The overall objective is to create an environment in which students:

1. Gain a deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness of the biological and the physical environments of the Earth;

2. Learn to solve complex multidisciplinary problems by interacting with investigators from different fields within geosciences while developing the expertise needed to contribute to team solutions and

3. Communicate effectively both with scientific peers in diverse fields within geosciences and with the public in order to improve the level of public awareness and understanding needed to intelligently shape public policy toward a sustainable future.

The mission is to offer transdisciplinary programs of instruction and research that advance understanding of the interaction of biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes, including feedback mechanisms, at all spatial and temporal scales. It centers around the processes that have shaped the Earth through geologic time, continue to shape the environment today, and which provide the basis for understanding the present and future impact of human activity on the planet.