Department of Earth Sciences
In following the recommendations from Ottawa Public Health, the Department of Earth Sciences is operating online and staff are working remotely.
For assistance, please contact the office at earth [dot] sciences
carleton [dot] ca and your email will be redirected to the appropriate contact. We are also checking and responding to voicemail on (613) 520-2600 Ext. 5633 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
We are doing all we can to keep our community safe and to contribute to slowing the progression of COVID-19 in Ottawa and across the country. For more information, please visit Carleton’s Coronavirus page.
Thank you for your understanding during this time.
Welcome to the Department of Earth Sciences
Earth Sciences, or geology, from the ancient Greek meaning “The Study of the Earth”, is the study of our dynamic planet, from its interior to its surface, and from the events that occurred since its formation 4568 million years ago, to the processes that take place in the modern Earth.
News Stories
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Dr. Richard Ernst, Scientist in Residence, lead editor on new book
Dr. Richard Ernst, Scientist in Residence, is the lead editor and chapter author for a new book
Friday, December 18, 2020
Dr. Geoff Pignotta nominated as one of the 2020-2021 Favourite Faculty Members by Students for the 2nd Year
For the second year in a row, Dr. Geoff Pignotta has been honoured with a nomination as a 2020-2021 Favourite Faculty Member by the students in Residence at Carleton University. Students are asked to submit a nomination form for the overall favourite Faculty member. The survey simply states: Who is the faculty member and why are they so great?
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Prof. Richard Ernst writes for The Conversation: Venus was once more Earth-like, but climate change made it uninhabitable
We can learn a lot about climate change from Venus, our sister planet. Venus currently has a surface temperature of 450℃ (the temperature of an oven’s self-cleaning cycle) and an atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide (96 per cent) with a density 90 times that of Earth’s.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Prof. Tim Patterson Awarded Grant to Investigate Munitions Dumping in the Baltic Sea
What do abandoned old mines in northern Canada and munitions buried deep in the Baltic Sea after World War II have in common?
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Earth Science Master’s Student, Sara Khawja Research: How Did Climate Change Transform Venus?
The study was led by Master’s student, Sara Khawja and published in Nature Communications.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Prof. Richard Ernst’s Research on Dramatic Climate Change on Venus Published in Nature Communications
Prof. Richard Ernst, his master’s student and lead author Sara Khawja along with co-authors have published a paper in Nature Communications. This paper provides the first geological evidence in support of a dramatic climate change event on Venus.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Professor Tim Patterson awarded chemical weapons clean-up funding
The Department of Earth Sciences Professor Tim Patterson was awarded research funding last week from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to investigate the environmental impact of corroding chemical weapons dumped in the years after WWII in the Baltic Sea.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Fall 2020 Graduation-Congratulations to all Earth Science Graduates
The Department of Earth Sciences would like to say congratulation to all of the graduates during this Fall 2020 Convocation week. The Department has both Undergraduate and Graduate students completing their degree's this Fall. While we won't be on campus for the ceremonies this month, we want to commemorate this moment and congratulate all the students for their hard work.
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Prof. George Dix creates Virtual Sedimentary Geology Field Trips
The Department of Earth Sciences Professor George Dix has created a virtual Sedimentary Geology Field trip to help students continue with their geology studies online
Friday, October 16, 2020
Dr. Hillary Maddin part of Faculty Members who receive support for High-Risk Reward Research
Dr. Hillary Maddin, a Faculty member in the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University, is one of five Faculty to receive financial support from the NFRF (New Frontiers in Research Fund).