The department's history can be traced back to 1731 when the 1st
Woodwardian Professor of Geology was appointed, in accordance with the bequest of
John Woodward. The present Department of Earth Sciences was formed by an amalgamation of the Department of Geology, Department of Geodesy and Geophysics and the Department of Mineralogy and Petrology in 1980. When the three departments were amalgamated the
Chair of Geophysics and
Chair of Mineralogy and Petrology, along with the
Woodwardian Professorship, were assigned to the newly formed Department of Earth Sciences. The main location of the department is at the Downing Site, Downing St. The Bullard Laboratories, located in
West Cambridge on Madingley Rd is a satellite department of the main building. The department incorporates the
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences ==Notable people==