Diversity

Our department is as diverse as any in terms of faculty, staff & student demographics, fundamental & applied learning, research, and educational experiences. Disciplines span perspectives that are theoretical and applied; quantitative, field and data-oriented, and chemical, biological or mechanical lab-based. Our graduates will be solving society’s greatest challenges such as climate change, water management, stewardship of resources, and understanding Earth and planetary systems.

Earth, oceans, atmospheres, climate and planets: superior contexts for learning

Learning mathematics, computing, data science, physics, chemistry, geology, and biology can be challenging. Meaningful and relevant context makes these subjects come alive. EOAS is an excellent place to build all these capabilities. 

  • Rigorous, agile quantitative thinking. Geoscientists use equations, models, computing, and numbers as well as observations, maps, chemistry, and physics to investigate the Earth and manage our interactions with it. Yet many persist in viewing Earth sciences as a qualitative or even “remedial” science. In EOAS, quantitative aspects of our geoscience curriculum are taught as rigorously as all the other diverse aspects of Earth, atmospheric, ocean, and environmental sciences. 
  • Public and professional decision-making requires multidisciplinary capabilities to manage or mitigate natural hazards, climate change, resources, human infrastructure, and more.
  • Environmental stewardship can successfully ensure we live on our planet sustainably only with diverse knowledge and skills from both the scientific and human disciplines.
  • Research by professors, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in EOAS contributes to increasing humanity’s knowledge about how the Earth, its atmosphere & oceans (and other planets) work. 

Educational Research and Development (R&D)

We continue to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of learning so that each student gains life-long abilities to thrive and contribute in our rapidly changing world. For more details see

Video examples

What are the impacts of educational R&D in EOAS? What will it be like to learn in our department, or in science courses more generally at UBC? These videos illustrate some of the practices used regularly in EOAS. See also similar videos of evidence-based educational practices commonly used in science courses at UBC and elsewhere.

Laboratory Experience

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Laboratory Experience Followup Lesson

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Tutoring Practices in Large Classes

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Two-stage Midterm Exam in Large Classes

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Using Worksheets in Large Classes

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Jigsaw Activity as an In-class Capstone Exercise

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Instructor (and student) support for improving teaching and learning abilities

The EOAS department is one of many in UBC’s Faculty of Science that is active in science education development and research. Evidence-based strategies and tactics that will benefit both instructors and students can be found as follows: