About the Department

The Department of Earth Sciences is an organic sub-unit of the School of Sciences of the University of Minho. Its mission is to create and transmit high-quality knowledge in the Earth sciences and related fields. It organises scientific-pedagogical and scientific-technological programmes and projects and manages the human and material resources needed for its mission. Its facilities are located on the Gualtar Campus, in Braga, where it has the infrastructure that supports its teaching and research.

The department provides high-quality education in the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes in which it takes part. The research carried out by its members has made a fundamental contribution to advancing knowledge in the Earth sciences. The department has also played an important role in providing scientific support to national and international institutions and to companies.

Beyond teaching and research, the department plays an important role in bringing the Earth sciences to students at every level of education and to the general public.

The department’s associated research centre is the Earth Sciences Centre of the University of Minho, which, for funding by the Foundation for Science and Technology, is associated with the Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), a research unit with branches at the universities of Minho, Porto and Évora. Research focuses on topics such as:

• Geoconservation and geological heritage
• Environmental geology
• Geological resources
• Surface processes and natural hazards
• Geotechnologies: geographic information systems, photogrammetry and remote sensing

Welcome to the website of the Department of Earth Sciences