Alumni

The Department has an active and close-knit alumni community, courtesy of the small numbers of students on our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. We welcome all former undergraduates and postgraduates to take part in alumni events and receive our communications. The alumni magazine is distributed digitally once a year; you can see previous publications below. Our programme of alumni events can be found below, and we welcome alumni from all years to join us for these events. Between these milestones, we regularly welcome back our alumni whenever they visit Oxford, and can coordinate building tours and meetings with faculty upon request.

If you are a member of our alumni community who would like to get in touch with the Department you can contact our Alumni Team at alumni@earth.ox.ac.uk.

Alumni Magazine

The Alumni Magazine is produced once a year and is an overview of the fantastic work happening within and around the Earth Sciences Department. The magazine covers current research, alumni stories, student stories, our current outreach work and more. If you are an alumnus of the Department, and are signed up to receive our emails, the alumni magazine will automatically be emailed to you. If you would like to check your communication preferences you can do this through the alumni login page.

Past issues of the alumni magazine can be read below.

Alumni Magazine 2024, Hilary Term

Alumni Magazine 2022, Hilary Term

Alumni Login

Support Us

For over 100 years, Oxford earth scientists have been observing life and its origins, the environment and its interiors and the planet and its processes. The discoveries made here have informed policy and advanced our knowledge of fundamental science.

Whether out in the field or in Oxford laboratories, it is the department’s mission to continue to provide the best possible environment – an environment in which the world’s brightest minds and practitioners can collaborate and make ground-breaking discoveries that answer today’s most pressing questions.

We actively welcome philanthropic partners to support this mission.

How to give

There are many ways in which you can support Earth Sciences at Oxford, for example by making a one-off gift, giving a regular donation or leaving a gift in your will.

Expand All

Supporting Field Study

Field activity has remained an integral part of the undergraduate course. From the first year excursion to Pembroke to worldwide trips throughout the course, Oxford earth scientists are given opportunities from the beginning to develop the practical tools required for research. In turn, this ensures that tomorrow’s experts are scientifically trained to break new ground in their studies.

Field work provides new skills, experiences and the opportunity to bond with classmates in a new setting. It allows Oxford earth scientists to develop crucial skills in practical collaboration and learn how to best work and research as part of a group. It is no surprise that alumni fondly remember their time carrying out field work.

As an essential part of the degree, the Department of Earth Sciences actively welcomes contributions to support this aspect of the course in particular. Supporting field work gives donors the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of students at all levels of giving.

“Fieldwork has really been the highlight of my Earth Sciences degree. Being able to participate in field trips, such as to Assynt and Dorset, has been invaluable in situating knowledge from lectures and labs into the real world. The experience of fieldwork has also helped to build my self-confidence and independence, especially going to Greenland for my mapping project.” Tamsin Savvides (University College, 2016).

Donations to the Field Teaching Fund go into our endowment. As such, they will have a lasting impact, training the next generation of Earth scientists, who might go on to support communities at risk of earthquakes; supply rare earth minerals for future technologies; or mitigate climate change.

Make a donation via the Development Office online giving page.

Supporting Access & Outreach

The Department of Earth Sciences participates in a range of activities to make our subject accessible to school pupils, teachers and the wider public. Through these activities we hope to inspire the next generations of earth scientists – those who will increasingly experience challenging environmental issues and the effects of climate change.

Donations to support Access and Outreach can be made to the Earth Sciences Annual Fund. Make a donation via the Development Office online giving page.

Legacy Giving

Through the centuries, gifts in wills have played a vital part in Oxford’s success. Many of Oxford’s colleges were founded through generous legacies and almost every part of the collegiate University has benefited from gifts in the wills of alumni, friends and supporters.

A gift in your will can support any aspect of University life with which you have a particular affinity. You could help Oxford to address major global challenges by funding research, ensure that exceptional students are able to take up their places at the University, and that they thrive while here, or provide stability for critical teaching posts into the future. Whichever area you choose to support, your legacy will help to shape lives for generations to come.

You can find out more about legacy giving on the Development Office Legacies and Bequests page.

Meeting Minds

Annually, September

Meeting Minds is the University of Oxford's alumni weekend, where alumni from all programmes are invited back to Oxford to engage in talks, discussions and networking. Faculty members from the Department of Earth Sciences regularly contribute session to the programme. Find out more on the Meeting Minds website.

Careers Fair

Annually, November

The Careers Fair invites alumni from a broad range of career pathways and companies to speak to our undergraduate and postgraduate students. The event consists of open discussion in a fair-style setting, where alumni are invited to host a stall, and short career talks in our seminar rooms. If you are interested in attending please contact the Alumni Team at alumni@earth.ox.ac.uk.

Lobanov-Rostovsky Lecture in Planetary Geology

Annually, Trinity Term

Inaugurated in 2013 in recognition of the support given by Mr Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky (BA Geology, Christ Church 1955) to the Department through the endowment of the Lobanov-Rostovsky Associate Professor in Earth Sciences, this annual public lecture examines the fundamental questions of the origin of planets, formation and deformation and geology on a global scale.

Alumni Dinner

Odd-numbered years, May

The Department welcomes back all our alumni for a formal dinner once every two years. All Earth Sciences alumni and their partners, current staff and students are warmly invited to join us. The event traditionally begins with talks and a drinks reception in the Department, before a dinner and speeches in a college or external venue.

Finals Party

Annually, June

The Finals Party marks the end of the academic year, when the Department says farewell to our 4th Year Undergraduates. It is comprised of a prizegiving ceremony where prizes are awarded across the undergraduate year groups for their hard work. This is then followed by a BBQ on the roof terrace. Many of the student prizes are sponsored by our alumni - if you are interested in sponsoring a prize please contact our Alumni Team at alumni@earth.ox.ac.uk.