Faculty in the Department Earth Science conduct research in a range of environmental areas (e.g., carbon cycling, greenhouse gases, oceanography, coral reefs, geobiology, water and contaminant transport, fate and transport of nanomaterials). Rice earth science research addresses both modern and paleoenvironmental questions through field programs and laboratory research at local-to-global scales. Ongoing projects include the focus on paleoclimate and periods of dramatic climate change in earth's history (Dickens). Droxler 's carbonate research includes coral reef studies, and the Dugan has active research in groundwater processes. Levander and Zelt use geophysical techniques to understand subsurface pollutant transport, and Lüttge's group develops the fundamental chemistry related to microbe-rock interactions. Masiello 's carbon cycle research includes foci in land-use change, carbon sequestration, and basic controls of carbon fluxes within the earth system. Many opportunities exist for cross-disciplinary collaborations with the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Civil and Environmental Engineering programs.