Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland among top 100 in the world

Earth sciences at the University of Iceland are ranked in place 87 worldwide according to the U.S. News & World Report Education rankings of the best global universities.  

U.S. News have put together a list of the best global universities for the past seven years, but they have over 30 years' experience of publishing such a list of the best national universities in the United States. The aim with these lists is to give a growing group of students who choose to take their university studies abroad a platform to compare the strengths of individual universities, both over all and in specific fields of study.

The University of Iceland's Faculty of Earth Sciences offers both studies in geophysics and geology. The faculty has grown in popularity among international students both in undergraduate and graduate studies. This is not surprising as the research scientists at the faculty are among the best in the world in their field. They have participated in, and led, large international teams and interdisciplinary research projects on all kinds of seismic activity, like earth quakes and eruptions, glaciology, petrology, remote sensing, and climatology to name a few. 

The U.S. News & World Report ranking is based on similar parameters as other university performance evaluations, such as Times Higher Education and ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. They take research activity into account as well as research citations, the university's reputation internationally based on global surveys, and international collaboration. There are 13 indicators which are weighed in order to calculate the ranking of each university, both on the overall list of  U.S. News & World Report of the best global universities, and within certain fields of study.

The U.S. News & World Report comprises almost 1,750 universities and the University is ranked in place 406 on the list of the best global universities. The University is, furthermore, ranked in four of the U.S. News & World Report list of individual fields of study, ranking highest in earth sciences, or in place 87 of the 250 universities evaluated in the field. 
The research scientists at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Institute of Earth Sciences and their collaborators at other University faculties have been at the forefront in connection with seismic activities in Reykjanes over the last two months. They work with domestic and international collaborators evaluating the interpreting the development of the Fagradalsfjall eruption and earthquakes in the area, as well as communicating their results to the public every day to both domestic and international media.

The University of Iceland has provided education to numerous research specialist in earth sciences that have not only made their mark on the world, but also hold important positions here in Iceland. The importance of well educated earth scientists has seldom been as obvious as it is today, as earth sciences not only increase our understanding of volcanic activity and seismic activity, but also of climate change, environmental changes and other natural hazards.

Earth scientists with an education from the University of Iceland also use their knowledge in various other projects such as the utilisation of geothermal energy, energy generation, construction, searching for construction materials, prospecting as well as increased surveillance with turbulence of the earth. 

The University of Iceland's ranking on the  U.S. News & World Report and the indicators can be seen on their website.