About the school

The School of Environment combines a diverse range of programmes and research interests that explore the social and natural worlds in which we live.

Professor Robin Kearns, Head of School
Professor Robin Kearns, Head of School

The School of Environment is home to a vibrant group of students, academics and professional staff pursuing diverse interests in the social and natural worlds.

Along with our internationally recognised disciplinary programmes in Geography, Geology, Geophysics and Geographical Information Science, we offer interdisciplinary programmes in Earth Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Science and Environmental Change. Our students have opportunities to combine elements of both into their programmes.

Our academic staff have research interests in a wide range of disciplines including ecosystem ecology; social entrepreneurship; indigenous environmental values; coral reef formation; engineering geology; marine geoscience; climate change; volcanic hazards, and more.

They are well connected to international research networks and make significant contributions to cutting-edge global debates; commonly working with graduate students. Our academics also work alongside community groups, government, iwi, industry and other New Zealand based researchers, to address contemporary issues and inform decision makers.

I invite you to find out more about us and to join us in our efforts to understand our social and natural worlds.

All this reflects our deep commitment to relevance and excellence in teaching and research, and to serving the wider community.

We are proud of the diversity within our school and the way we convert our expertise into an array of exciting courses for students. We are also proud of our students, who routinely exceed expectations at university and go on to succeed in many areas.

I invite you to find out more about us and to join us in our efforts to understand our social and natural worlds.

If you would like guidance on course selection and our taught programmes, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our programme advisers.

If you are interested in postgraduate research (masters and PhD), please contact our Masters Coordinator (masters applicants) or our Head of Postgraduate Research (PhD applicants).

For more about our research, we invite you to explore the research contributions of individual staff and our six interdisciplinary research themes: Earth systems and resources, Contested environments, Globalising processes, Living with environmental change, Pacific futures and Urban dynamics.

If you are seeking research consultancy services, then please get in touch with me in the first instance.

Professor Robin Kearns
Head of School