UMass Amherst Dept. of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences

UMass Amherst Dept. of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences Geology (BS, BA)
Earth Systems (BS)
Geosciences (MS & PhD)
Geography (BA, BS & MS)

09/17/2026

Who gets to define the beginning and end of a geologic age? Numerous news outlets recently considered this question when Distinguished Professor Raymond Bradley of the UMass Amherst Dept. of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences challenged the scientific basis for the Meghalayan Age, the youngest subdivision of the Holocene epoch, which was ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy—housed within the International Union of Geological Sciences—in 2018.

Bradley argues that the evidence used to establish the Meghalayan's 4,200-year boundary is insufficient to demonstrate a globally significant climatic event, and he has called for the classification to be reconsidered.

In a recent paper, Bradley examined the paleoclimate evidence behind the boundary and concluded that the data do not adequately support treating an event recorded in a cave in Meghalaya, India, as a global geological marker.

Learn more: https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/news/egcs-raymond-bradley-meghalayan-age

08/25/2026
06/30/2026
06/25/2026

Massachusetts's Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced that nearly $500,000 in grant funding has been awarded to the Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst to develop carbon baseline data for wetland resource areas. This project will develop a Massachusetts-specific baseline to determine how much carbon wetlands absorb and release.

“This grant will give Massachusetts clear, up-to-date baseline data of how much carbon is stored in our wetlands,” said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “These data are essential for informing effective protection, restoration, and investment strategies.”

“Staff at MassGeo are thrilled to support MassDEP with information that will support sound, smart, and science-based decision-making regarding the Commonwealth’s natural resources,” says Brian Yellen, survey director, Massachusetts State Geologist, and a College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst faculty member.

Learn more: https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/news/egcs-massgeo-grant-wetlands

UMass Amherst Dept. of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences

Congratulations to department head Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette on being appointed Distinguished Professor by the UMass Boar...
06/22/2026

Congratulations to department head Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette on being appointed Distinguished Professor by the UMass Board of Trustees earlier this month. Distinguished Professorships are awarded by the Board of Trustees to full professors at UMass Amherst for outstanding national or international contributions in research, teaching, and/or public service

Hands-on experience, outside in the field, has always been a core component of educating and training the earth science ...
04/30/2026

Hands-on experience, outside in the field, has always been a core component of educating and training the earth science workforce. A modern fleet of vans makes field trips, outdoor labs for courses, research, and public outreach accessible for students.

Please join us in supporting high-quality student education during with a small gift to EGCS:

https://umass.scalefunder.com/gday/giving-day/111216/department/119408

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627 N Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA
01003

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+14135452286

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