^{ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY}

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

^{DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS}

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

^{The Department of Geology and Geophysics was established in 1956 G.C as the only Earth Science teaching and research institution of the country. Through the years, there have been some curriculum revisions which have taken into account new ideas and advances in Geosciences. All these revisions were aimed at providing the basic, but up-to-date knowledge of Earth science. In addition to the academic exercises, the Department 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.); non metals ( gypsum, barite, diatomites, 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 Geology.}

^{· Service to the public; government and private sectors, etc.}

^{In order to achieve these objectives, the Department 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 Geology and Geophysics. (The complete currently used curriculum for the undergraduate program is attached here with.). The Department of Geology has produced over 900 graduates in Diploma and B.Sc. Degree and nearly 40 M. Sc. graduates to date. The Department currently has 18 staff members and some technical staff.}

^{Undergraduate program enrolment typically ranges between 80 to 100 students, while postgraduate students number between 10 to 15 each year. All the curricula designed to date have provided the basic geological principles in the first to third year levels and applied geology oriented courses would follow late in the fourth year on elective basis.}

^{Graduates of the Department would follow careers in governmental organizations such as Mines, Energy, Water works; Engineering geological works, Highway Authority, Agriculture; Geology- based Industries; Public and service giving companies. The graduates may go to Universities overseas for training leading to M. Sc., Ph.D. etc. Degrees. There are opportunities for post graduate training and research leading to an M. Sc. Degree in the Department in specializations such as Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, Economic Geology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Remote sensing, Structural Geology, and Environmental Sciences.}

^{The Department staffs, in addition to their teaching duties, are involved in wide range of research activities. Research in the Department cover a wide range of fields with major focus and strength in the fields of Metallogeny, Petrology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Structural Geology, Tectonics, Environmental Geology, Hazard assessment, Hydrogeology, Image Processing and Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) to Geology, Stratigraphy and Sedimentology, Paleomagnetism and Applied Geophysics.}

GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT

^{· To train and produce adaptable man power in geosciences at various levels, advance Geological knowledge through research and carry out consultation activities}

^{· To render service to and respond to the new realities and needs of the society/country}

OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT

^{· Teaching and training of geoscientists,}

^{· Conducting research in geosciences to improve and generate new knowledge,}

^{· Rendering professional service to the community in matters pertaining to geosciences.}