Research Areas
Atmospheric Sciences
We study extreme weather, climate change, and their impacts on both ecosystems and modern society.
Environmental Geoscience
We use biology, chemistry, geology, and physics to understand how the Earth System supports such a diversity of life and how human behavior is impacting this system.
Geodata Science Initiative
Data science is the fourth and the newest paradigm of science. In Geodata Science Initiative, we conduct transdisciplinary research, merging or articulating EAPS subject matters with technical areas in data science: statistical and machine learning methods and models, algorithms for the models and methods, and computational environments for data analysis.
Geology and Geophysics
We study the processes that shape our planet, from the building of mountains and oil-bearing sedimentary basins, to the flow of warm rocks and cold glaciers, to the triggering of earthquakes.
Planetary Science
We study the evolution of the solar system and how planets evolve over time due to impacts, tectonics, and atmospheric processes, with an eye to the potential for past and future habitability.
Research News
Advancing Space Exploration at Purdue University
02-18-2025
Purdue University is the Cradle of Astronauts and Boilermakers have a long history with space exploration and research. The Purdue College of Science and College of Engineering recently hosted a collaborative convention to help faculty and staff collaborate on our next giant leaps.
A documentary on Alpine Glaciers, Groundwater, and the Future of Mountainous Areas
02-17-2025
YouTube — EAPS PhD student Ayobami Oladapo created a short documentary to share the findings from research completed at Glacier National Park. The goal is to promote science outreach, education, and communication.
Evidence of ancient frozen ocean found on dwarf planet Ceres
02-17-2025
StudyFinds — EAPS researchers discovered that Ceres has a crust containing about 90% ice near its surface, three times more than previously thought, by showing that impurities mixed with ice can prevent it from flowing and deforming over time.
How NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission may help us understand the origins of life on Earth
02-10-2025
PBS News — The origins of life on our planet remains one of science’s great mysteries. Now, a NASA mission that brought a piece of an ancient asteroid back to Earth has revealed that the building blocks of life may have been scattered throughout the solar system billions of years ago. Purdue EAPS Associate Professor Michelle Thompson is interviewed in the PBS News video.
Why we must investigate Phobos, the solar system's strangest object
02-07-2025
NewScientist — Mars's moon Phobos is so strange that no one knows how it formed. But a forthcoming mission could solve this mystery - and a host of other puzzles connected to the solar system's deep past. Associate Professor of Purdue EAPS David Minton is cited in this article. Subscription is required for viewing.