Dean's Welcome

Pamela A. Matson, Chester Naramore Dean, School of Earth Sciences; Richard and Rhoda Goldman Professor, Environmental Studies; Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment

Welcome to the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford.

The Earth sciences have been at the heart of Stanford's academic program since the university's beginnings, nearly 120 years ago. Those early geologists focused on the search for and extraction of natural resources, an important endeavor during that age of expanding industrialization. 

Today the School of Earth Sciences has a greatly expanded vision and is a world leader in Earth and environmental sciences and engineering. Our mission is to create, integrate, and transform our fundamental understanding of Earth processes, and to use that knowledge to help provide energy, water, and a safe and sustainable planet. Our faculty seek fundamental discoveries about how the world works, and address some of the most pressing challenges facing society.

Please explore our site to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Pamela A. Matson
Chester Naramore Dean
Goldman Professor of Environmental Studies