The Department of Earth Sciences strives to make major advances in the Earth Sciences through a broad-ranging interdisciplinary approach. They promote innovative research from geophysics to palaeontology to mineral physics.

They have an exceptionally well-equipped facility with state-of-the-art experimental equipment. The experiments are conducted by a staff with diverse backgrounds in quantum physics, marine biology, and other subjects; this allows them to reach beyond traditional scientific boundaries. Furthermore, the group collaborates with other labs both nationally and internationally.

In Nuclear Research, they combine quantum mechanical and classical atomistic modelling with fundamental experimental methods to elucidate the behaviour of solids and fluids in repository settings.

For example, researchers have used experiments, computer simulations, and theoretical calculations to quantify the number of atoms displaced by the alpha-decay of radioactive elements such as plutonium, uranium and thorium in minerals, and have provided a detailed understanding of the related damage and dissolution of minerals. This work is critical for safe storage of nuclear waste.