The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is shutting down its Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences as part of budget cuts to address a $21 million deficit. The decision, approved by the Board of Regents last month, eliminates the state's only program training meteorologists and geologists locally. Critics warn that the move will harm Nebraska's ability to monitor extreme weather and manage groundwater vital to agriculture.
In December, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted to eliminate the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with three other programs. This action aims to save $1.85 million toward resolving a $21 million structural budget deficit at the state's largest campus. Regent Tim Clare emphasized the difficulty of the choice, noting his family's 26 degrees from the institution and the need to ensure long-term stability.
The department, with about 17 faculty members, is nationally recognized for its work in meteorology, geology, and climate research. It trains students who become forecasters at the National Weather Service and experts in groundwater monitoring, crucial for Nebraska's agriculture-driven economy. Professor Adam Houston stressed the life-saving impact of his students' work: “The work that we’re doing is training these students to go out and save lives.”
Nebraska farmers like Quentin Connealy, whose family has farmed in Burt County for 131 years, rely on such expertise amid intensifying weather. Connealy faced floods in 2011, 2019, and 2024, plus hail and wind damage this summer, and said: “The weather’s so unpredictable, we need as many resources around as possible.” The state has warmed 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, with rain events dropping 24 percent more water and 36 billion-dollar disasters since 2005—up from four in the prior two decades.
Supporters, including nine University of Wisconsin-Madison professors, highlighted the program's role in Tornado Alley safety and national security via geologists for critical minerals. Eric Hunt, an agricultural meteorology educator, called it vital for agriculture: “We just cut something that is vital to the long-term viability of agriculture in the state.” Alumni lead the Nebraska State Climate Office, National Drought Mitigation Center, and other key entities.
Research from the department includes carbon sequestration, past climate studies by Sherilyn Fritz (elected to the National Academy of Sciences in April) and David Harwood on Antarctic ice sheets, and storm-chasing via the TORUS project led by Houston, who consulted on the 2024 film Twisters. State climatologist Deborah Bathke, a department alum, noted that follow-up climate impact studies may now require costly outsourcing without local expertise. Governor Jim Pillen's office praised the cuts for targeting duplicative programs, though Bathke clarified the department's unique focus differs from similar efforts elsewhere at UNL.
