Welcome

Earth and climate sciences are key to addressing scientific issues relating to energy, mineral, and water resource security; ecosystem and environmental stewardship; hazards risk assessment; adaptation and mitigation; and climate variability and change.

Welcome to the Department of Earth and Climate Sciences (EACS), formerly known as Geology!

Students interested in studying the science of the earth and its environment can do so in EACS.  Students learn about mountains, volcanoes, earth quakes, climate change, lakes, rivers, coastal zones, glaciers, natural hazards, water, and human impacts on the environment (to name a few) by studying these topics first hand in the field, in the laboratory, and in the classroom.  Using inclusive pedagogies, we stress the importance of experiential learning and discovery, communication, and collaboration. Students in the Department of Earth and Climate Sciences work with their peers and faculty to build new knowledge and solve real-world problems.

The EACS curriculum is scaffolded; students explore the topic and enter the major by taking any 100-level, introductory course.  These courses are open to everyone.  More in depth courses are then taken at the 200- and 300- levels and then thesis.

The EACS curriculum is flexible.  Students create their major from a suite of EACS courses at all levels of the curriculum.  Additionally, classes offered in Environmental Studies, Chemistry, Biology and Physics can be applied to the degree to create a more interdisciplinary focus within the EACS major.

Field Work

Many Earth and Climate Sciences courses involve time outside. Field work ranges from bedrock mapping of mountains to monitoring on the Maine coastline.

Field Work
Lab Work

Analyzing samples in the laboratory provides important information on earth materials.

About Lab Work
Computer Skills

Modeling, remote sensing, and data analysis provide yet another way of studying the earth.

Computer Modeling
Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson teaches class at Lake Andrews with her students from EACS 240 - Environmental Geochemistry/Lab, where she asked the students to collect water and measure the following: -- (dissolves) oxygen -- specific conductivity -- temperature -- depth Four students working behind Parker Hall gathered and measured their water with the sensor provided by Johnson to each small group: Katie Caperton '23 in green pullover Victoria Scott '23 in Bates sweatshirt Henry King '22 in orange jacket Peter Dunbar '23 in tan hat

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson teaches class at Lake Andrews with her students from EACS 240 – Environmental Geochemistry/Lab, where she asked the students to collect water and measure the following: — (dissolves) oxygen — specific conductivity — temperature — depth Four students working behind Parker Hall gathered and measured their water with the sensor provided by Johnson to each small group: Katie Caperton ’23 in green pullover Victoria Scott ’23 in Bates sweatshirt Henry King ’22 in orange jacket Peter Dunbar ’23 in tan hat

Visiting Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Anne Fetrow leads students in her class in a lab at Lake Andrews where they learn to use scientific equipment to evaluate water qualities. EACS 240 - Environmental Geochemistry/Lab Environmental geochemistry draws from concepts in earth, climate, and environmental sciences, biology, and chemistry to study the behavior of natural and anthropogenic materials as they cycle through the various components of the Earth System. In this introduction to the field, students explore rock-water interactions, chemical equilibria, and biogeochemical cycling and develop field, laboratory, and modeling skills to work on local current environmental problems. Students may investigate climate change; mitigation and adaptation; surface and groundwater contamination by salt, arsenic, nutrients, and/or heavy metals; acid mine drainage; and the history of atmospheric lead deposition. The laboratory includes fieldwork, chemical analysis of environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and modeling using STELLA. Prerequisite(s): any 100-level earth and climate sciences course. jacket and brown hair

Visiting Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Anne Fetrow leads students in her class in a lab at Lake Andrews where they learn to use scientific equipment to evaluate water qualities. EACS 240 – Environmental Geochemistry/Lab Environmental geochemistry draws from concepts in earth, climate, and environmental sciences, biology, and chemistry to study the behavior of natural and anthropogenic materials as they cycle through the various components of the Earth System. In this introduction to the field, students explore rock-water interactions, chemical equilibria, and biogeochemical cycling and develop field, laboratory, and modeling skills to work on local current environmental problems. Students may investigate climate change; mitigation and adaptation; surface and groundwater contamination by salt, arsenic, nutrients, and/or heavy metals; acid mine drainage; and the history of atmospheric lead deposition. The laboratory includes fieldwork, chemical analysis of environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and modeling using STELLA. Prerequisite(s): any 100-level earth and climate sciences course. jacket and brown hair

Visiting Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Anne Fetrow leads students in her class in a lab at Lake Andrews where they learn to use scientific equipment to evaluate water qualities. EACS 240 - Environmental Geochemistry/Lab Environmental geochemistry draws from concepts in earth, climate, and environmental sciences, biology, and chemistry to study the behavior of natural and anthropogenic materials as they cycle through the various components of the Earth System. In this introduction to the field, students explore rock-water interactions, chemical equilibria, and biogeochemical cycling and develop field, laboratory, and modeling skills to work on local current environmental problems. Students may investigate climate change; mitigation and adaptation; surface and groundwater contamination by salt, arsenic, nutrients, and/or heavy metals; acid mine drainage; and the history of atmospheric lead deposition. The laboratory includes fieldwork, chemical analysis of environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and modeling using STELLA. Prerequisite(s): any 100-level earth and climate sciences course. jacket and brown hair

Visiting Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Anne Fetrow leads students in her class in a lab at Lake Andrews where they learn to use scientific equipment to evaluate water qualities. EACS 240 – Environmental Geochemistry/Lab Environmental geochemistry draws from concepts in earth, climate, and environmental sciences, biology, and chemistry to study the behavior of natural and anthropogenic materials as they cycle through the various components of the Earth System. In this introduction to the field, students explore rock-water interactions, chemical equilibria, and biogeochemical cycling and develop field, laboratory, and modeling skills to work on local current environmental problems. Students may investigate climate change; mitigation and adaptation; surface and groundwater contamination by salt, arsenic, nutrients, and/or heavy metals; acid mine drainage; and the history of atmospheric lead deposition. The laboratory includes fieldwork, chemical analysis of environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and modeling using STELLA. Prerequisite(s): any 100-level earth and climate sciences course. jacket and brown hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) --- the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) ----- the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) --- dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) — the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) —– the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) — dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students into her Carnegie Science lab the day after they visited Bates-Morse Mountain to study blue carbon cycling in salt marshes. Also in Johnson’s lab was Phil Dostie, Laboratory Manger Environmental Geo Chemistry Lab An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) --- the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) ----- the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) --- dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students into her Carnegie Science lab the day after they visited Bates-Morse Mountain to study blue carbon cycling in salt marshes. Also in Johnson’s lab was Phil Dostie, Laboratory Manger Environmental Geo Chemistry Lab An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) — the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) —– the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) — dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students into her Carnegie Science lab the day after they visited Bates-Morse Mountain to study blue carbon cycling in salt marshes. Also in Johnson’s lab was Phil Dostie, Laboratory Manger Environmental Geo Chemistry Lab An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) --- the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) ----- the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) --- dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students into her Carnegie Science lab the day after they visited Bates-Morse Mountain to study blue carbon cycling in salt marshes. Also in Johnson’s lab was Phil Dostie, Laboratory Manger Environmental Geo Chemistry Lab An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) — the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) —– the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) — dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) --- the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) ----- the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) --- dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) — the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) —– the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) — dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) ---- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) --- the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) ----- the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) --- dark hair

Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Beverly Johnson takes her summer research students who are studying blue carbon cycling in salt marshes to Bates-MorseMountain in Phippsburg. An EPA regional assessment of blue carbon stocks has recently been released.  Maine data are almost entirely from Johnson’s lab so Bates is heavily featured (mostly her thesis students). Anna Sarazin (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- short with red/blonde hair Kate Dickson (EACS 2024; funded by Maine Sea Grant) —- tall, carried the backpack, red hair Hayden Eckblom (EACS 2025; funded by Maine Climate Science Information Exchange) — the only male Fiona Wilson (Biology, 2025; funded by Maine Community Foundation) —– the one wearing all the netting, blondish/red hair in pigtails Evelyn Marchand (EACS 2026; funded by Maine Community Foundation) — dark hair

The students, staff, and faculty of the Department of Earth and Climate Sciences are actively engaged in the college community, in the Lewiston/Auburn and Maine communities, and in the scientific community.  We welcome you and hope to see you in our classes and to meet you in our monthly departmental gatherings (aka. EACS/GEO LUNCH and LEARNS) which are open to the entire community.

Enjoy the montage of GEO/EACS students engaged in coursework below- and reach out with questions to any of the faculty and staff in the department.  We look forward to hearing from you!

photo montage of student activities