Earth and Environmental SciencesProgram
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Program Overview
Master
AWARD
Master's Degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences
DURATION
2Y
SCHOOL(S)
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Doctor
AWARD
PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences
DURATION
3Y
SCHOOL(S)
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
Earth and Environmental Sciences Program
Program Introduction
The Earth and Environmental Sciences Graduate Program trains researchers to investigate the complex dynamics of the Earth system, spanning the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, and anthroposphere. The program integrates fundamental Earth science with environmental and hazard studies to understand the planet’s evolution, natural processes, and anthropogenic impacts. Research opportunities include geology, geochemistry, geophysics, geobiology, planetary science, climatology, glaciology, oceanography, and atmospheric sciences. Students use diverse methods such as fieldwork, laboratory analysis, remote sensing, and numerical modeling. Projects address topics such as seismic and volcanic activity, climate change, sustainable resource use, and planetary formation.
The program is organized into two research courses—Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Sciences—each offering specialized training. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and a global perspective, the program equips students with advanced research skills to contribute to scientific understanding and help solve pressing environmental challenges.
Take a look at the List of Available Research Groups below to see the full list of available research topics.
List of Key Research Topics
Earth Environmental Systems / Geology and Geobiology / Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry / Earth and Planetary Dynamics / Chronology and Natural History / Global Environmental Variation / Climate Science / Global Water Cycle (Oceanography, Atmospheric Chemistry)
How to Apply
The Earth and Environmental Sciences Program conducts its first round of admissions in January. A second, rolling admission period may be offered in May, depending on the availability of seats remaining after the first round. The availability of the rolling admission will be announced in mid-April on the G30 Graduate School Admissions page.
Applicants are advised to contact their prospective research supervisor in advance to confirm whether the research group can accommodate an additional graduate student. If you do not receive a timely reply, we recommend contacting another research group.
Contact information for program professors can be found in the List of Available Research Groups above or by emailing the Graduate School directly. The Graduate School’s contact details are provided at the end of this page.
Please click the “Apply Here” icon above to view the full application instructions.
Tips for a succesful application :
- Contact intended research supervisor in advance
- Make sure to align research plan to the research field of supervising professor.
- Include examples of past research experience (papers, conference participations etc.)
- Submit your application before the application deadline so AO can check your application for missing documents.
Research Voice
Student from France
What sparked your interest to pursue research in your chosen program?
I initially planned a PhD in coral geochemistry, but COVID-era disruptions closed those paths. Meeting Assoc. Prof. Marc Humblet was decisive: after a year as a research student in the Seiken Geobiology Lab, I saw that Nagoya’s G30 Earth & Environmental Sciences program fit my goals. It combines geology, geobiology, and geochemistry in an international, interdisciplinary setting, with strong supervision and access to national facilities—making it the ideal place to study Pleistocene reef records, diagenesis, and their environmental significance.
Group photo from our geology lab’s end-of-year gathering.
What kind of research you do currently?
I am a second year PhD and I study the Pleistocene Minatogawa Formation in southern Okinawa to understand reef development and relative sea-level change. Using 12 continuous cores, I integrate sedimentological logging, thin-section microfacies, and fossil assemblages (corals, benthic foraminifera, coralline algae) to reconstruct depositional environments and correlate units. Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes help identify diagenesis and subaerial exposure surfaces. By combining these datasets, I am building a coherent stratigraphic framework and 3-D architecture that will support forthcoming publications.
What has been the most memorable research experience in your studies so far?
The most memorable moment was when the data finally “clicked.” After re-logging and targeted resampling of the Minatogawa cores, thin-section microfacies and higher-resolution δ¹³C profiles began to align beneath the same sharp boundaries across multiple holes. Seeing that pattern hold—from core room to isotope lab—turned isolated observations into a coherent story of exposure and diagenesis. That synthesis, more than any single trip or analysis, confirmed that the approach works and gave me the confidence to carry it forward.
What message would you like to share with someone considering pursuing research at Nagoya University?
Nagoya University offers rigorous, well-supported research training in an international environment. Supervisors are engaged, facilities and collaborations are excellent, and the structure allows you to develop your own project with the guidance you need. Come with curiosity and initiative: you’ll gain solid field, lab, and analytical skills while building a meaningful professional network through seminars and joint projects. It’s a rewarding place to grow as an independent researcher and to strengthen your career prospects in academia or industry.
Analyzing a carbonate sample under a stereo microscope in the lab.
Core slab showing a large Tridacna shell within bioclastic grainstone.
Contact Info
Student Affairs Division
For the admission requirements and scholarship related inquiry, please contact the student affairs division of the school that you are applying for.
Office Hours
Mondays to Fridays* 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Japan standard Time (GMT+9) *Except Japanese National Holidays
Reseach Group
Applicants to the G30 Graduate Programs are required to contact their prospective research supervisor in advance to confirm whether the research group can accommodate an additional graduate student. If you do not receive a timely response, we recommend reaching out to another research group. Contact information for program professors can be found in the List of Available Research Groups below, or by contacting the Graduate School directly via email.
