Geosciences (Master of Science)

The geosciences play a central role in key issues of global importance for the Earth system. Climate change has dramatic consequences for physical, geochemical, ecological processes on Earth's surface with strong economic and social implications. This includes the development and management of the land surface, the exploration and exploitation of natural resources under dramatically increasing population pressure (water, soil, energy resources, metallic and non-metallic raw materials), the assessment of geohazards, the development of new materials and processes, particularly in the areas of energy efficiency and environmental protection. In recent decades, geosciences have developed into a natural science with modern physical-chemical measurement methods and strong theoretical and mathematical-physical model thinking. This includes the analysis and modelling of processes that take place on the surface and in deeper areas of Earth on different time and space scales. The aim of the Master's “Geowissenschaften” at Leibniz University Hannover is to provide strong scientific backgrounds with state-of-the-art methods to face the forthcoming problems of economic and social importance related to climate change.