Considering studying Earth Sciences in South Africa? Discover these top programmes!


Friday, 03 July 2020

Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical and chemical constitution of the Earth and its atmosphere. If you are interested in pursuing a career in Earth Sciences or in a specific branch of this interesting field, take a look at the programmes offered by the University of the Witwatersrand and by Stellenbosch University.




What is the study of Earth Sciences?

Earth Science is the study of the Earth and its neighbors in space. It is an exciting science with many interesting and practical applications. Some Earth scientists use their knowledge of the planet to locate and develop energy and mineral resources. Others study the impact of human activity on Earth's environment, and design methods to protect the planet. Some use their knowledge about earth processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes to plan communities that will not expose people to these dangerous events.

Why are Earth Sciences important?

The Earth and its inhabitants face many challenges in the current world. Our climate is changing, and that change is being caused by human activity. Earth Scientists recognize problems like this one and play a key role in resolving them.  

We are also challenged to: develop new sources of energy that will have minimal impact on climate; locate new sources of metals and other mineral resources as known sources are depleted; and, determine how Earth's increasing population can live and avoid serious threats such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, floods and more. These are just a few of the problems where solutions depend upon a deep understanding of Earth science.

If you are interested in studying Earth Sciences, the University of the Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch University offer a wide variety of courses in Earth Sciences in general and in many of its branches as well.

University of the Witwatersrand




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