The Department of Earth Sciences at IIT Kanpur focuses on the study of the Earth, encompassing its evolution and internal dynamics, its surface processes, emphasizing natural and human-induced transformations of the terrestrial environment vis-a-vis sustainable development, given the biggest problem we face in terms of rapidly increasing population.

Apart from a modern teaching programme, students will be trained for high quality research that will allow thorough examination of issues related to the Earth Sciences, such as those concerned with natural resources (identification and exploration techniques) and their use to society, solid Earth geology, Quaternary geology and the understanding and mitigation of natural hazards. It would thus provide a sound, topical background in various aspects of Earth Sciences, which will form the foundation for further study and for a wide range of employment opportunities in the mineral, energy, water, environmental and space sectors.

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur created a new Department of Earth Sciences on February 5, 2014.

Earth Science is a strongly interdisciplinary subject with several links to important resources such as minerals, energy, and water as well as to hazards and environmental management. Over the years, this discipline has developed into a major knowledge domain of science and technology due to the advent of modern space observation systems, new exploration technologies for probing earth's surface and sub-surface for resources and the development of sophisticated geochemical analytical methods. In addition, several important issues such as climate change, natural hazards, cryosphere, environmental degradation and resource depletion have made this science highly relevant to the society.

Objectives of the Department are as follows:

1. To provide high quality manpower in Earth Sciences, where intellectual foundations and traditions are anchored in the (a) integration of quantitative data across various Earth systems, and (b) application of geological, geophysical and other related analytical methods.
2. To develop academic programmes in Earth Sciences that will focus on the conjunctive use of field, experimental, analytical and numerical approaches.
3. To develop high quality research programmes in areas of water, climate change, energy, natural hazards and at their interfaces.