Dear friends and alumni of Rice Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (EEPS)

EEPS prides itself in both undergraduate and graduate education.  Our students go on to being academics, working in the energy industry, being environmental consultants, starting companies, teaching high school, being science writers, serving in public office, and becoming community organizers or policy makers.  Wherever they go, our students are off leading or influencing the world in ways that bring  balanced, pragmatic and creative solutions to problems in Earth, energy, environmental and planetary sciences.  We provide our students with both technical and leadership skills, a holistic approach to science and technology, and the skills to think about open-ended problems.  We also emphasize the importance of teamwork and the importance of working with and giving back to the community when one is able.

The key to our success is the combination of creative students, post-doctorates, faculty and staff, along with our ability to provide our students with access to cutting edge research facilities and unique field experiences.  There is no doubt that much of our success has been built on the support of alumni and friends of the department.  Every year, our department seems to be getting better and better in every way. We have some of the best faculty in the world and we are producing some of the best students one could ever imagine.  The Rice Earth Science department has come of age. It is your support that has made this possible.

Despite our successes, we still feel we are just beginning.  We have every reason to believe we will continue our rise.  The future is bright, but times are tough.  We need your continued support.  You can help us by donating to our various initiatives or by simply participating in some of the various activities we have planned for the future. Our students gain valuable insights into career choices when they can connect with alums.  Activities include departmental picnics, geology trips, birdwatching trips, workshops, seminars, etc.  Keep close tabs on our webpage so that you don’t miss any of these opportunities.  If you want to donate financially, please consider some of the initiatives we describe on this page.  If you are interested in defining new directions for development, please contact me directly at ctlee@rice.edu.

We look forward to seeing you more in our department activities!

Julia Morgan

Chair of the Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Department

Jackie Macha (jackie.macha@rice.edu)
Director of Development
Wiess School of Natural Sciences
Office: 713.348.4268
naturalsciences.rice.edu

The above link will take you to the Wiess School of Natural Sciences support page.

Use the drop down list to select Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Department  or Other (specify in special instructions) to specify which EEPS endowment you are supporting with your gift.

Contact Julia Morgan (morganj@rice.edu) for more questions or if you would like to discuss developing new opportunities.

Endowments

Human Impacts on the Earth – Help the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences provide unique educational, research and field experiences and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students studying Earth processes, with a particular focus on understanding human impacts on Earth’s habitability.

Industry-Rice Earth Science Symposium (IRESS) – This endowment goes to the development of a think tank and symposium that brings together industry and academic leaders to solve fundamental problems related to the Earth, environment and energy.

Douglas and Martha Lou Broussard Fellowship – In honor of Martha Lou Broussard, who was the first female graduate of our department.  This fellowship supports graduate students in their last year, with the goal of promoting women and community service in the Earth sciences.

Devlin-Schnable Memorial Award – This award helps to offset the cost of summer field camp for Geology/Geophysics students.

Education and Innovation Fund – We are always trying to enhance the educational and research experience of our students. We do this by running field courses, developing interdisciplinary courses, inviting students into our laboratories, and building computational, visualization, geochemical and geophysical facilities.  We pride ourselves in pursuing ideas and ventures that traditional funding agencies might find too risky to support.  In particular, we encourage both undergraduate and graduate students to engage in self-discovery and to pursue their own ideas.  Our undergraduate honors thesis is one example of empowering students to design their own projects. Some have developed new experimental apparatus. Others have designed their own field expeditions.  Some have explored the dynamics of other planets.  Your support would go far in ensuring our students have the freedom to continue exploring, innovating and cultivating their creativity.

Education and Innovation Fund

We are always trying to enhance the educational and research experience of our students. We do this by running field courses, developing interdisciplinary courses, inviting students into our laboratories, and building computational, visualization, geochemical and geophysical facilities.  We pride ourselves in pursuing ideas and ventures that traditional funding agencies might find too risky to support.  In particular, we encourage both undergraduate and graduate students to engage in self-discovery and to pursue their own ideas.  Our undergraduate honors thesis is one example of empowering students to design their own projects. Some have developed new experimental apparatus. Others have designed their own field expeditions.  Some have explored the dynamics of other planets.  Your support would go far in ensuring our students have the freedom to continue exploring, innovating and cultivating their creativity.