About our Research

Department researchers are actively pursuing studies into the formation of and processes occurring within the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere - Air, Life, Ice, Water and Earth! Our research is inherently dynamic and multidisciplinary with significant overlap within three broad research foci in Solid Earth Processes, Hazards and Surface Processes, and Resources.

We host a wide range of facilities and equipment that support state-of-the-art research. Researchers and students also have access to material characterization facilities and the computational resources of WestGrid and Compute Canada. While much of our research involves fieldwork, we place a strong emphasis on understanding both actual and theoretical problems. Much of our research involves quantitative analysis such as numerical modeling of rock and ice deformation, groundwater flow, geochemical and geophysical characterization, and plate tectonics.