School of Earth Sciences

1. Overview

The School of Earth Sciences was established in 1956 G.C as the only Earth Science teaching and research institution of the country. Through the years, there have been significant curriculum revisions which have taken into account new ideas and advances in the field. Accordingly, the Department has also undergone changes in its naming: first it was the Department of Geology for much of its existence and then the name has been changed to the Department of Geology and Geophysics especially after the inclusion of a graduate program in Geophysics. Then its name changed to Department of Earth Sciences before it acquired its current form and name as the School of Earth Sciences.

All these revisions were aimed at providing the basic, but up-to-date knowledge of Earth Science education and research. In addition to the academic exercises, the School played a significant role in enhancing the country’s natural resource development in areas of:

• Exploration of economic mineral deposits: metals (gold, platinum, nickel, copper, chromium, iron ore, rare metals, etc.); nonmetals (gypsum, barite, diatomite, gemstones, etc.); fuels (coal, oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, etc.); structural and industrial materials (building stones, clay products, cement, lime, sand and gravel, etc.).
  • Water resources development
  • Identification and mitigation or forecast capabilities of geohazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, subsidence, etc.
  • Initiations and undertaking of major research projects in the broad fields of Earth Sciences, and
  • Service to the public, government and private sectors.

In order to achieve these objectives, the School has made collaborative efforts with a large number of national, international and foreign governmental organizations.

The academic program of the Department has grown considerably over the years from offering service courses at the beginning to a strong undergraduate to graduate programs in various Earth Science disciplines.

Graduates of the School would follow careers in governmental organizations such as Mines, Energy, Water works; Engineering Geological works, Highway Authority, Agriculture; Geology-based Industries; and Public and service giving companies.

2. Missions of the school

• Teaching and training of geoscientists,
  • Conducting research in geosciences to improve and generate new knowledge, and
  • Rendering professional service to the community in matters pertaining to the fields of Earth Sciences.

3. Undergraduate Program in Geology – School of Earth Sciences

Program Objectives

General Objectives

The general objective of the program in geology is to produce Geologists with a broad understanding of geosciences, which can:
• Carry out professional work in various ministries, user institutions and companies engaged in activities related to the broad fields of geosciences  and
• Identify geological problems and work towards their solution through independent or collaborative research

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the program are enabling students to get knowledge, skill and attitude concerning:
• The origin and evolution of the earth and its inhabitants through the study of Rocks, Minerals, Fossils and Elements;
• The setting, types, origin and use of earth resources;
• Methods and techniques of natural resources exploration;
• A better understanding of the environment and how it changes and the impacts of hazardous earth processes;
• The unique features of the geology of Ethiopia, its resources and Environments
• The habit of cooperating with others in the profession;
• The willingness to encourage the dissemination and transfer of geosciences knowledge and skill;
• The awareness to observe ethical standards of geosciences knowledge;
• The determination to maintain and improve professional competence in order to give better service to the community;
• The habit of sharing once own time, effort as well as available resources for defined priories of the nation;
• The habit of conserving and protecting the environment.

Graduate Profile

Upon successful completion of all the required Modules in the curriculum, the geology graduate will:
• Have the ability to measure, describe, record, map, interpret, and report geologic features, processes, and resources using conventional and up-to-date methods, equipment and standards;
• Have sufficient tacit and explicit competence to compare, analyze and synthesize data on geologic and geologic processes, features and resources. Convert this competence into actions in sectors such as earth resources evaluation, development and management, geo-hazards and environmental changes detection and mitigation;
• Conduct basic and applied research in earth sciences (including problem identification, comparing and contrasting, inventorying) and be able to communicate with individuals and the community;
• Be able to teach Earth Science subjects in high school, colleges and institutes;
• Have the attitude and caliber to transform theories and principles from one Earth Science discipline to another;
• Be cognizant of the ethics, attitude, and value of own profession and that of responsible citizenship.

Admission Requirements

     • Applicants to the program must successfully complete the precollege program set by the Ministry of Education
     • Fulfillment of the general University wide admission requirements

 

4. Academic Staff by Rank

No	Name	Rank
1	Dr Abera Alemu	Asst. Professor
2	Ato Amdemichael Zafu	Grad. Assistant
3	Dr Asfawossen Asrta	Assoc. Professor
4	Dr Balemwal Atnafu	Asst. Professor
5	Ato Bayisa Regasa	Lecturer
6	Dr Bekele Abebe	Assoc. Professor
7	Ato Binyam tesfaw	Lecturer
8	Ato Degelo Sendabo	Lecturer
9	Dr Dereje Ayalew	Assoc. Professor
10	Dr Dessie Nidaw	Assoc. Professor
11	W/t Enquye Wondimu	Lecturer
12	Ato Ermias Fifilu	Grad. Assistant
13	Dr Fekrte Arega	Asst. Professor
14	Dr Getachew Berhanu	Asst. Professor
15	Prof. Gezahegn Yirgu	Professor
16	Ato Merhawi G/Egzibher	Lecturer
17	Dr Mulugeta Alene	Assoc. Professor
18	Dr. T.k. Rahguvanshi	Asst. Professor
19	Dr Seifu Kebede	Assoc. Professor
20	Prof. Solomon Tadesse	Professor
21	Dr. K.V. Suryabhagavan	Asst. Professor
22	Ato Tadele Tesema	Lecturer
23	Ato Tadesse Berhanu	Lecturer
24	Prof. Tenalem Ayenew	Professor
25	Dr Tesfaye Kidane	Assoc. Professor
26	Dr Tigistu haile	Assoc. Professor
27	Ato Tilahun Azagegn	Lecturer
28	Dr Tilahun Mammo	Assoc. Professor
29	Dr Tirufat Hailemariam	Asst. Professor
30	Ato Wondimagegn Sin	Lecturer
31	Dr Worash Getaneh	Assoc. Professor
32	Ato Yayeh Desalegn	Asst. Lecturer
33	Ato Yemane Kelemwork	Grad. Assistant
Support Staff
34	Ato Adane Abebe
35	Ato Binyam Tezera
36	W/t Betelhme Girma	Secretary
37	Ato Dagmawi Shiferaw
38	Ato Hailu Dibabe	Driver
39	Ato W/Selassie G/Hiwot	Technician
40	Ato Wondwossen Sisay	Technician

5. Faculty bio

Please see the separate files by the names of the staff members

6. Number of Programs (Undergraduate, Graduate and PhD)

The School of Earth Sciences has the following programs:

a) Undergraduate programs: one program in “BSc in Geology”

b) Post graduate Programs
a. MSc: fourteen MSc programs are running in the school currently.

Engineering Geology

Environmental Geology

Fossil Fuel Exploration

Geochemistry

Geohazards

Geophysics

Geothermal Exploration

Hydrogeology

Mineral Exploration

Palaeontology and Paleoenvironment

Petrology

Remote Sensing and GIS

Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

Structural Geology

b. PhD: three PhD programs are running in the school currently

PhD in Hydrogeology

PhD in Geophysics

PhD in Structural geology

 7. Number of Students

a. Undergraduate: currently there are 360 students
b. MSc: currently there are 111 students
c. PhD: currently there are 18 students