The department of Geosciences

The Porter School for the Environment and Earth Sciences

Throughout the world, humanity is troubled by environmental problems: natural disasters, global climate change, diminishing resources, and an increased need for energy, water, minerals, clean air and community resilience. The Porter School for the Environment and Earth Sciences aims to contribute to the growing demand for knowledge, research, and training in a variety of environmental fields that focus on these urgent matters while fostering excellence and interdisciplinary research. In order to achieve these goals, the Porter School maintains high level research and undergraduate and graduate-level teaching in its three departments: Geography and Human Environment, Geophysics, and Environmental Studies. Integrating humanities with exact sciences under the roof of one Environmental School advances interdisciplinary research, and allows us to address complex environmental problems.

The Geosciences curriculum provides a thorough grounding in physics and mathematics, which forms the basis for specific professional courses. It is the only department in Israel that provides a complete curriculum in geophysics.

B.Sc. courses are taught in Hebrew and therefore proficiency in the Hebrew language is an admission requirement.

Geosciences (single major) B.Sc (0341)

The studies focus on the theoretical and applied aspects of the Earth Sciences: applied geophysics and geology, atmospheric sciences and meteorology as well as courses in planetary and space sciences.

In the first two years, students gain a solid basis in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The following year is devoted to geophysical and atmospheric studies together with some introduction to planetary sciences and elective courses on environmental issues.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Geosciences in the Research Program for outstanding students (0341, track 0120)

The program is open for outstanding students who aim at a research career in geosciences. The students carry out research projects under supervision by senior faculty members.

Dual-degree program in Mechanical Engineering and Geosciences with an Emphasis on Environmental Studies (0542.0341)

This is a full program in both Mechanical Engineering and Geosciences with additional environmental courses of the Porter School of Environmental Studies. Candidates must meet the admission requirements of both majors.

Geosciences – double major – together with an additional major in any other department from any Faculty (as double major) – B.Sc (0341.xxxx)

The program offers the option of combining Geosciences with any additional program in any other Faculty (as dm). Candidates must meet the admission requirements of both majors.

Geography and the Human Environment (dm/sm) (0349)

The undergraduate studies in Geography and the Human Environment offer students the opportunity to understand the physical and human processes that shape the world we live in. Through Geographic theories, methodologies and research methods the studies aim to provide students with the tools to research and grapple with the social, economic, and environmental challenges humanity faces (climate change, population growth, growth of cities, social inequality, etc.) in the 21^st century.

The studies focus around three inter-related themes of knowledge and research:

Geo-informatics: The study of new technologies for the creation, storage, processing and presentation of geographical and spatial information.  Geo-informatics offers learning and specialization in Remote-sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) including the utilization and analysis of Big Data.

Climate and Water & Soil Resources: this theme focuses on a) climate and the environment including regional climatology, climate change, synoptic climatology, urban climatology and climate adjusted planning b) Geo-hydrology: water and soil resources and their relation with the human environment.

Urban, environment and planning studies: this theme focuses on understandings the range of physical and human factors that shape the city and its environment and are central in planning cities and their surroundings. Sustainability, Urban and regional planning, Transport planning, Urban design, Socio-cultural geography are all sub-fields covered under this theme.

Important note: The lessons are taught in Hebrew. Therefore, a proficiency in the Hebrew language is an admission requirement.

The Department of Geography and the Human Environment is now based at the new Porter School for Environmental and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences.

In the academic year 2023, registration for a bachelor's degree will not be opened.