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
A new federal award will help Purdue University researcher Lei Wang better understand the large-scale atmospheric patterns behind extreme weather events and improve the tools scientists use to study them.
Purdue’s space work is featured at NASA Science Showcase
04-30-2026
A Purdue professor and graduate student participated in the NASA Science Showcase recently on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The April 21 event highlighted how NASA-funded science research across disciplines strengthens America’s leadership and fuels the broader space program. Staff from many Senate and House of Representatives offices attended.
Where did our Moon come from?
04-23-2026
NPR — EAPS assistant professors Kelsey Prissel and Tabb Prissel were recently featured on NPR’s Short Wave podcast, discussing how the Moon formed and why lunar exploration and sample-return science matter. It’s a fun listen for everyone and a great example of how Purdue scientists are helping bring planetary science to the public.
Purdue researchers uncover deep mantle process that reshaped the North American midcontinent
04-22-2026
A hidden rupture deep beneath North America may have reshaped the landscape of the central United States hundreds of millions of years ago. New research led by Purdue University found that a dense part of the continent's deep rocky foundation likely peeled away and sank into the mantle, allowing hotter, lighter material to rise and lift the land above it.
A Purdue University-led study of rocks on Mars is giving scientists a new look at whether the red planet once had the right chemical conditions for life.