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Environmental Earth Science

A bluff on Block Island

Eastern geologist leads major Block Island research project
2-year grant investigates bluffs, erosion, resilience

Environmental earth science Professor Bryan Oakley is one of two principal investigators on a grant project examining coastal erosion on Block Island, RI. The two-year, $270,000 grant from the...

Posted on September 16, 2026 by Ed Osborn

Students from "Tropical Biology" and "Tropical Ecosystems," stand on a bridge in the Costa Rican rainforest.

Student scientists explore tropical rainforests and New England mountains

Twenty-nine Eastern students studied tropical ecology in Costa Rica and mountainous geology in northern New England during two global field courses (GFCs) this summer. Led by Eastern faculty, the...

Posted on August 19, 2026 by Kyle Berson '26

Geospatial diagrams display elevation maps, transit networks, and public green spaces.

Eastern launches 3 new undergraduate certificate programs for fall 2026
Geospatial Technology, Victim Services & Advocacy, Emergency Services & Public Safety

Eastern Connecticut State University is expanding its academic offerings for fall 2026 with three new undergraduate certificate programs: geospatial technology, emergency services and public...

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Michael Rouleau

Student presenting

VIDEO: Students shine at CREATE conference

Student research and creative activity took center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 24 during the annual CREATE conference, a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate...

Posted on May 04, 2026 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern faculty and students represent at Geological Society Conference..

EES represents at geological conference

Students and faculty in Eastern’s Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) attended the Northeast Geological Society of America (NE GSA) meeting in Hartford from March 21-24.

Posted on April 06, 2026 by Elisabeth Craig '26

Communication Lecturer John Murphy delivers a presentation at Eastern's "Liberal Arts Education in the Age of AI" colloquium.

Colloquium explores ‘wicked problem’ of AI
Faculty and students agree: 'AI is not a replacement'

On today’s college campuses, one can hardly go a single day without hearing the letters “AI.” Eastern Connecticut State University recently dedicated a full day to unpacking the...

Posted on April 01, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

A student conducts research at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT.

EES professors publish research on Dinosaur State Park
Hyatt, Drzewiecki examine Connecticut’s paleontological roots

Eastern Connecticut State University environmental earth science Professors Drew Hyatt and Peter Drzewiecki published several works in volume 66, issue 1, of the “Bulletin of the Yale...

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Students explore Arizona's wilderness.

EES students explore Arizona in field excursion
Students study geology, sedimentation, native heritage

From a snowstorm at the Grand Canyon to a climb up an active volcano, environmental earth science (EES) students at Eastern Connecticut State University experienced the natural wonders of Arizona...

Posted on July 07, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Cunningham in Tienshan, China

The architecture of mountain ranges fascinates Eastern professor
Tectonic events 50 million years ago are still in motion

Dickson Cunningham, professor of environmental earth science, has spent nearly 40 years investigating changes in the Earth's crust, main in Central Asia, and how mountains form.

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Lucinda Weiss

EES thumb

Earth science students explore geology of Spanish mountains

Two students from the Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) at Eastern Connecticut State University joined Professor Peter Drzewiecki on a nine-day trip in the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain...

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Photographing

FILM: Photogrammetry of Block Island
An EES research project by sea, land and air

This summer, a group of environmental earth science (EES) researchers from Eastern traveled to Block Island, RI, to study coastal geology and erosion along the island’s iconic bluffs. Their...

Posted on June 27, 2024

new england thumb

Earth science students journey through northern New England

Twelve students from Eastern Connecticut State University beheld many environments on a 12-day scientific excursion through New Hampshire and Maine in late May. Sponsored by the Department of...

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

honor society thumb

Eastern inducts hundreds into honor societies in spring 2024

More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.

Posted on May 16, 2024

Kowalski (left) and Steinen

EES students present geology research at New Hampshire conference

Four environmental earth science (EES) students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented their research at the Northeast Section meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in...

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Noel Teter

STEM graphic

$500k grant aims to increase STEM diversity and retention

Minority students applying to Eastern Connecticut State University in 2024 who plan to major in the sciences or mathematics will be recruited for a new STEM mentoring program funded by a National...

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

EES celebrates 50th anniversary

Eastern's earth science community celebrates 50 years of EES

The Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) celebrated its 50th year at Eastern Connecticut State University by bringing alumni – some from the earliest days of the major – to...

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Marcus Grant

Global Field Courses for 2024

Students can travel the world via 5 global field courses in 2024

Students will be able to travel the world with their Eastern peers during five global field courses in the coming spring/summer 2024 semesters. Departments offering courses include education,...

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Marcus Grant

well drillers

New well field drilled for hydrology education

Three new water wells on the Eastern Connecticut State University campus will be used by environmental earth science (EES) students to learn about techniques used in environmental consulting.

Posted on August 01, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

students at rock ledge

Students head West to a ‘natural laboratory’ for geologists

Eleven Eastern Connecticut State University students and two faculty members in the Department of Environmental Earth Science (EES) explored the geology and landscapes of western Colorado and...

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Emily Watling

Eelgrass research wins prize for senior at environmental conference

A recent graduate who majored in environmental earth science at Eastern Connecticut State University won the Rankin Prize for the best undergraduate oral presentation at the recent annual meeting...

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Sustainability Symposium Thumbnail Image

Eastern hosts 'Humans and the Environment' symposium

Four Connecticut-based scholars described the ecological impacts and anthropogenic changes that humanity has had on the environment at a symposium at Eastern Connecticut State University on March 24.

Posted on April 05, 2023 by Jack Jones

Reston, VA

EES faculty, students present at Geological Society of America meeting

Four Eastern Connecticut State University students and three faculty members from the Environmental Earth Science Department recently attended the Geological Society of America (GSA) Conference in...

Posted on April 04, 2023 by Molly Boucher

Mountain group photo

Field course brings intrepid EES students out West

A cadre of Environmental Earth Science (EES) students set out on a 12-day expedition this May exploring some of the United States’ great mountain landscapes. Led by Professors Dickson...

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

University Hour

Sunrise CT calls for students to be climate activists

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a presentation by the climate-change awareness organization Sunrise CT on April 6 in the Student Center Theatre. The University Hour presentation was...

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Bobbi Brown

Oakley Napatree

New research: Storms, not sea level, drive shoreline change
Published article examines migration of Napatree Point, RI

New research by coastal geologist Bryan Oakley, a professor in the Environmental Earth Science Department at Eastern Connecticut State University, reveals that storminess is a greater driver of...

Posted on September 07, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

TCIP

State energy, transportation officials share climate change plans with Eastern students
Commissioners Dykes and Eucalitto explain TCI-P

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) hosted an exclusive webinar for Eastern students on April 26 to share information...

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Geomorphology

EES prepares students for climate crisis and green economy
Spotlighting 2 concentrations: Sustainable Energy Science and Environmental Science

With climate change and an evolving “green” economy underway, the Environmental Earth Science (EES) Department at Eastern Connecticut State University is preparing students for some of...

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Bioswale

Eastern reaffirms commitment to climate as nation pivots
University’s 2020 Climate Action Plan outlines way to a greener future

Eastern Connecticut State University has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the challenges of climate change, reflecting recent moves by the federal government and thousands of environmental...

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Michael Rouleau

Screenshot of COVID graph

New Institute for Data Analytics examines sickness, unemployment in era of COVID-19

Faculty researchers at Eastern Connecticut State University have launched a new, data-driven enterprise to analyze public health, economic and social issues in the state of Connecticut. The first...

Posted on July 08, 2020 by Michael Rouleau

Kim Diver of Wesleyan University presents her presentations titled "Spatiotemporal Patterns of Reported Black Bear Sighting in Connecticut, 2007-1019."

GIS Professionals Converge on Eastern for GIS Day

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day on Nov. 13. The event was held in the Student Center with approximately 140 attendees, including government...

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Molly Boucher

EES in American West

Field Courses Bring Students to Bahamas, Western U.S., Italy

In the weeks following Commencement, three groups of Eastern students traveled to San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, Italy, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming to engage in exciting Global Field Courses.

Posted on June 06, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Visiting Professor Discusses Animal Rights

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed S.P. Morris, a professor at Miami University in Ohio, on Nov. 28 for the final University Hour event of the semester. Morris discussed his latest...

Posted on December 05, 2018 by Jordan Corey

Princeton Review Names Eastern a Green College 9 Years in a Row

Eastern Connecticut State University is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in 2018 according to The Princeton Review. Eastern is listed in the Review’s 2018 edition of...

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Helps Launch Sustainable CT

Sustainable CT, an exciting new initiative to support Connecticut’s cities and towns, launched on Nov. 28 at the annual convention of Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. The initiative,...

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Lynn Stoddard

Eastern sustainability logo.

Eastern a Green College 8 Years in a Row

For the eighth year in a row, Eastern Connecticut State University was named a “green” college by the Princeton Review. The announcement came on Sept. 20 when the review released its...

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern's Institute for Sustainable Energy Empowers Sustainability Through Connecticut

The Connecticut Alliance for Campus Sustainability (CACS) held a statewide conference at Wesleyan University on March 31 to bring together higher education students, faculty and staff who share a...

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Christina Rossomando

Princeton Review Names Eastern a 2016 Green College

Eastern Connecticut State University is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. The Review featured Eastern in its 2016 “Guide to 361 Green...

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Michael Rouleau

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