New Frontiers for IRESS2026 Industry-Rice Earth Science Symposium April 9-10 James A. Baker Hall Geothermal Energy: From Hot Rocks to a Future Low-Carbon Grid Join us at Rice University for IRESS 2026, in Houston, TX for a 1.5 day symposium designed to bring together Full program and conference details: https://eeps.rice.edu/iress-2026 Co-sponsored by: Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science (EEPS), Rice Sustainability Insti tute (Geothermal Working Group), and the Baker Institute (Center for Energy Studies).

Join experts IN ONE WEEK for the 2026 Industry-Rice Earth Science Symposium (IRESS): "New Frontiers for Geothermal Energy"

📅 April 9th & 10th
📍James A. Baker Hall

Register here: riceconnect.rice.edu/events/2026/...
To learn more: eeps.rice.edu/iress-2026

#BakerInstitute #RiceEEPS

Picture of Bidong Zhang with text "Bidong Zhang, EEPS Assistant Professor, awarded $2.54 Million NASA grant for Lunar Research"

A $2.54M grant from NASA is supporting new lunar research at Rice University.

Professor Bidong Zhang is developing more precise ways to date Moon rocks, advancing goals tied to NASA’s Artemis Program.

Read More: news.rice.edu/news/2026/na...

#RiceEEPS #NASA #Lunar #ArtemisProgram

EEPS Seminar poster Title: Recent advances in understanding the rheology of geological melts from lab and field measurements. "Special Guest: Dr. Stephan Kolzenburg, March 26th, 2026, 1 pm KWGL room 100". Picture of Dr. Kolzenburg with text "Department of Earth Sciences University at Buffalo"

Join Dr. Stephan Kolzenburg, Assistant Professor for the Department of Earth Sciences at University at Buffalo, TODAY, for a talk titled "Recent advances in understanding the rheology of geological melts from lab and field measurements".

🗓️ March 26th @ 1 pm
📍KWGL, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #Seminar

Every once in a while EEPS staff step out of the office for teambuilding. This time, they stepped into the archery range at @x10Archery 🏹

Special thanks to archery teacher, Lynda, for making our staff feel confident at hitting their marks.

#RiceEEPS #TeamBuilding #X10Archery

Picture of EEPS postdoc pointing at her poster presentation with text "EEPS students and faculty present at the 2026 lunar & planetary science conference - swipe for more"

3 polaroid style pictures with the top one having 8 people at a tabling smiling at the camera with text "2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference", bottom left with picture of Dr. Kirsten siebach pointing at her powerpoint with text "Dr. Kirsten Siebach, Assistant Professor, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences" and the bottom right has a picture of Baibhav with text "Baibhav 'Bruu Srivastava, EEPS Graduate student"

List of all Rice EEPS presentations at LPSC 2026 by day. PDF of this document is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LdHmVjnjYuFghgME0gRzYXyOY_51Ga7S/view?usp=drive_link

Happy Spring Break!

EEPS students, faculty, and staff are celebrating the break by presenting at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

Swipe to the end to see the full schedule of #RiceEEPS presenters.

#LPSC2026 #Planetary Science #RiceU

📷️ Ellie Moreland & Kirsten Siebach

From trona frogs to the dome rocks of Mt. St. Helens, EEPS faculty brought fun facts and samples from their research area to the first #RiceEEPS Rock Tales and Mocktails social.

Add your fun facts in the comments 👇️

#Rocks #StudentLife #RiceUniversity #Geoscience

EEPS Seminar flyer with title "Planetary impact and hydrothermal events revealed by nano-mineralogy" with special guest "Dr. Jinping Hu" March 12th, 2026, 1 pm KWGL Room 100. Picture of Dr. Jinping Hu with text "Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Houston"

Join Dr. Jinping Hu, Assistant Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Houston, TOMORROW, for a talk titled "Planetary Impact and Hydrothermal Events Revealed by Nano-mineralogy"

🗓️ Date March 12th @ 1 pm
📍Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #GeoscienceSeminar

Hi, I'm Andy, a junior from Brown. Join me this week as I take over #RiceEEPS social media on the 2026 Undergraduate Johnson field trip.

Can you guess where we chose this year?

#JohnsonFieldTrip #FieldWork #FieldTrip #Geoscience #SocialMediaTakeover @RiceNatSci

Flyer with earth in the center with text "Rice Earth, Planetary & Space Open House, Discover the mysteries of our planet and our place in the universe. -Bring your rock and we will help you identify it! -Fossil Dig - Discovery Dome - Hands-on demonstrations -free educational materials - food trucks. Saturday, February 28, Rice stadium practie bubble 10am-2pm (plan for one hour at the event) free parking. (on bottom left there is a qr code that says scan for more info: https://eeps.rice.edu/rice-k-12-earth-and-planetary-open-house)

🌍✨ Ready to explore Earth, space, and everything in between? Join us at @RiceUniversity for the Rice Earth & Planetary Open House! Free event — families welcome!

📅 Feb 28 | RSVP now: bit.ly/EEPSxOPENHouse

#RiceEEPS #RiceU #OpenHouse #Space #Houston #FreeEventHTX #HTXFreeEvents #Science #STEM #HISD

Flyer with earth in the center with text "Rice Earth, Planetary & Space Open House, Discover the mysteries of our planet and our place in the universe. -Bring your rock and we will help you identify it! -Fossil Dig - Discovery Dome - Hands-on demonstrations -free educational materials - food trucks. Saturday, February 28, Rice stadium practie bubble 10am-2pm (plan for one hour at the event) free parking. (on bottom left there is a qr code that says scan for more info: https://eeps.rice.edu/rice-k-12-earth-and-planetary-open-house)

🌍✨ Ready to explore Earth, space, and everything in between? Join us at @RiceUniversity for the Rice Earth & Planetary Open House! Free event — families welcome!

📅 Feb 28 | RSVP now: bit.ly/EEPSxOPENHouse

#RiceEEPS #RiceU #OpenHouse #Space #Houston #FreeEventHTX #HTXFreeEvents #Science #STEM #HISD

Olympic flag behind Dr. Sylvia Dee with text: "Rice expert, Dr. Sylvia Dee, now available to discuss 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games"

Interested in how weather conditions during Olympic events may be impacted by Earth's evolving climate? EEPS climate Scientist Dr. Sylvia Dee is available to answer all of your questions.

#WinterOlympics #RiceUniversity #RiceEEPS #RiceENVS #Climate #EnvironmentalScience

Artemis II mission ad with cut out of Rice expert Kirsten Siebach with text "Rice Expert Kirsten Siebach now available to discuss NASA's Artemis II

As the Artemis II mission approaches, #RiceEEPS own Kirsten Siebach is standing by to answer your questions about how robotic exploration of planets such as #Mars can aid upcoming human missions to the moon (Artemis II youtu.be/Ke6XX8FHOHM?...).

📷️ Artemis II mission. NASA

The background is an image of Tim Diedesch kneeling on a rocky plane surrounded by a group of students, all holding notepads. He appears to be demonstrating or lecturing in an outdoor field setting near water. The text on the slide is the post title, which reads: "Rice Lecturer Dr. Tim Diedesch is redefining Field Methods for the 21st Century."

The background of this slide is an image of students wearing backpacks are examining a large, weathered rock formation in a sunny outdoor setting with scattered trees. The text on this slide explains that Diedesch is broadening the focus and inclusivity of field education to make the study of geology relevant and accessible to all students.

The background of this slide is a dramatic landscape photo of the Wave rock formation in New Mexico. The text summarizes the methods and conclusion, stating that Diedesch makes fieldwork accessible with virtual technology, enriches the capstone trip with interactive lessons with Native American partners, and ensures these modernized experiences develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for any professional challenge.

For Rice lecturer Tim Diedesch, the field is a dynamic classroom where Earth’s stories come alive. By revitalizing field methods with active learning, virtual technologies, and culturally informed partnerships, his work expands the accessibility and relevance of geological training.

#RiceEEPS

Picture of EEPS scientists: Ellie Moreland, Nyla Hartigan, Sylvia Dee, and Kirsten Siebach with text "EEPS scientists foudn that "Thin ice may have protected lake water on frozen Mars"

#RiceEEPS PhD student Ellie Moreland, undergraduate Nyla Hartigan, and faculty Sylvia Dee and Kirsten Siebach highlighted after using #ClimateModel to help resolve long-standing puzzles about sustained liquid surface water on early #Mars.

Read more here: news.rice.edu/news/2026/th...

Seminar advertisement: The Billion $$$ Samples: Managing Data for NASA's Sample-Return Missions and Samples from Earth. Special guest: Dr. Kerstin Lehnert, January 22nd, 2026, 1 pm; KWGL room 100. Picture of Kerstin with text "Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory"

Join Dr. Kerstin Lehnert, Senior Research Scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, TOMORROW, for a talk titled "The Billion $$$ Samples: Managing Data for #NASA's #SampleReturn Missions and Samples from Earth".

🗓️ Jan 22nd @ 1 pm
📍KWGL, Room 100

#RiceEEPS

Ad that says: Gems, dirt, and oil: A geologic Journey trough civilization starting March 24 picture of gem, lightbold, gold mineral, oil barrel, wind turbine, and hands with dirt in them

Join #RiceContinuingStudies for a short, non-credit course: Gems, Dirt, and Oil: A Geologic Journey Through Civilization, this spring!

This course is open to the public and delivered in person. Learn more here: continue.rice.edu/course?id=58...

#GlasscockSchool #RiceEEPS #RiceU

Rice EEPS Seminar "Periodic dike intrusions in Kilauea's middle east Rift zone continue post 2018. Special guest: Dr. Emily Montgomery Brown. research geophysicist with the US geological survey. January 15th, 2026 1 pm KWGL room 100.

Join Dr. Emily Montgomery-Brown, Research Geophysicist for the
#USGS, TOMORROW, for a talk titled “ Periodic dike intrusions in Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone continue post-2018".

🗓️ January 15th @ 1 pm
📍Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #EarthScience

picture of 5 eeps students hiking towards a foggy mountain

Welcome back EEPS! 🥂 Here's to a spring semester filled with smiles, exemplary research, and quality time with our fantastic community.

#RiceEEPS #RiceU #WelcomeBackOwls

4 students stand in a lab and smile/stare at the camera

One student stand at a table sanding a rock, the other pours a liquid onto another in their hand.

two students point to a rock sample.

Dear EEPS, we miss you...

#RiceEEPS #WinterRecess #ComeBackToSchool

Winter themed holiday closure notice for the department of Earth, Environmental And Planetary Sciences (EEPS). It states that the offices will be closed from December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.

Holiday break time! 🎄

EEPS offices will be closed from December 24, 2025 to January 2nd, 2026 for the winter recess. We will return to our normal business hours January 5th, 2026. Happy Holidays!

#RiceEEPS #HappyHolidays

EEPS students, faculty and staff in front of agu picture wall doing the rice owl sign

#RiceEEPS is at #AGU2025!

(And almost all of our eyes were open for this photo)

#RiceUniversity

Promotional Flyer for the EEPS Explore Program. The Heading reads "EEPS EXPLORE supports research projects for all majors" and the subheading reads "Meet two students who took their passion for Earth, Environmental, and Planetary science into real research labs through EEPS Explore.

Explanation of the EEPS Explore program. A question is presented on the slide which reads "What is EEPS Explore?" The body of the slide reads "EEPS Explore (Earth & PLanetary Opportunities in REsearch) is a hands-on program that gives Rice undergraduates, whether they’re EEPS majors or not, the chance to work with EEPS faculty on real Earth and planetary science projects. Each student in EEPS Explore is paired with a faculty mentor who guides them. Students can earn academic credit for their work, and in some cases, they are paid for their research.

The heading of this slide reads "Meet an Explorer". The name of the Student Researcher is Evan Gebhart, whose faculty mentor is Sylvia Dee. There is a picture of Evan standing infront of his research poster. The body of the text reads "Evan is a rising senior from majoring in Physics. He presented his research at the Natural Sciences Fall Undergraduate Research Fair on Mississippi River Basin flooding events. His research contributes new insights into how changing rainfall patterns impact river dynamics. On the bottom of the slide is a quote by Evan which reads " One of the people I spoke with didn't know much about climate modeling...[this] helped me think about how to communicate my research to a wider audience with different levels of background knowledge"

The heading of this slide reads "Meet an Explorer". The name of the Student Researcher is Lindsay White. There is a picture of Lindsay on the top right corner. The body of the text reads "Lindsay is a Computer Science major, with a minor in EEPS. They presented their research on water measurements for coastal Houston storms, helping us better understand flooding risk in urban environments." On the bottom of the slide is a quote by Lindsay which reads "It was nice to get some practice presenting the full project to people without an EEPS background."

EEPS EXPLORE supports undergraduate research for all majors. Learn about the program and two EEPS Explorers (Evan Gebhart & Lindsay White) by swiping. ➡️

#RiceUniversity #RiceEEPS #EEPSExplore #UndergraduateResearch

Flyer with snow flakes hanging from top and volcano with smoke coming out of it that says "Igneous is bliss solo show - come hear new songs that we are test-running for Battle of the Bands! - Friday, December 12th 6 pm Lyles (lovett basement) No Jingle bell. Only rock"

Are you looking for entertainment after enlightenment (3-5 pm on the KWGL patio) this Friday? Look no further - @Igneous.Is_Bliss is performing an end of year show with all new songs!

Be there or...are you even their biggest fan?

📍 Lyle's (Lovett Basement)
🕐 6:00 PM

#RiceEEPS #IgneousIsBliss

A promotional flyer for the Rice University Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences seminar. The talk title reads ‘Satellite Remote Sensing of Reservoirs: From Science to Application’. Below, a label says ‘Special Guest: Dr. Huilin Gao.’ On the right is a circular photo of the guest speaker, a smiling woman wearing glasses and a light blue blazer. The date of the talk ‘December 4th, 2025’ appears at the bottom left. Her affiliation is listed as ‘Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A & M University.’ The design uses navy blue, light blue, and orange accents.

Join Dr. Huilin Gao, Professor - Texas A & M University, TODAY, for a talk titled “Satellite Remote Sensing of Reservoirs: From Science to Application”.

🗓️ December 4th @ 1 pm
📍Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #Hydrology #GeoScience #ClimateData

A promotional flyer for the Rice University Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences seminar. The talk title reads ‘Follow the Electrons: Mineralogical Controls and Signatures of Planetary Habitability.’ Below, a label says ‘Special Guest: Jeffrey G. Catalano.’ On the right is a circular photo of the guest speaker, a smiling man wearing glasses and a blue button-down shirt. The date of the talk ‘November 20th, 2025’ appears at the bottom left. His affiliation is listed as ‘Professor, Washington University in St. Louis.’ The design uses navy blue, light blue, and orange accents.

Join Jeffrey G. Catalano, Professor - Washington University in St. Louis, TOMORROW, for a talk titled “Follow the Electrons: Mineralogical Controls and Signatures of Planetary Habitability.”

🗓️ November 20th @ 1 pm
📍KWGL, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #TectonicProcesses #GeoScience

EEPS (Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science) & Environmental Science (EEPS & EEB concentrations) advising sessions: ✅ Environmental Science (both concentrations, but EEB Focused) - Nov 6, 11:15a - 1:15 p, Anderson Biology Patio ✅ EEPS & ENVS (both concentrations, but EEPS focused) - Nov 12, 11a-12p, KWGL Patio ✅ EEPS & ENVS (both concentrations, but EEPS focused) - Nov 13, 2p-3p, KWGL Patio ✅ EEPS Only- Nov 12, 3p-4p, KWGL Patio Snacks will be provided Contact: EEPS Undergraduate and Environmental Science Program Coordinator: Ari Johnson (rj33@rice.edu)

Attention #RiceEEPS & Environmental Science undergraduates:

Next week is #Advisingweek! Come to one of our advising events or visit our new & improved centralized advising page. Check it out (EEPS.Rice.edu/undergraduate-advising) for clarity on who you should reach out to if you need help.

Welcome home EEPS Alumni, Friday Nov 7th, family friendly reception with food & drink 3-4:30 pm KWGL patio, visit the museum of the earth, Join the wiess school of natural sciences 'science in a flash' where EEPS phd candidate valeria sobolevskaia will talk about her research on distributed acoustic sensing to monitor changes in the environment. 101 brockman hall, 5 pm

Theres no place like Rice! Alumni weekend homecoming & reunion Nov 6-9

#RiceEEPS is so excited for #RiceAlumniWeekend!

Join us for food, drinks, and celebration Friday, November 7th, from 3-4:30 pm on the KWGL patio before supporting EEPS Ph.D. candidate Valeria Sobolevskaia at her 'Science in a Flash' talk. See flyer for details.

Will you join us?

#EEPSAlumni

Join Dr. Rogerio Deienno, Lead Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, TOMORROW, for a talk titled "Chondrite Parent Bodies as Escaped Satellites of Proto-Planetary Embryos."

🗓️ October 30th @ 1 pm
📍Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories, Room 100

#RiceEEPS #Seminar #Geoscience

🎃 Happy Fall Y’all! 🍂

EEPS graduate students/Geounion celebrated fall by hosting a pumpkin painting event last Thursday on the patio. As the photos show, the nice weather is getting all of EEPS out of their offices and into the sunshine.

#RiceEEPS #HalloEEPS #EEPSOween

reddish mountain below giant full moon, text "Swipe for more"

Dry cracked earth

layers of mountains in shades of blue

tire tracks in x marks on dry earth

Want to join the next EEPS 417/617 field trip? Look for the course next fall and swipe to see what else you might find looking for meteorites in the desert... 😅

📷 Linda Welzenbach Fries

#RiceEEPS #EEPS417 #FieldTrip #Nevada #GeoScience