As a research facility, GERG has a distinct, multi-faceted mission: to serve Texas A&M University and the state of Texas in matters pertaining to science and the environment and to support the mission of the College of Geosciences through an emphasis on applied oceanographic, geochemical, and environmental research. Additionally, GERG works to connect education and research within the College of Geosciences to the needs of government and industry on a regional, national and global level.

Dr. Norman Guinasso, Director of GERG, said the organization values creativity, innovation, performance and flexibility. Dr. Guinasso said these are rare characteristics the GERG staff enjoys due to its strong commitment to training and experience.

“We are one of the major research organizations at Texas A&M – we do more research in terms of dollars than many departments, we conduct research that faculty do not have the time to do and we maintain equipment and facilities vital to geosciences research,” Dr. Guinasso said.

Dr. Guinasso explained that while GERG plays an important part in assisting faculty research – through means such as having a group of technicians to maintain certain equipment – the bulk of research that the facility undertakes is not associated with any faculty.

“I would say the breakdown is that 80% of what we do is our own research and 20% of our work is assisting faculty,” Dr. Guinasso said.

Because of the complex nature of its research undertakings, Dr. Guinasso said GERG is subdivided into three components: an Advanced Environmental Lab, an Ocean Science Group and a Petroleum and Geochemical Group. Each sector has its own consortium of people who support the respective research endeavors.

Formed in 1981, GERG was originally contained within the Department of Oceanography. After the research facility grew to more than 100 members in the late 1980s, it could no longer be housed within the Department of Oceanography, and GERG was granted permission to purchase a building off campus to conduct its work. It was around this time that the Texas A&M University Board of Regents named GERG a Center for Excellence.

Since then, GERG has continued to conduct influential research with funds comparable to most departments within the College of Geosciences. While numbers have varied over the years, GERG conducted close to million worth of research last year alone.