The Department of Geosciences is University of Oslos unit for studies and research within the geosciences. The Department is relatively "young" established in 2003 by merging three departments of the Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences. The three long-established departments, which were merged into the Department of Geosciences, are:
- The Department of Geography (physical geography)
- The Department of Geophysics
- The Geology Department
Academic profile
The geosciences are the studies of planet Earth; the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and cryosphere, the Earth's surface and it’s interior. The Department conducts research and teaching in most of the geoscience; geology (including environmental geology and petroleum geology), geophysics, physical geography, geomatics, hydrology, meteorology and oceanography. The Department is the broadest geoscience research and education environment in Norway.
The Department encompassing seven sections; Meteorology and Oceanography, Geography and Hydrology, Environmental Geosciences, Crustal Processes, Study of Sedimentary Basins, Geoscience Education, and the CeO-Centre Planetary Habitability.
The scientific staff consists of around 40 professors and associate professors, in addition to postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, researchers, technical- and administrative staff. Approximately number of employees are 240 at the Department.
Studies
The Department of Geosciences offers two BSc programmes (these are only teached in Norwegian) and an international MSc programme: Geosciences (master's two years). The Department also contribute with the programme option CS: Geoscience in the Computational Science (master's two years).
In addition there are many PhD students affiliated to the Department.
The Geology Building
The Department is located in The Geology Building, Sem Sælandsvei 1, University of Oslo`s campus at Blindern. Some sections are in other buildings, but within walking distance of the Geology Building and the other science buildings.
Read more about The Geology Building.
Research
The Department with its geoscientific breadth has a large project portfolio with both self- and externally funded projects. Several of our researchers have received grants from EU`s European Research Council – ERC.
The Department participates in several research alliances and centres both in Norway and with partners in Europe. We have among others participated in / participate in these centres and initiatives:
Centres of Excellence (CoE):
- Centre for Planetary Habitability (PHAB)
- (SFF), 2023-2033 (host)
- Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics – CEED (SFF-III), 2013-2023 (host)
- Centre for Physics of Geological Processes – PGP (SFF I), 2003 - 2013 (with Dept. of Physics)
- International Centre for Geohazards – ICG (SFF-I), 2002-2012 (partner)
Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME):
- Industry driven innovation for fast track CCS deployment – NCCS (FME), 2016-2024 (partner)
- Subsurface CO2 Storage – Critical Elements and Superior Strategy – SUCCESS (FME), 2010-2018 (partner)
Other centres and initiatives:
- CBA / Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, MN-faculty, University of Oslo, 2018 (with Dept. of Chemsiry and IBV)
- The Njord Centre / Centre for Studies of the Physics of the Earth, MN-faculty, University of Oslo, 2018- (with Dept. of Physics)
- Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research – CIENS, A strategic research collaboration (partner)
- Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice – SVALI, Nordic Centre of Excellence (NCoE), 2010-2015 (management and partner)
- NordiCCS - Nordic CCS Competence Centre, a project in the Top-level Research Initiative (TRI), 2011 - 2015 (partner)
Other information
Department of Geosciences:
Short about the Dept:
World Class Earth Sciences Research (pdf)
The student organisation GÆA
The student association GÆA Norvegica brings together our students across studies and when they started. Established in 1935. GÆA (pdf; in Norwegian).
Read also about GÆA in Knut Bjørlykke's article: Mitt geologiske liv (pdf; in Norwegian).