Our stories
Our research
Our core research focus is on the physical spheres of Earth: the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. We investigate how these physical spheres have evolved over Earth's history and, through geospatial science, we observe and understand these spheres today and their interactions with all life.
We have a particular research focus on:
- natural resources
- Earth observation
- atmospheric composition and change
- air quality and pollution
- natural hazards
- climate
- environmental science challenges (including reef restoration and energy).
Earth is our main laboratory and learning-ground for extra-terrestrial ventures. We conduct our research with access to QUT’s state-of-the art instruments and facilities, including those based within the Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF).
International Laboratory of Air Quality and Health
Our academics lead the International Laboratory of Air Quality and Health (ILAQH) researching how air quality impacts human health, with a specific focus on ultrafine and nanoparticles.
Biofuel Engine Research Facility
Our researchers lead the Biofuel Engine Research Facilty (BERF), Australia’s largest biofuel production testing facility, specialising in engine performance testing and biofuels emissions testing.
Geological sample preparation facility
This facility hosts a rock crushing and milling lab, and a geological thin section preparation lab for preparing and analysing geological samples.
Analytical chemistry laboratory
This laboratory is home to instruments that chemically analyse a range of gas, liquid and solid samples, down to parts per trillion in cases.
Learn moreOptical and electron microscopy laboratory
This laboratory houses a suite of routine and advanced light and electron microscopes that enables innovative research.
Learn moreX-ray and particles laboratory
Our researchers access a range of X-ray-based methods and instrumentation for the phase/mineralogical and chemical characterisation of solid materials.
Learn more
Our courses
Earth Science
"I was fortunate enough to have a very, very engaging and passionate lecturer, and I think really it was his ability to connect with students that really drew me towards it in the first instance. I found that having that passion from the lecturer really facilitated learning."
Katrina Bourke
Environmental Science
"I like environmental science because it combines a lot of different scientific disciplines into the one. There's chemistry, geology and biology. In environmental science, they all come together."
Michelle
Physics
"The interdisciplinary approach at QUT creates a diverse experience in which you learn to apply a thought process, not just knowledge of a specific subject. It helps me with new ways of solving problems as a technical assistant (drilling) in the coal seam gas industry."
Andrew Knuckey
Chemistry
"One of the best parts of the chemistry degree is your capstone project, where you actually get to do research on something that’s never been done before. What I got to do was remove BPA which is a common breast cancer causing agent from water, just using clays."
Jack
Undergraduate courses
Single degrees
Double degrees
- Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Design (Landscape Architecture)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Mathematics
Honour degrees
Our partners
Our researchers collaborate on projects in specialised research groups and facilities across disciplines and institutions.
We partner with businesses and organisations from start-ups to multi-nationals and our scope of application is inclusive.
Industry and community
- BHP
- Geoscience Australia
- Inspector-General Emergency Management
- International Ocean Discovery Program
- Lady Cilento Children's Hospital
- Santos
- SEQ Water
- The Prince Charcles Hospital
Government agencies
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO)
- Department of Education & Training
- Department of Environment and Science
- Department of Public Works
- Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Marine National Facility
- National Measurement Institute
- SafeWork Australia
- Workplace Health & Safety Queensland
- World Health Organisation
Universities and institutes
Australia
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
- Australian Synchrotron
- Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research
- Curtin University
- Deakin University
- Flinders University
- Griffith University
- Macquarie University
- Monash University
- QIMR Berhoffer Medical Research Institute
- QUT Mining
- RMIT University
- University of Melbourne
- University of New South Wales
- University of Queensland
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- University of Sydney
- University of Western Australia
- University of Wollongong
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
Europe
- Aix Marseille Université
- Belgrade University, Serbia
- Fraunhofer Institute, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
- Lublin University of Technology, Poland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland
- Rostock University, Germany
- Università di Brescia, Italy
- Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
- Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy
- University of Cassino, Italy
- University of Pannonia, Hungary
- University of Salzburg, Austria
Asia and Oceania
- Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management
- City University of Hong Kong, HK, China
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES), Beijing
- Dalian University of Technology, China
- East China University of Science and Technology
- Fudan University
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG), Chinese Academy of Sciences
- City University of Hong Kong, HK, China
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HK
- Jinan University, China
- Peking University, China
- Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, China
- Sun Yat-Sen University, China
- Tsinghua University, China
- The University of Hong Kong
Our people
Our school brings together a diverse team of experts who deliver world-class education and achieve breakthroughs in research.
Explore our staff profiles to discover the amazing work our researchers are contributing to.
Meet our experts
- Position
- Acting Head of School, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science and Management
- z.ristovski@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Professor in Petrology
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research field
- Other Earth Sciences
- balz.kamber@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Professor
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
- Other Earth Sciences
- ian.mackinnon@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Professor
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science and Management
- l.morawska@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Director, Central Analytical Research Facility / Principal Research Fellow (Elements & Isotopes)
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Geochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Geology
- cm.allen@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Associate Professor
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Geology
- Geochemistry
- Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
- scott.bryan@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Advance Queensland Fellow
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Geochemistry
- Environmental Science and Management
- Nanotechnology
- y.xi@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Senior Lecturer
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Environmental Science and Management
- g.johnson@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Senior Lecturer
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science and Management
- b.miljevic@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Senior Lecturer
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research field
- Geology
- l.nothdurft@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Senior Lecturer
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Other Earth Sciences
- Geophysics
- christoph.schrank@qut.edu.au
- Position
- Senior Lecturer
- Division / Faculty
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Research fields
- Geology
- Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
- c.sloss@qut.edu.au