Clubs
Collections
Computing Facilities
Field Schools
Laboratory Facilities
- Material and facilities associated with a specific class
- Materials and facilities associated with undergraduate research
- Geophysical Field Equipment
Space
- Classrooms, Labs, Lecture Theatres
- Library Facilities and Reading and Study Rooms
- Pacific Museum of the Earth and the PME Courtyard
- Seminar and Meeting Rooms
- Social Space
Technical Services
Descriptions of undergraduate clubs, scholarships, etc.

Clubs

Four main undergraduate clubs represent the diverse student population in EOS: The Dawson Club (geologists) Georox, (geological engineers), EEGS (UBC Chapter of the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society) and SEG, and Storm (atmospheric and oceanography students). Although run as separate bodies, the Club members attend each other's functions and events.

Collections

Pacific Museum of the Earth

The Department has significant collections of rocks, minerals and fossils which can be viewed in a display facility on the First Floor of the EOS Main Building. The Pacific Museum of the Earth attracts a large number of visitors each year in addition to acting as a resource for teaching and research.

Computing Facilities

Computing facilities in the department provide undergraduates with access to 40 PCS (20 - Celeron workstations with 800 Mhz processors and 20 AMD workstations with 1.3 GHz processors) hosted on 2 file and print servers. The department has standardized on Matlab for undergraduate teaching; students are introduced to Matlab during year 2 (EOS 211) and numerical examples taught using both Matlab and domain-specific packages (e.g. MODFLOW, PHREEQC) in upper year courses.

In addition to the PC labs, the department has budgeted for 9 higher-end graphics workstations for student drop-in use in the new Learning Commons in the Undergraduate Learning Centre.

Field Schools

The Department Field Schools offer a range of field courses across the Solid and Fluid Earth Sciences. Some of these form core requirements for our undergraduate programs and professional registration requirements. As a department with strong ties to the environment, field schools provide an excellent opportunity for students to apply their studies in "real world" situations.

Laboratory Facilities

The following lists research equipment, software or facilities that have been made available to undergraduate students.

Space

Classrooms, Labs and Lecture Theatres

There are 13 classrooms and teaching labs located within EOS. As enrolment in our undergraduate program continues to accelerate, we find that classroom size is a significant problem. Limited seating capacity necessitates opening additional sections of our popular first year courses which has obvious resource implications for the department.

The classrooms are generally in acceptable condition although ongoing funding is required from UBC classroom services to upgrade seats, screens and blackboards.
EOS has installed permanent computer projection systems in EOS Main 121 and 135 for internal or external use.

• There are three centrally controlled classrooms in EOS: EOS Main 135, EOS Main 113c and EOS-BIOS 1457.
  
• There are 10 teaching labs in EOS, all of which are located in EOS Main.

Library Facilities and EOS Reading and Study Rooms

Books, of course, are central to any research and The UBC Library is one of the best in Canada. Closer to home, our Departmental Reading Room Library Assistant maintains our own specialized library collection housed in EOS East. To achieve greater integration amongst our undergraduate population, and to better utilize space, we have recently replaced the EOS Main library space with an Undergraduate Learning Centre (ULC). The Learning Centre will provide space that is crucial for undergraduate students to access computers, various teaching aids, notes and audio-visual equipment. The ULC will incorporate a "learning commons" with computers and good quality furniture (modelled after the Learning Centre in the UBC Main Library), an acoustically isolated presentation and discussion space with computer projectors, and the popular ECAC (Earth Course Assistance Centre) will be relocated here.

Pacific Museum of the Earth and the PME Courtyard

The Pacific Museum of the Earth (PME)is a new museum which aims to showcase the diverse wonders of Planet Earth from the core to the stratosphere. PME will examine the diverse nature of the oceans, atmosphere and the solid Earth. Like the museums that preceded it, the PME will continue to maintain close links with the downtown geology and minerals industry while reflecting the broader interests of EOS. The Museum is also a resource for the University, the general public and, in particular, K-12 education. Close ties are being developed between the museum, the department of Education and BC schools.

Seminar and Meeting Rooms

The following rooms can be reserved by contacting bookings at

• EOS Main 330A Seminar Room (holds 60 people)
  
• EOS East 134 Meeting Room (holds 10 people)
  
• EOS East 302 Boardroom (holds 12 people)
  
• EOS Main 208C UnderGrad Metting Space (holds 12 people)
  
• EOS Main 203 PC Lab 1 (holds 24 people; accounts required - click here for more information)
  
• EOS Main 210 PC Lab 2 (holds 15 people; accounts required - click here for more information)
  
• EOS Main 100 - Museum Lobby (holds 100 people)

Social Space

• Dawson Club Rooms: EOS Main Rooms 30 and Room 308
  
• GEOROX Club Room: EOS Main Room 302
  
• Grad Student Lounges: EOS Main Room 308A; EOS East 2nd Floor; EOS Biosciences 1457
  
• Pacific Museum of the Earth and the Museum Courtyard

Technical Services

Technical services for the Department are run out of the Machine Shop and Stores in EOS Main Room 25. Office and lab supplies and lab and field equipment are available through EOS Stores.
For more information on resources, rental rates and bookings, contact Doug Polson at 604-822-3212 or by e-mail at or visit: