The World Needs Geoscientists

From the energy transition and climate change to natural disasters and drought, geoscientists are at the forefront of solving society's critical issues.

Join a Unique Geosciences Community


The Jackson School of Geosciences combines three world-class integrated units to offer a depth and breadth of educational and research opportunities found at no other institution. All three have a global reputation and some of the world's best experts in their scientific disciplines. The combination makes the Jackson School a truly unique place to pursue an education and conduct research. Click on the links below to explore the amazing research being conducted at each unit.

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Department of Earth
and Planetary Sciences

Bureau of Economic Geology

Bureau of
Economic Geology

Institute for Geophysics

Institute for
Geophysics

Making a Global Impact


Research at the Jackson School of Geosciences spans the planet. From mountain tops to ocean trenches, from Texas to Antarctica, Jackson School scientists are looking for answers to some of the most difficult and important questions facing our world. This map contains just a few highlights of that research. For more, see Jackson School News.

Latest News


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Features

Is There Life on Europa?


December 12, 2023

Scientists at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics are working to discover if Jupiter’s icy moon could support life.

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Features

The Real Cost of Electricity


December 12, 2023

Unravelling the hidden costs and environmental impacts of producing electricity — option by option.

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Features

Deepwater Methane Mystery


December 12, 2023

The story of the Jackson School’s mission to collect cores of mysterious frozen gas from deep beneath the seafloor.

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Features

Ancient Cave Cats of Texas


October 25, 2023

What kind of wildcats lived in prehistoric Texas? Rare feline fossils are taking UT scientists deep underground in search of answers.

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Media Releases

New Imaging Technique Uses Earth’s Warped Surface to Reveal Rocky Interior


July 2, 2024

Surface mapping technology such as GPS, radar and laser scanning have long been used to measure features on the Earth’s surface. Now, a new computational…

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Media Releases

“Ugly” Fossil Places Extinct Saber-Toothed Cat on Texas Coast


May 30, 2024

Important scientific finds don’t always come in the biggest, buzziest packages. Sometimes new discoveries come in little ugly rocks. Such is the case of a…

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Media Releases

Birdsong and Human Voice Built from Same Genetic Blueprint


May 23, 2024

  Humans have been long fascinated by bird song and the cacophony of other avian sounds — from coos and honks to quacks and peeps….