connect undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members in informal settings. We also encourage undergraduate research, and hope to provide a forum within the department for undergraduates to refine and present their works in progress.”
Sign up for our mailing listto stay up-to-date on GeoClub news and events. Visit our Facebook pagefor updates on GeoClub news and events. This is also open to informal GeoClub related discussion between members.
UW GeoClub
Annual Undergrad Spring Break Field Trip
The GeoClub, along with faculty, organize an annual spring break field trip, commonly to Hawaii or the desert Southwest.
Akshay Mehra
ESS GeoClub 2023 spring break trip to the Grand Canyon and Southwest desert. The GeoClub went on to present about their trip, and the importance of experiences like these, at the ESS Gala!
Annual Graduate Student Retreat
The annual graduate student retreat takes place at UW’s Friday Harbor Labs on San Juan Island.
Grad Student Peer-To-Peer Mentoring Program
The purpose of the graduate student peer-to-peer mentoring program is forming connections and supporting incoming students across research groups in our diverse department.
