Earth and Life Evolution (ELE)

The Master Specialization in Earth  and Life Evolution explores two complementary aspects of Earth Sciences – the evolution of the geosphere and biosphere – linked by a common theme: the processes that have produced our life-sustaining planet. This Master Specialization is focusing on the deeper understanding of geobiosphere interactions and how surface and internal processes and environmental change has shaped life on planet Earth and beyond including extra-terrestrial environments.  The curriculum is dominated by curiosity-driven science, based on the subdisciplines of paleontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, diagenesis, earth history, geomicrobiology, and (bio)geochemistry. Owing to the diversity of the underlying scientific approaches and techniques, a broad-based training in these disciplines is required. During the Master studies, students may choose specific areas in which increased expertise can be gained.

The breadth of the training acquired in this Specialization leads to a correspondingly wide choice of later professional opportunities, such as PhD studies and advanced academic careers at universities, research institutions, and musea, as scientific journalists, or jobs in resource management, government agencies, environmental companies, or space agencies in Switzerland and abroad. Graduates are especially prepared to work in interdisciplinary projects involving both Earth and biological sciences (e.g., biogeochemistry, astrobiology).

This Specialization aims at equipping graduates with a combination of different skills: understanding of the interaction between chemical, physical, and biological factors at different scales that have shaped and still shape our planet and other planets; expertise in state-of-the-art field and laboratory methods; analysis and interpretation of quantitative datasets, reconstructing environmental changes at various timescales; understanding the factors that led to mass extinctions and changing ecosystems; definition of relative and absolute ages in Earth history; integrating scientific information into sound geological models; ability to formulate and execute a research project; communication of data and results in a professional manner, both in written and oral form; cooperation in national and international research projects.