About the programme option
During the course of this programme, students will learn techniques for mapping and measuring changes on and close to the Earth's surface and in our environment, using sensors on the ground, operating from drones and from space. You will also learn methods for simulating these changes using numerical and laboratory tools.
This programme option encompasses the disciplines of environmental geosciences, geomorphology, geohazards and geomatics. These disciplines are key to understanding how the Earth's surface responds to both natural and anthropogenic forcing. You will acquire skills in analysing geoinformation and learn state-of-the-art tools in geomatics. You will discover strategies for reducing the impact of humans on common resources and contaminant transport, and gain transferable skills in data science, numerical modelling, chemical analyses, visualization and laboratory experiments.
Environmental geosciences
Environmental geoscience is the interaction between humans and their geological environment. The way humans exploit natural resources and produce and consume commodities often has negative impacts on the environment. In order to minimize the negative impacts, it is important to understand how pollutants are transported and spread, and how they impact ecosystems.
At the University of Oslo, we are particularly interested in how pollutants are spread in the environment, and how we can protect groundwater and the marine environment from pollution. We also pay special attention to natural carbon budgets and CO2 storage to mitigate climate change.
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the science of how the Earth's surface has developed under the influence of climate-controlled processes. A perfect example is the last glaciation which has shaped Norway with its deep fjords and high-elevation plateaus, as we can experience it today. When studying geomorphology, you will immerse yourself in observing, mapping, and interpreting landforms, quaternary geology, and glacial and periglacial geomorphology.
At the University of Oslo, we are mostly interested in areas at high latitudes or altitudes, where frost processes have governed the landscape development in the past or today.
Geohazards
Geohazards are rapid natural processes on or near the Earth's surface that can threaten life and infrastructure. Geohazards can be caused by endogenous (internal) processes such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, or exogenous (external) processes that are often triggered by weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall (leading to floods and landslides) or temperature fluctuations (promoting glacial melt or increasing risk of snow avalanches). Future climate change will strongly affect the frequency and severity of geohazards.
At the University of Oslo, we use calculations, modelling, satellite data and drones to the track dynamics of rapid mass movements and understand their driving processes.
Geomechanics
Geomechanics deals with how soil and rocks deform under various mechanical forces and through time, with important applications for geohazards where the movements of rock, soil or snow masses, and the fluid they contain, are involved. You will learn how to couple the notions of stress and deformation through the rheology of geomaterials.
At the University of Oslo, we mostly investigate geohazards with a deep origin (earthquakes, volcanoes) and those that occur at the surface of the Earth (landslides, snow avalanches, glacier instabilities) through approaches that combine numerical analyses (practical exercises using Python language) and laboratory experiments (modelling the rheology of materials).
Geomatics
Geomatics is the study of how spatial information is processed and handled digitally, for example remote sensing data from satellites and drones, or data organized in geographic information systems (GIS). When studying geomatics, you will acquire a broad set of skills which will allow you to tackle many of today’s and tomorrow’s geospatial challenges in science, industry and public administration.
At the University of Oslo, we mostly use geomatics to study areas in cold climates affected by glaciations, permafrost, and other frost-influenced processes. We also use geomatics to survey geohazards that have already happened or potential sites.
Geomatics is the combined suite of methods of collecting (e.g. by drones, airplanes, satellites) spatial data (e.g. elevation data, land cover and its change), and structuring and analysing these data numerically.
Career prospects
After completing this programme option, our students are in demand and commonly find work in Norway and abroad as researchers, scientists, in public authorities and institutions (e.g. NVE, NIVA, NGI, SVV, NGU, Statkraft, space agencies, municipality), working in remote sensing, space, risk management and consulting companies (e.g. Norconsult, Multiconsult, Sweco, etc.), or industry (e.g. hydropower, geospatial information).