Welcome to the Department of Geology

The dynamic geology of the South Island of New Zealand is regarded with fascination by earth scientists the world over.

Teaching and Research carried out by staff and students in the Geology Department at the University of Otago in Dunedin emphasises process-related research tied to the fast tempo of 'active' earth science in the South Island, and to the evolution of our unique New Zealand biota.

Upcoming Events (all events)

Latest News (all news)

16 May 2013:Congratulations to Virginia Toy who has been awarded a University of Otago ‘Early Career Award for Distinction in Research’. Deputy Vice Chancellor Richard Blakie commented that "this year we had an exceptionally strong field of nominees". Dave Prior said that "Virginia is one of the rising stars of the university - the award is very well deserved".

13 May 2013: Experimental volcanoes make a blast (Nature news article) Controlled explosions could aid monitoring of active eruptions. Volcanologists detonated explosive charges buried in a meadow in Ashford, New York, blowing 12 small craters in the ground and throwing debris 80 metres in the air. The aim was to recreate, in true-to-life detail, what happens when a volcanic eruption punches through Earth’s crust. [James White]

4 May 2013: Marine mammals put Otago on the map (ODT article)

13 April 2013: Research links whales (ODT Article) University of Otago research that shows a northern hemisphere dwarf whale escaped extinction longer than previously thought also supports a theory that a still-surviving southern pygmy whale belongs to the same family. [Bobby Boessenecker]

21 February 2013: Radio NZ Nine to Noon Thursday 21 February 2013 Ewan Fordyce on how the Southern Ocean was a critical location for the evolution of whales and dolphins.

7 February 2012: Stress Change During the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake from Seafloor Boreholes

18 January 2013: Pelagiarctos thomasi not a "killer" walrus