Our Department
The Department of Environmental Sciences is an academic department in the College of Arts and Sciences, offering instruction and conducting research in the areas of Ecology, Geosciences, Hydrology, and Atmospheric Sciences. This unique juxtaposition of several sciences in one Department fosters cooperation and exchange among traditional disciplines that share similar methodological and philosophical problems.The research endeavors of both faculty and graduate students, whether disciplinary or interdisciplinary, deal largely with problems of fundamental scientific interest and to a lesser extent with applied science, management or policy making.
Learn more about our research
Ecology
Geosciences
Hydrology
Atmospheric Sciences
Our Mission and Code of Conduct
Our department’s mission is to advance understanding of the environment through interdisciplinary scientific research, education, and service. Further information on the vision and values of the department may be found on our website.
In its commitment to nurture and sustain a cooperative and supportive community, our department is dedicated to providing an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for all members regardless of race, color, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, religion, veteran status, family medical or genetic information, other forms of gender-based discrimination, and sex (including pregnancy).
All members of the Department should be familiar with and adhere to the University’s policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, all of which can be found on the Department’s Code of Conduct webpage.
Our individual and collective success begins with our commitment to building a diverse, equitable, collaborative, and healthy environment for research, learning, and service, showcased during our annual EnviroDay symposium.
Department Land Acknowledgement
For thousands of years, Yesą́, the people of the Monacan Nation, have lived on, protected and cultivated the lands on which the University of Virginia, built on colonized land by enslaved laborers, stands. As ancient peoples who thrive today, we acknowledge and respect their stewardship of the land past, present, and future. Several members of the Department of Environmental Sciences are actively involved in building relationships between UVA, the Monacan Nation, and Native American peoples elsewhere, and are committed to progressing institutional frameworks and an academic culture that support, value, and amplify Native American and Indigenous students, scholars, and community members.
For more information on the Monacan Nation and the land on which we work and conduct research, please visit their website: https://www.monacannation.com/.
