We study extreme weather, climate change, and their impacts on both ecosystems and modern society.
Atmospheric Sciences
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
How 99 mph winds left Gary in the dark for nearly two weeks
08-24-2026
Chicago Sun Times — Saturated soil contributed to trees falling and taking out power lines, but there’s more to why Gary’s outage has lasted so long. EAPS professor Dan Chavas was interviewed for the article.
Oldest magnetic evidence sheds light on how the solar system formed
08-24-2026
Researchers have found the oldest known paleomagnetic evidence of a magnetic field in the solar system, preserved in material that formed within roughly the first 20,000 to 200,000 years of its history. Their measurements indicate the magnetic field was about three to 12 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field today and support the idea that magnetism played an important role in moving material through the disk from which the Sun and planets eventually formed.
Purdue Researchers Collaborate Across Disciplines to Study Ancient Iron Smelting
08-24-2026
A Purdue-led archaeological project in Uzbekistan is bringing together researchers from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Engineering, and College of Science to investigate how iron was produced in one of the medieval world’s most important metallurgical regions. EAPS Associate Professor Ali Bramson was part of the research.
USC is Eyeing the JPL Contract
08-13-2026
L.A. Material — It’s the latest development in the high-stakes scramble to determine the future of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Department Head Andrea Donnellan was interviewed by L.A. Material for its latest story on the future of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Ancient seams may guide how tectonic plates tear beneath Alaska
08-13-2026
Purdue researchers used Earth's background vibrations to create a three-dimensional image of a sinking tectonic plate, revealing how weaknesses formed millions of years ago may influence volcanoes, earthquakes and mantle flow.