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Curtin Department of Applied Geology

Curtin Applied Geology

The Department of Applied Geology is part of the Western Australian School of Mines, one of four schools in Curtin's Faculty of Science and Engineering, and is one of Australia's leading providers of geoscience education and research.

We are located at Curtin's metropolitan Bentley Campus and in Kalgoorlie at the heart of the West Australian goldfields - see locations for further details.

Sign on the front of the Geology Building, Bentley Campus

History

The present Department formed in 2006 when the Bentley-based Department of Applied Geology merged with the WA School of Mines.

The Bentley department has its origins in the geology courses taught by the Perth Technical College, founded in 1900, which became the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) in 1966, and then Curtin University of Technology in 1987.

The Western Australian School of Mines was founded in 1902 in the mining centre of Coolgardie, moving to Kalgoorlie in 1903. It has always had geology as a core component, and joined WAIT in 1969. The School expanded significantly in 2006-2007 when it incorporated Applied Geology and other Bentley-based departments.

Current Research and Teaching

Applied Geology is one of the largest geology teaching departments in Australia, and also one of Australia's highest impact research groups in the field of geosciences. We are one of only a handful of geology departments that remain independent with many Australian geoscience departments amalgamating with disciplines such as geography, biology or environmental science in recent years. We have around 25 academic and support staff (see staff listings for details), with over 200 students enrolled in undergraduate degrees, 20 students enrolled in honours and postgraduate coursework degrees, and 30 students undertaking research degrees. For more information please follow the links to courses and research.