Graduate Studies

Earth, Ecosystem, and Ecological Sciences Program

Thomas Morrison, Ph.D. student (grad. 2010); Taylor Kauer '08, Weldon Kirui '11, and Professor Doug Bolger, discuss a map produced from a GIS database of landcover types in the Tarangire ecosystem of northern Tanzania

In 1993, Dartmouth initiated an interdisciplinary graduate environmental science program called the Earth, Ecosystem and Ecological Sciences Program (EEES). In this program, the PhD degree is offered through either the Department of Biological Sciences or the Department of Earth Sciences. However, the EEES program allows students a number of multidisciplinary experiences within the environmental sciences. EEES fellows take a number of courses in their home department as well as interdisciplinary EEES courses offered through collaborations among faculty in Ecological Sciences, Earth Sciences and the Environmental Sciences Program. The program also offers seminars by distinguished visiting lecturers, an annual research retreat and multidisciplinary research opportunities.

Located in rural New England, Dartmouth College provides faculty and students with a rich array of natural areas for environmental research. Within a short distance of campus are an abundance of important forest, aquatic and marine habitats. Together with established field sites around the globe (e.g. Costa Rica, Jamaica, Indonesia, Antarctica, Canada, the Himalayas), and well equipped laboratory, computer and library facilities on campus, these resources provide excellent opportunities for graduate education and research in the environmental sciences.

EEES Fellowships are available for qualified students. The EEES fellowship is similar to other Dartmouth Graduate Fellowships in that it pays tuition and a stipend, normally for four to five years. Responsibilities are slightly different than regular departmental teaching assistantships in that all efforts are made to have EEES Fellows participate in a number of environmental science courses as well as specialty courses within the Department of Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences. Research Fellowships are available within EEES.

Application for admission is handled through either Biological Sciences or Earth Sciences; applicants should indicate their interest in EEES on the application. Applications to Earth Sciences are due January 15. Applications to Biological Sciences are due December 1, and all academic programs begin in the fall.

Inquiries should be sent to:

EEES
Environmental Studies Program
Dartmouth College
6182 Steele Hall Room 113
Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: 603-646-2838
Fax: 603-646-1682
E-mail: kim.wind@dartmouth.edu

Justin Richardson, Ph.D. student, performing an aqueous extraction for toxic metals in forest floor and mineral soil samples after acid digestion.

IGERT Polar Environmental Change Ph.D. Program

Polar Science is at the forefront of research into the large and rapid environmental changes currently taking place worldwide. Scientists who understand the complex scientific and societal impacts of polar changes have the unique opportunity to affect environmental policies worldwide.

The NSF-funded Dartmouth IGERT in Polar Environmental Change supports the development of an interdisciplinary PhD program in polar sciences. Students complete a core curriculum that integrates the requirements of a participating graduate program (Earth Sciences, Engineering Sciences, or Biological Sciences) into an interdisciplinary framework for studying polar changes. The curriculum includes seminars in polar science and policy, and fieldwork in Greenland.

The objective of the Dartmouth IGERT is to develop a new generation of environmental scientists and engineers who:

Have an interdisciplinary view of polar regions and their importance to global environmental change
Understand the societal and ethical implications of their research, the policy process and the role of western scientific management and traditional knowledge in decision making processes
Are able to communicate their science to diverse audiences
Upon graduation are already engaged with the international science and engineering community, hastening their development both as global science citizens and as researchers

Successful applicants receive a $30,000 NSF fellowship for two years after which they are supported by Dartmouth or research grant funds.

See http://www.dartmouth.edu/~igert/ for additional information.