The School of Earth System Science (hereinafter referred to as "SESS") was established in 2020 (formerly known as the Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, established in April 2015). SESS aims to conduct fundamental, prospective and strategic researches on global and regional ecological/ environmental changes, establish a comprehensive multidisciplinary theoretical system in the research field of interaction of the Earth's surface sphere and its ecological and environmental effects, and provide a basis for scientific decision-making for sustainable development, so as to support national strategic needs and serve economic and social development. Furthermore, SESS aspires to use system theories and methods to study natural-social systems, develop related scientific theories and cultivate geoscientific talents in earth system science and related interdisciplinary research fields, and eventually establish a world-class research platform and field observation base in the field of interdisciplinary research in surface earth system science.
SESS consists of the Department of Geography, Center for Experimental Teaching and Practice, Center for Analytical Science and Technology, and 8 research centers focusing on various disciplines. The School currently has 134 undergraduate students and 276 full-time graduate students (including 11 international students). Besides, SESS has a total of 109 full-time faculty and staff, including 28 professors, 34 associate professors, 9 lecturers, 17 technical staff and 8 administrative staff. 8 international scholars, who are deeply involved in the construction and development of SESS, were conferred Honorary Professor of Tianjin University,
SESS has established National Critical Zone Observatory of Bohai Coastal Region (Bohai CZO) and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth’s Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, which possess advanced equipment that can be used for the research and monitoring of physical, chemical, biological processes and material cycles on the earth's surface and their flux changes. For list of equipment, please refer to: http://earth.tju.edu.cn/en/RESEARCH1/Research_Facilities.htm. SESS has also set up science and education practice bases in Tianjin and Hubei province.
SESS perseveres in focusing on the frontiers of science and national needs, strengthening forward-looking deployment and platform construction, promoting cross-integration and source innovation, bringing together scientific research teams, creating scientific research peaks, and striving to become an important base which is capable to undertake scientific research projects to solve major global and regional ecological and environmental problems, and to provide scientific support for national and local ecological civilization construction. SESS has been gradually building up its strength and characteristics in the tectonics-geomorphology-climate interaction, the co-evolution of topography and ecosystems, the process of the earth's key zone and changes in water and soil resources and atmospheric environment, the biogeochemical cycles and regional and global environmental changes during the Anthropocene and sustainable development of social-ecological systems. At present, it has undertaken more than 20 national projects with the scale of one million yuan and above, including special projects of national key research and development program, national key foundation projects, major international cooperation projects such as Sino-UK/ Sino-Israel/ Sino-France / Sino-Sri Lanka, and various national-level top talent development projects, etc.
SESS has conducted extensive academic exchanges and cooperation at home and abroad, and has established an international academic advisory committee to navigate major academic development. It has also signed cooperation agreements with Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), Institute of Bio- and Geosciences of JUELICH, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), and Institute of Earth Sciences of Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
(as of 31st December 2023)
Tel/Fax: 022-27405051
Website of SESS: http://earth.tju.edu.cn
