Why Iowa?
Majors in earth, environment, and sustainability come together in one dynamic school that encompasses natural science and human-centered perspectives to help you focus your passion and make an impact in your chosen career.
See yourself here
Exciting field trips, research opportunities, and internships will take you out of the classroom and into labs and nature, providing hands-on, real-world experience.
Write your story
From working in a lab to drafting policy, you’ll find your place here. Our majors are designed to provide the foundation and flexibility you need to succeed academically and professionally.
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News and announcements
Upcoming Event: Alumni Day 2026 - Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Join SEES and the University of Iowa Center for Advancement at Hancher Auditorium (141 Park Road, Iowa City) on April 18, 2026, for a day celebrating Hawkeye alumni!
SEES student Nina Osborne named 2026 Goldwater Scholar
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Undergraduate student Nina Osborne, a geographical and sustainability science and environmental policy and planning major in the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, has been named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards for research in STEM fields. Her research in Assistant Professor Susan Meerdink’s lab focuses on how ecosystems, including Midwestern forests, respond to climate change using remote sensing techniques, helping scientists monitor environmental change at large scales.
SEES researchers help uncover ancient “Lucy’s hunter” crocodile
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Researchers from the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) contributed to the discovery of a new prehistoric crocodile species, Crocodylus lucivenator, that lived alongside early human ancestors. The finding offers new insight into ancient ecosystems and the environmental pressures that shaped human evolution.
