Division of Earth Sciences (GEO/EAR)

The U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) advances research on the structure, composition and evolution of the planet.

EAR supports research, education and facilities that enable scientific advances in:

• The processes that formed early Earth and gave rise to life as we know it.
• Natural resources like minerals, water, living things and energy sources.
• Geologic hazards like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides.
• The structure and physics of the solid Earth, from its core to the lithosphere.
• The underlying mechanisms or controls on the Earth’s near-surface environment and how that environment responds to change.
• How the Earth evolved, from its original form to today.
• The patterns and processes relating to the origin and evolution of Earth's climate, environments, life and sedimentary record.