Unexpected Focus: My Rationale for Choosing Geosciences as a Major
In the heart of Princeton University, the Geosciences department stands as a beacon for students seeking a dynamic environment for research and learning. This department, known for its supportive faculty mentorship, interdisciplinary opportunities, and thriving community, offers an enriching experience for students with diverse academic interests.
One of the key ways the department supports undergraduates is through faculty mentorship and research integration. Professors, such as Curtis A. Deutsch, lead research that combines fieldwork with applications in climate science, oceanography, and biogeochemical cycles. This provides students with opportunities to engage with current problems in environmental science and isotope geochemistry.
The department's close ties with the High Meadows Environmental Institute, which boasts over 140 faculty across 30 disciplines, allow students to pursue cross-disciplinary research tailored to their interests. This interdisciplinary collaboration fosters a unique and comprehensive understanding of environmental issues.
The department also places a strong emphasis on community and events. A dynamic calendar of seminars, lectures, and other events involves students actively, including the Princeton University Geosciences Society (PUGS) and undergraduate alumni networks. These platforms foster community engagement and professional development.
Princeton encourages diversity in physical sciences, supporting fellows and initiatives aimed at inclusion of underrepresented groups. This commitment to diversity ensures equitable mentoring, teaching, and outreach efforts within the Geosciences and related departments.
For one student, the allure of the Geosciences department was its offering of many different scientific research experiences while allowing freedom to pursue other academic interests. Originally intending to study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the student ended up choosing Geosciences. The department's approach to undergraduate research, which is unique compared to other departments at Princeton, played a significant role in this decision.
Undergraduate students in the Geosciences department are expected to conduct rigorous scientific research. With a high faculty to student ratio, undergraduates are treated similarly to graduate students. Dedicated students often work on one independent project with the same adviser for both their Junior and Senior year.
The department values undergraduate participation, and students are encouraged to attend weekly events like lunchtime lectures, snack breaks, and annual department picnics. Some professors even invite their advisees to lab meetings.
The Geosciences department offers a unique blend of physics, chemistry, biology, natural history, mathematics, and computer science. This interdisciplinary approach provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's systems and processes.
PUGS, an undergraduate society run by students, organizes social events, field trips, and has planned a weeklong trip to the United Kingdom this year. This society, along with the vibrant community, makes the department attractive to students from varied academic backgrounds.
In conclusion, the Geosciences department at Princeton University provides a supportive and enriching environment for undergraduate research and community engagement. Its focus on diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship makes it an attractive choice for students seeking rigorous research opportunities, a collaborative community, and a comprehensive understanding of global environmental challenges.
A junior student in the Geosciences department at Princeton University might decide to focus on a paper related to undergraduate research in education-and-self-development, as the department offers unique opportunities for personal-growth through rigorous scientific research. Furthermore, the department fosters learning by encouraging students to engage in cross-disciplinary research projects with faculty and peers, which could lead to significant discoveries in environmental science and isotope geochemistry.
