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Caltech Course Catalog / 2026-2027 Catalog / Courses 2026-27 / Department / ESE

Courses 2026-27: Environmental Science & Engineering

ESE 1

Earth's Climate

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term

An introduction to climate on Earth. How Earth's climate has changed in the past and its evolving response to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today. Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks. Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course requirement should enroll in ESE 101.

Instructor: Wennberg
FS/ESE/Ge 18

First-Year Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in Plain Sight

6 units (2-0-4)   |  first term

To paraphrase a Caltech engineering colleague: "In terms of Earth and the Environment, our species had been nothing more than the hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what's under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the engine". We will spend the term examining striking examples of microbes and microbial activities in the environment. First-year (undergraduates) only; limited enrollment.

Instructor: Leadbetter
ESE/Ge 21

Tutorial: Biogeochemistry of Carbon Sequestration

9 units (2-0-7)   |  first term
In this tutorial we will explore a variety of strategies for sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, including geologic storage, stimulating biospheric growth, enhanced mineral weathering, soil carbon accumulation, biomass burial, and others. Our focus is both the science and technology that enable them to work, as well as their potential biogeochemical ramifications for Earth's global systems if pursued at scale. The class is structured as a tutorial, in which small groups of students meet individually with the instructor, and topics are presented by the students. Each student will write papers, give presentations, and lead discussions on 3 topics throughout the term. Course is limited to 12 undergraduate participants, who will be selected at the start of the term based on background, interests, and willingness to commit to the entire term. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement. Offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Sessions
ESE 90

Undergraduate Laboratory Research in Environmental Science and Engineering

Units by arrangement   |  any term

Approval of research supervisor required prior to registration. Independent research on current environmental problems; laboratory or field work is required. A written report is required for each term of registration. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 91

Senior Thesis Research

9 units   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 90 and Instructor's permission.

Two terms of ESE 90 are to be completed during the junior and/or senior year of study. At the end of the third term, students enrolled in ESE 91 will present a thesis of approximately 20 pages (excluding figures and references) to the mentor and the ESE Option Representative. The thesis must be approved by both the research mentor and the ESE faculty. An oral thesis defense will be arranged by the ESE Option Representative in the third term for all enrollees. All prior terms of ESE 90 will be taken on a pass/fail basis, but the third term of ESE 91 will carry a letter grade.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 100

Special Problems in Environmental Science and Engineering

Up to 12 units by arrangement   |  any term
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Special courses of readings or laboratory instruction. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 101

Earth's Atmosphere

9 units (3-0-6)   |  first term

Introduction to the fundamental processes governing atmospheric circulations and climate. Starting from an overview of the observed state of the atmosphere and its variation over the past, the course discusses Earth's radiative energy balance including the greenhouse effect, Earth's orbit around the Sun and climatic effects of its variations, and the role of atmospheric circulations in maintaining the energy, angular momentum, and water balances, which determine the distributions of temperatures, winds, and precipitation. The focus throughout is on order-of-magnitude physics that is applicable to climates generally, including those of Earth's past and future and of other planets.

Instructor: Schneider
ESE 102

Earth's Oceans

9 units (3-0-6)   |  first term
This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical, and biological properties of Earth's ocean. The course is divided into three parts that address various aspects of the marine carbon cycle, including carbon and tracer transport by the ocean circulation, carbonate chemistry, and fixation/respiration of carbon by biological processes. These parts are tied to three key questions that highlight the ocean's role in the global climate system: What processes contribute to the redistribution of heat and other tracers in the ocean. What controls the rate at which heat and carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean? How do marine biological processes influence the storage of carbon in the deep ocean? The course will also provide perspectives on ocean observational and modeling techniques and how these tools are used to project future changes to Earth’s climate.
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 103

Earth's Biogeochemical Cycles

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Provide a basic introduction to Global Biogeochemical cycles, with a focus on drivers of the global biosphere. Topics to be covered include fundamentals of photosynthesis and its quantitative formulation, impact of nutrients, microbial processes underlying weathering, decomposition, and carbon remineralization, box modeling, hydrological cycle, land surface energy balance and basics of land surface modeling, ecosystem processes and the human footprint. Some basic scientific computing (Python/Julia) knowledge is required for homework sets.
Instructor: Frankenberg
ESE 104

Current Problems in Environmental Science and Engineering

1 unit   |  second term

Discussion of current research by ESE graduate students, faculty, and staff.

Instructor: Callies
Bi/Ge/ESE 105

Evolution

12 units (3-4-5)   |  second term
Prerequisites: Completion of Core Curriculum Courses. Maximum enrollment: 15, by application only.

The theory of evolution is arguably biology’s greatest idea and serves as the overarching framework for thinking about the diversity and relationships between organisms. This course will present a broad picture of evolution starting with discussions of the insights of the great naturalists, the study of the genetic basis of variation, and an introduction to the key driving forces of evolution. Following these foundations, we will then focus on a number of case studies including the following: evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, origin of eukaryotes, multicellularity, influence of symbiosis, the emergence of life from the water (i.e. fins to limbs), the return of life to the water (i.e. limbs to fins), diversity following major extinction events, the discovery of Archaea, insights into evolution that have emerged from sequence analysis, and finally human evolution and the impact of humans on evolution (including examples such as antibiotic resistance). A specific focus for considering these issues will be the island biogeography of the Galapagos. Given in alternate years; not offered 2026-27.

Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
ESE 106

Research in Environmental Science and Engineering

Units by arrangement   |  any term
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Exploratory research for first-year graduate students and qualified undergraduates. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 110 abc

Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering

1 unit   |  first, second, third terms

Required attendance by first year graduate students at the weekly ESE seminar, Wednesdays 4pm. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Karthikeyan
ChE/ESE/ME/MS 111

Sustainable Engineering

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: (ChE 62 and ChE 63 ab) or (ME 11 abc) or (Ph 2 c and MS 115) or Instructor's permission.
Examines the Earth's resources including fresh water, nitrogen, carbon and other biogeochemical cycles that impose planetary constraints on engineering; systems approaches to sustainable development goals; fossil fuel formation, chemical composition, production and use; engineering challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing energy, transportation and industry; global flows of critical elements used in zero-carbon energy systems; food-water-energy nexus and effects of human on air, water and soil.
Instructor: Kornfield
ESE 112

Earth's Carbon Cycle

6 units (2-0-4)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 103 or instructor's permission..
An exploration of the research frontier on Earth's carbon cycle. Starting from an overview of the major reservoirs and fluxes of carbon among the atmosphere, ocean, land biosphere, and lithosphere, the course moves quickly to frontier problems, including the partitioning of anthropogenic CO₂ between the ocean and land sinks, the spatiotemporal variability of terrestrial and oceanic carbon fluxes, the role of disturbance and ecosystem dynamics, and the response of the carbon cycle to a changing climate. Modern observational datasets—including atmospheric CO₂ records, satellite retrievals of column CO₂ and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, eddy-covariance measurements, as well as ship-based and float-based ocean carbon observations—are used to constrain and evaluate carbon cycle models. Through hands-on projects, students can develop, test, and critically analyze models of the carbon cycle and confront them with contemporary data. Enrollment is limited to 15 students.
Instructors: Dukes, Frankenberg, Michalak, Schneider, Thompson, Zakem
BEM/Ec/ESE 119

Environmental Economics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: Ec 11 or equivalent.

This course provides a survey from the perspective of economics of public policy issues regarding the management of natural resources and the protection of environmental quality. The course covers both conceptual topics and recent and current applications. Included are principles of environmental and resource economics, management of nonrenewable and renewable resources, and environmental policy with the focus on air pollution problems, both local problems (smog) and global problems (climate change). Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Druckenmiller
Ge/ESE 125

Earth's Landscapes

12 units (3-5-4)   |  first term
Prerequisites: Ge 11 a or instructor's permission.
Introduction to the processes that shape the surface of Earth through erosion, transport and deposition of sediment. Topics include soil formation, landslides and debris flows, catchment hydrology, river hydraulics and sediment transport, river and floodplain morphology, and glacier flow and erosion. The course also explores associated geologic hazards; landscape sustainability such as coastal land loss and river restoration; interplay with climate, tectonics and the carbon cycle; and landscapes on other rocky planets. Local field trips and laboratory exercises facilitate two projects on quantitative analysis of rivers and landslides in the Los Angeles area. Offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Lamb
ESE/Ge 129

Soil Systems Microbiology

9 units (3-3-3)   |  first term
Soils harbor some of the most diverse microbiomes on Earth. Microorganisms play key roles in soil carbon (C) and nutrient turnover and the generation of persistent organic matter via their metabolic activities, cellular biochemistry, and extracellular products. Soil microbes also provide rich elemental and genetic resources to their predators, including phages, bacteria, and microfauna. The course will cover topics related to studying the interactions and functions of the entire microbial community within soil, focusing on tools used to measure the community diversity, the ecology and micro-scale interactions, and the ecosystem functions soil microorganisms modulate. Through a combination of lectures, laboratory work, and computational analyses, students will learn how microbial communities in soil ecosystems cycle element pools (mainly C and N) and how phages modulate bacterial populations and these cycles.
Instructor: Karthikeyan
ESE 130

Fundamentals of Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 and ESE 102 recommended and Ma 2 or equivalent (instructor's permission).
This course is an introduction to the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean, with an emphasis on dynamical concepts that explain the large-scale circulation of both fluids. Starting from the equations of motion, we will develop an understanding of geostrophic and hydrostatic balance, inertia-gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, potential vorticity, quasi-geostrophic dynamics, Rossby waves, baroclinic instability, and Ekman layers.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 131

Ocean Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 102 and ESE 130, or instructor's permission.

This course gives an in-depth discussion of the fluid dynamics of the world ocean. Building on the concepts developed in ESE 130, this course explores the vertical structure of the wind-driven gyre circulation, thermocline theory, the dynamics of the Southern Ocean, eddies and eddy parameterizations, geostrophic turbulence, submesoscale dynamics, the circulation of the deep ocean, tides, internal waves, and turbulent mixing. Given in alternate years; not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Callies
ESE 132

Tropical Atmosphere Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 and ESE 130, or instructor's permission.

Phenomenological description of tropical atmospheric circulations at different scales, and theories or models that capture the underlying fundamental dynamics, starting from the large-scale energy balance and moving down to cumulus convection and hurricanes. Topics to be addressed include: large-scale circulations such as the Hadley, Walker, and monsoonal circulations, the intertropical convergence zone, equatorial waves, convectively coupled waves, and hurricanes. Given in alternate years; not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Schneider
ESE 133

Global Atmosphere Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 and ESE 130, or instructor's permission.

Introduction to the global-scale fluid dynamics of atmospheres, beginning with a phenomenological overview of observed circulations on Earth and other planets and leading to currently unsolved problems. Topics include constraints on atmospheric circulations and zonal winds from angular momentum balance; Rossby wave generation, propagation, and dissipation and their roles in the maintenance of global circulations; moist convection and its coupling to waves and circulations; Hadley circulations and tropical-extratropical interactions; energy cycle and thermodynamic efficiency of atmospheric circulations. The course focuses on Earth's atmosphere but explores a continuum of possible planetary circulations and relationships among them as parameters such as the planetary rotation rate chance. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Schneider
ESE 134

Cloud and Boundary Layer Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 or instructor's permission.

Introduction to the dynamics controlling boundary layers and clouds and how they may change with climate, from a phenomenological overview of cloud and boundary layer morphologies to closure theories for turbulence and convection. Topics include similarity theories for boundary layers; mixed-layer models; moist thermodynamics and stability; stratocumulus and trade-cumulus boundary layers; shallow cumulus convection and deep convection.

Instructor: Schneider
ESE 135

Topics in Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

3 units (1-0-2)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 or ESE 102, or instructor's permission or equivalent.

A lecture or discussion course on current research in atmosphere and ocean dynamics. Topics covered vary from year to year and may include global circulations of planetary atmospheres, geostrophic turbulence, atmospheric convection and cloud dynamics, wave dynamics and large-scale circulations in the tropics, marine physical-biogeochemical interactions, dynamics of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, and global warming. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 136

Climate Models

6 units (2-0-4)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 or ESE 102, or instructor's permission.

The course covers the architecture and scientific underpinnings of models of the atmosphere, ocean, land, and ice, numerical methods for the underlying differential equations, aspects of high-performance computing, and model calibration (both manual and machine-learned). Overviews of theoretical concepts will be combined with hands-on exercises in running a state-of-the-art climate model, and analyzing and understanding its output. The course will enable students to design their own model experiments and to evaluate the results critically. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Schneider
ESE 137

Polar Oceanography

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission.
This course focuses on high latitude processes related to the Earth's oceans and their interaction with the cryosphere, including glaciers, ice shelves and sea ice. The course starts with introductory lectures related to regional circulation features, water mass modification, sea ice dynamics, and ocean-ice interactions. The second half of the course will focus on a single topic, with input from the students, and will be explored in detail through the scientific literature and through individual projects. Offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 138

Waves in Geophysical Fluids

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission.
This course offers an in-depth discussion of waves in fluids, with a focus on rotating and stratified fluids and applications to the ocean. Topics include dispersive and non-dispersive wave propagation, propagation in inhomogeneous media, WKB approximation and ray tracing, elements of wave-mean flow interaction theory. These principles will be applied to sound waves, surface gravity waves, internal gravity waves, and Rossby waves. Consequences for the general circulation of the ocean and opportunities for observing the ocean will serve as motivation. Given in alternate years; offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Callies
Ge/ESE 139

Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ph 2, or instructor's permission.

The basic physics of absorption and scattering of light by molecules, aerosols, and clouds. Theory of radiative transfer. Band models, correlated-k distributions and other approximate methods. Solar insolation, thermal emission, heating rates and radiances. Applications to Earth, Planets and Exoplanets. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Staff
Ge/ESE 140 c

Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: Ge 140 a or equivalent.

An introduction to the use of stable isotopes in biogeochemistry, intended to give interested students the necessary background to understand applications in a variety of fields, from modern carbon cycling to microbial ecology to records of Ancient Earth. Topics include the principles of isotope distribution in reaction networks; isotope effects in enzyme-mediated reactions, and in metabolism and biosynthesis; characteristic fractionations accompanying carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling; and applications of stable isotopes in the biogeosciences. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Sessions
ESE/Ge/Ch 142

Aquatic Chemistry of Natural Waters

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: Ch 1 or instructor's permission.
Inorganic chemistry of natural waters with an emphasis on equilibrium solutions to problems in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Topics will include, acid-base chemistry, precipitation, complexation, redox reactions, and surface chemistry. Examples will largely be drawn from geochemistry and geobiology. Selected topics in kinetics will be covered based on interest and time.
Instructor: Adkins
Ge/ESE 143

Organic Geochemistry

9 units (3-2-4)   |  third term
Prerequisites: Ch 41 a or equivalent.

Main topics include the analysis, properties, sources, and cycling of natural organic materials in the environment, from their production in living organisms to burial and decomposition in sediments and preservation in the rock record. Specific topics include analytical methods for organic geochemistry, lipid structure and biochemistry, composition of organic matter, factors controlling organic preservation, organic climate and CO2 proxies, diagenesis and catagenesis, and biomarkers for ancient life. A laboratory component (three evening labs) teaches the extraction and analysis of modern and ancient organic biomarkers by GC/MS. Class includes a mandatory one-day (weekend) field trip to observe the Monterey Formation. Offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Sessions
ESE 144

Climate from Space

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term

This class will provide an overview of how we study the Earth's climate system using satellite remote sensing; a series of core lectures and guest lectures will be jointly taught by Caltech faculty and JPL scientists. Topics that will be covered include Introduction to the climate system; introduction to radiative transfer, retrieval methods and data assimilation; Earth's energy balance; atmospheric physics and composition; ocean dynamics and ice physics; monitoring the carbon cycle from space. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructors: Teixeira, Thompson
ME/CE/Ge/ESE 146

Computational Methods for Flow in Porous Media

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc, ACM 95/100, ACM 106 ab (may be taken concurrently).
This course covers physical, mathematical, and simulation aspects of single and two-phase flow and transport through porous media. Conservation equations for multiphase, multicomponent flow. Modeling of fluid mechanical instabilities such as viscous fingering and density-driven convection. Coupling fluid flow with chemical reactions and heat transfer. Numerical methods for elliptic equations: finite volume methods, two-point flux approximations. Numerical methods for hyperbolic equations: high-order explicit methods, implicit method. Applications in hydrology, geological CO2 sequestration, and induced seismicity, among others, will be demonstrated. Not offered 2026-27.
Ge/Bi/BE/CNS/ESE 147

Challenges and Opportunities in Quantitative Ecology

6 units (6-0-0)   |  third term

Ecosystems are defined by dynamical interactions between groups of organisms, the communities they constitute, and the physical and chemical conditions and processes occurring in the environment. These dynamics are complex and multiscale across both length and time. This course will explore quantitative approaches that observe, measure, model, and monitor ecosystems and the services that they provide society-and the emerging opportunities that could employ these approaches to improve and strengthen global sustainability when it comes to our own ecology. This course will feature lectures each week from different members of the Caltech faculty working on ecological problems from different angles in order to illustrate how fresh insights can emerge by drawing on diverse ways-of-knowing. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructors: Fischer, Tejada
Ge/ESE 149

Marine Geochemistry

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: ESE 102.

Introduction to chemical oceanography and sediment geochemistry. We will address the question "Why is the ocean salty?" by examining the processes that determine the major, minor, and trace element distributions of seawater and ocean sediments. Topics include river and estuarine chemistry, air/sea exchange, nutrient uptake by the biota, radioactive tracers, redox processes in the water column and sediments, carbonate chemistry, and ventilation. Given in alternate years; not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Adkins
Ge/ESE 150

Planetary Atmospheres

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: Ch 1, Ma 2, Ph 2, or equivalents.

A broad survey of the formation, evolution, and present-day properties of planetary atmospheres, drawing examples from both the solar system and extrasolar planet literature. We will cover topics including energy balance, radiative transfer, chemistry, cloud formation, dynamics, and escape. The goal of this class is to provide an overview of key concepts relevant to planetary atmospheres that can serve as a foundation for future coursework or research in this area.

Instructor: Knutson
Ge/ESE 154

Readings in Paleoclimate

3 units (1-0-2)   |  second term
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Lectures and readings in areas of current interest in paleoceanography and paleoclimate. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Adkins
Ge/ESE 155

Paleoceanography

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: ESE 102.
Evaluation of the data and models that make up our current understanding of past climates.  Emphasis will be placed on an historical introduction to the study of the past ten to few hundred thousand years, with some consideration of longer time scales.  Evidence from marine and terrestrial sediment, ice cores, corals and speleothems will be used to address the mechanisms behind natural climate variability.  Models of this variability will be evaluated in light of the data.  Topics will include: sea level and ice volume, surface temperature evolution, atmospheric composition, deep ocean circulation, tropical climate, ENSO variability and terrestrial/ocean linkages.  The class is structured as a tutorial, in which small groups of students meet individually with the instructor, and topics are presented by the students. Each student will write papers, give presentations, and lead discussions on 3 topics throughout the term. Limited to 10 students maximum. Offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Adkins
ESE 156

Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Biosphere

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Prerequisites: ESE 101 or instructor's permission.

An introduction into methods to quantify trace gases as well as vegetation properties remotely (from space, air-borne or ground-based). This course will provide the basic concepts of remote sensing, using hands-on examples to be solved in class and as problem-sets. Topics covered include Absorption spectroscopy, measurement and modeling techniques, optimal estimation theory and error characterization, applications in global studies of biogeochemical cycles and air pollution/quality. This course is complementary to EE/Ae 157 ab and Ge/EE/ESE 157 c with stronger emphasis on applications for the atmosphere and biosphere. Students will work with real and synthetic remote sensing data (basic knowledge of a scripting language is required, most of the examples will be in Julia). Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Frankenberg
Ge/EE/ESE 157 c

Remote Sensing for Environmental and Geological Applications

9 units (3-3-3)   |  third term

Analysis of electromagnetic radiation at visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths for interpretation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the surfaces of Earth and other planets. Topics: interaction of light with materials, spectroscopy of minerals and vegetation, atmospheric removal, image analysis, classification, and multi-temporal studies. This course does not require but is complementary to EE 157 ab with emphasis on applications for geological and environmental problems, using data acquired from airborne and orbiting remote sensing platforms. Students will work with digital remote sensing datasets in the laboratory and there will be one field trip. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Staff
ESE/ChE 158

Aerosol Physics and Chemistry

9 units (3-0-6)   |  third term
Fundamentals of aerosol dynamics and their description using population balance equations: particle size and property distributions in aerosol systems. Physical and chemical mechanisms that govern the aerosol dynamics from the continuum through free-molecular regimes: condensation and evaporation; nucleation; particle aerodynamics and diffusion. Thermodynamic, physical, and optical properties of aerosol particles. Not offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Staff
ESE/Bi 166

Microbial Physiology

9 units (3-1-5)   |  first term
By what mechanisms do microbes conserve energy to drive their growth? What is the elemental composition of the biomass generated well-studied microbes, and what are common limitations challenging the recruitment of these elements?  Which organic carbon intermediates are commonly employed when building new biomass?  Topics covered in this class include: growth kinetics and different paradigms of in vitro cultivation; the assimilation of varied environmental sources of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphate into biomass; the fundamentals of energy conservation via fermentation, respiration, or small molecule transport; and microbial behavior, including  flagellar motility and chemotaxis. For a special project, each student will design a growth medium built around a specific organic carbon, or organo-nitrogen, or organo-phosphorous compound of their own choosing, and then attempt to cultivate a microbe from the environment that can utilize that nutrient to drive its growth.
Instructor: Leadbetter
ESE/Bi 168

Microbial Metabolic Diversity

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: ESE 142, ESE/Bi 166.

A course on the metabolic diversity of microorganisms. Basic thermodynamic principles governing energy conservation will be discussed, with emphasis placed on photosynthesis and respiration. Students will be exposed to genetic, genomic, and biochemical techniques that can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of cellular electron transfer underlying these metabolisms. Given in alternate years; offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Newman
ESE/Ge/Ch 171

Atmospheric Chemistry I

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent.
A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, radiation and photochemistry; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; ozone chemistry, oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere; aerosol formation mechanisms, composition, and atmospheric processing.
Instructor: Ng
Ge/ESE/Bi 178

Microbial Ecology

9 units (3-2-4)   |  second term
Prerequisites: either ESE/Bi 166 or ESE/Bi 168 recommended.

Structural, phylogenetic, and metabolic diversity of microorganisms in nature. The course explores microbial interactions, relationships between diversity and physiology in modern and ancient environments, and influence of microbial community structure on biogeochemical cycles. Introduction to ecological principles and molecular approaches used in microbial ecology and geobiological investigations. Given in alternate years; offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Orphan
ESE/ME/EST/Ec/ChE/EE 179

Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation

3 units (3-0-0)   |  second term

Climate change has already begun to impact life on the planet, and will continue in the coming decades. This class will explore particular causes and impacts of climate change, technologies to mitigate or adapt to those impacts, and the economic and social costs associated with them - particular focus will be paid to distributional issues, environmental and racial justice and equity intersections. The course will consist of 3-4 topical modules, each focused on a specific impact or sector (e.g. the electricity or transportation sector, climate impacts of food and agriculture, increasing fires and floods). Each module will contain lectures/content on the associated climate science background, engineering/technological developments to combat the issue, and an exploration of the economics and the inequities that exacerbate the situation, followed by group discussion and synthesis of the different perspectives.

Instructors: Wennberg, Staff
ESE/Ge/Bi/ChE 184

Computational Tools for Decoding Microbial Ecosystems

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: Prior knowledge in Microbiology/Microbial Ecology is required (or instructor's approval). Proficiency in python, bash, slurm, while encouraged, is not required.
Microbes, the most diverse and abundant organisms on Earth, are critical to the daily functioning of humans as well as the life-sustaining biogeochemical cycles. This course provides an in-depth exploration of the fascinating world of environmental microbiology and genomics, with a special emphasis on computational approaches for systems-level analysis of microbial communities and their interactions. The course will delve into the diverse roles of microorganisms in environmental processes ranging from nutrient and biogeochemical cycling to predicting the impacts of climate change. It will introduce students to a wide range of computational tools and techniques used in the analysis of microbial genomic data. Topics covered include: microbial community structure and functioning; interactions among microbes and their environment; and the influence of the environment in shaping and driving microbial evolution. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on computational exercises, students will gain skills in analyzing, interpreting and visualizing large scale community metagenomic (DNA) and metatranscriptomic (RNA) data from environmental ecosystems. Students will also explore how these computational approaches can be applied to address real-world environmental challenges, broaden understanding of the genetic and metabolic diversity of the microorganisms to better manage ecosystem function, the value of this biodiversity for adaptation to natural and anthropogenic perturbations.
Instructor: Karthikeyan
ESE 200

Advanced Topics in Environmental Science and Engineering

Units by arrangement   |  any term

Course on contemporary topics in environmental science and engineering. Topics covered vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the students and staff.

Ge/Bi/ESE 246

Molecular Geobiology Seminar

6 units (2-0-4)   |  first term

Critical reviews and discussion of classic papers and current research in microbiology and geomicrobiology. As the topics will vary from year to year, it may be taken multiple times. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Orphan
Ge/ESE/Bi 248

Environmental Justice

6 units (2-0-4)   |  first term

This seminar course will explore and discuss the unique intersection of environmental racism, environmental justice, and academia. Course material will primarily feature readings and videos on a case study-like basis and focus on bringing conversations typically had in humanities, social sciences and activism to the bio and geosciences. Topics will center around two primary approaches: an "outward-facing" component that looks at environmental racism through the lens of various activisms, and an "inward-facing" component addressing the biases/malpractices broadly employed in the biological and geosciences, as well as the apparent moral dilemmas of decisions involving multiple stakeholders. Out of class work will largely be based on assigned readings, some multimedia presentations, and occasional writings and thought exercises. This course is taught concurrently with Hum 61 and can only be taken once, as Ge/ESE/Bi 248 or Hum 61. Not offered 2026-27.

Instructor: Orphan
Ge/Bi/ESE/CE 249

Stable Isotopes: Ecological and Environmental Applications

9 units (3-3-3)   |  first term
An introduction to various stable isotopes systems and their extensive applications in ecological, evolutionary, and environmental research. Topics covered include uses of stable isotopes in plant and animal ecology, hydrological systems, reconstruction of past climates, cultural development, and forensics. The class includes lectures and occasional lab sessions. Not offered 2026-27.
Instructor: Tejada
Ge/ESE 298

Mentoring and Outreach

Units to be arranged, up to 12 units per year

In consultation with a faculty advisor and the Caltech Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach, students may obtain credit for engaging in volunteer efforts to promote public understanding of science; to mentor and tutor young people and underserved populations; or to otherwise contribute to the diversity, equity, and inclusiveness of the scientific enterprise. Students may petition their option representative (graduate students) or academic advisor (undergraduate students) if they seek credits beyond the 12-unit limit.

Instructor: Staff
ESE 300

Thesis Research

Units by arrangement   |  any term

Thesis research for graduate students after passing the qualifying exam. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Staff
Published Date: Aug. 11, 2026