University Geoscience Department, Degrees and Groups
The School of Environment offers undergraduate degrees in Earth Science and Geography. Geophysics is co-taught between the School of Environment and the Department of Physics. At postgraduate level Earth Science, Geophysics and Geography majors are often within the PGDipSci, Hons and MSc programmes, a Masters in Engineering Geology is additionally offered and PhD study available across geoscience.
GSNZ members work/study in the School of Environment, Departments of Physics and Mathematics, Engineering Science, and Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Auckland University of Technology
The School of Science offers undergraduate science degrees (including a BScAdvHons) that include a major in Geoscience or double major in Geoscience + a closely related field. Geoscience is offered alongside other Environmental Science Majors within the school. The School of Science offers a PGDiploma and Masters (one year and two years duration) with possibilities for geoscience research projects within the Masters degrees. PhD study is available across a range of science areas including some areas of geoscience.
The School of Science offers several different undergraduate and postgraduate options in Earth Sciences between their Hamilton and Tauranga campuses including: Certificate; Diploma; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Science (Technology); Graduate Certificate; Postgraduate Certificate; Postgraduate Diploma; Master of Science; Master of Science (Technology); Master of Philosophy; and, Doctor of Philosophy. The Earth Sciences programs are vibrant and give GSNZ students a broad knowledge base about Earth’s landscape features and processes.
Topics of research and teaching focus by GSNZ staff include soil science, hydrogeology, geomorphology, physical geography, volcanology, sedimentary geology, coastal marine studies, engineering geology, and environmental science.
The Geosciences Group in the School of Agriculture and Environment, based at the Palmerston North campus, offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science, and postgraduate degrees in Earth Science and Geography with Hons, MSc, and PhD programmes. Aligned with the School are two research centres; Volcanic Risk Solutions, and Innovative River Solutions. In addition, the Joint Centre for Disaster Research based on the Wellington campus is an international centre for research and teaching in disaster risk and emergency management, joint between the School of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey, and GNS Science. They offer undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications from certificates to PhD, along with opportunities for professional development.
GSNZ members work/study in the School of Agriculture and Environment, and Joint Centre for Disaster Research.
Victoria University of Wellington
The School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences (SGEES) offers undergraduate degrees in Earth Sciences and Geography, with majors in Geology, Geophysics – Meteorology, Geophysics – Solid Earth, and Physical Geography. The majors are taught across SGEES and the schools of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Engineering and Computer Science. All undergraduate programmes advance into postgraduate counterparts with qualifications that include Postgraduate Diplomas, and MSc and PhD degrees.
GSNZ members predominantly work and study in SGEES, a genuine hub of multi-disciplinary learning and teaching.
The School of Earth and Environment is home to undergraduate degrees in Geology, Geography, Environmental Science, Antarctic Studies and Water Resource Management. At postgraduate level the School offers a wide variety of Hons degrees, Postgraduate certificates and diplomas, Master and PhD degrees. The Master degree programme includes a Professional Master in Engineering Geology, Master of Disaster, Risk and Resilience, Master of Antarctic Studies, Master of Water Resource Management, and Master of Science (majoring in Geology, Geography, Disaster Risk and Resilience, Engineering Geology, Environmental Science and Antarctic Studies). PhD students within the School major in Geology, Geography, Disaster Risk and Resilience, Engineering Geology, Environmental Science, Antarctic Studies and Water Resource Management.
The Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers degrees in Agriculture and Agricultural Science (B. Ag., B. Ag. Sci) and Science (B. Sc). These programmes may include courses in Earth Science, Geomorphology, and Soil Science. At postgraduate level, Master and PhD programmes are offered in the disciplines of geomorphology and earth surface processes, including paleoseismology; biogeochemistry; Quaternary geology; and pedology.
The Department of Geology offers undergraduate Earth Sciences programmes that can be taken as a Bachelor of Science or an Applied Bachelor of Science. Post-graduate programmes include a one year BSc Honours or Post-graduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci), a Master in Science (Geology/Geophysics) and PhD (Geology). The BSc Honours, PGDipSci and MSc can also be taken as Applied majors. Research within the broader geosciences is also undertaken in the Departments of Marine Science, Geography, and School of Surveying.
Government Departments, Institutes & Agencies
Antarctica New Zealand is the government agency responsible for carrying out New Zealand's activities in Antarctica, supporting world leading science and environmental protection. Their vision is: Antarctica and the Southern Ocean - valued, protected, understood
The Department of Conservation manages ~30% of NZ’s land area. DoC’s aim is to protect and restore our species, places and heritage, and provide opportunities for people to engage with these treasures.
Permits are required for Geoscience research
The Earthquake Commission is a New Zealand Crown entity investing in natural disaster research, education and providing insurance to residential property owners. EQC (1) provides natural disaster insurance for residential property (contents, dwellings and some coverage of land), (2) administers the Natural Disaster Fund (NDF), including its investments and reinsurance, and (3) funds research and education on natural disasters and ways of reducing their impact.
GeoNet is the result of a partnership between the Earthquake Commission (EQC), GNS Science, and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). GeoNet was established in 2001 to build and operate a modern geological hazard monitoring system in New Zealand. It comprises a network of geophysical instruments, automated software applications and skilled staff to detect, analyse and respond to earthquakes, volcanic activity, large landslides, tsunami and the slow deformation that precedes large earthquakes.
GNS is the Crown Research Institute which provides geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services. Their work centres around four Science Themes: Natural Hazards and Risks, Environment and Climate, Energy Futures and Land and Marine Geoscience. GNS also has a strong focus on Data Science, Social Science and embedding Vision Mātauranga into research activities. GNS also looks after several databases and collections, including the New Zealand Fossil Record file (FRED), fossil foraminifera, spores, and pollen catalogues, and the national rock and geoanalytical database (PETLAB).
Manaaki Whenua/Landcare Research is the Crown Research Institute researching and providing management of New Zealand’s terrestrial biodiversity and land resources, including biosecurity, freshwater, and soils. They also host a number of useful collections and identification guides, databases and websites, including insects, algae, fungi and plants
LINZ’s main responsibilities include managing land titles, geodetic and cadastral survey systems, topographic information, hydrographic information, managing Crown property and supporting government decision making around foreign ownership. They also have a handy, free website for converting map coordinates
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
MBIE is the government department responsible for science, innovation, and technology, and energy. They also have a number of funding opportunities, including contestable funding, Endeavour Fund, National Science Challenges, and Unlocking Curious Minds.
New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals is part of MBIE, and hosts an online database containing reports and data from New Zealand’s petroleum and mining industries.
NIWA is the Crown Research Institute researching climate, freshwater, and ocean science. Their mission is to conduct leading environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for NZ and the planet. They also provide a number of online services including tide forecasting, river monitoring, the National Climate Database, UV and ozone research, and invertebrate and freshwater fish collections.
The Royal Society Te Apārangi is an independent, statutory not-for-profit organisation for the purpose of advancing and promoting science, technology and the humanities in New Zealand. They do so through public outreach, education, and by supporting the research community. RSTA also provides advice and information to the government and the public on issues of public concern.
The GSNZ is a Constituent Organisation of The Royal Society Te Apārangi.
