About the Division of Mathematical & Physical Sciences

Catalyzing the Spirit of Inquiry

Encompassing five academic departments, the Division of Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) empowers scientists at all stages of their careers, from first-year students discovering the illuminating power of math to Nobel Laureates shedding light on the universe and all its contents. MPS seeks to expand our physical and mathematical understanding of the universe, from its microscopic substructure to its largest structures, from our own Earth to the edge of the universe and the beginning of time.

MPS Students
MPS Faculty
MPS Diversity Office

Mathematical & Physical Sciences Fast Facts

  • The departments of astronomy, earth and planetary science, mathematics, physics, and statistics are all ranked amongst the best departments in the country, if not the world.

  • The MPS Division has five faculty members who are Nobel laureates, while other prestigious awards and honors given to faculty members include MacArthur "Genius" Fellowships, National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts & Sciences memberships, and Berkeley's Distinguished Teaching Award.

  • The Division of Mathematics & Physical Sciences has a deep history of generating breakthroughs and paradigm-shifting discoveries. One example among many is Nobel laureate Ernest O. Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron in 1929, which unlocked our understanding of the atom.
My charge is to chart the course that will keep Berkeley at the forefront of the most significant science in these fields and enable us to train future generations of research leaders.
Steven Kahn, Dean of the Division of Mathematical & Physical Sciences