Best Earth Science Universities in Morocco 2026

Scope of Research Covered in the Ranking

A total of 279,971 scientist profiles were identified and reviewed from a broad array of bibliometric datasets, of which 31,170 scientists specializing in Earth Science were meticulously analyzed for the purposes of this ranking. Eligibility required each scientist to have a D-index threshold of at least 30, with the majority of their influential publications concentrated within the Earth Science field. Additionally, the consideration of a scientist’s awards and achievements in Earth Science was incorporated as a qualitative factor.

To ensure representation of the top experts while reflecting the scale of each discipline, the D-index threshold for inclusion amongst top researchers is incremented by 10, depending on the estimated scholar population in the field, always encompassing the top 1% of leading scientists. Furthermore, a proximity criterion was applied, mandating a maximum 30% difference between a scientist’s general H-index and their Earth Science D-index, underscoring the consistency and specialization of scholarly contributions. Recognition of a scientist’s distinguished awards and achievements further contributed to the evaluation.

Verification and Validation Process

Recognizing the limitations of raw bibliometric data in evaluating scholarly output, the Research.com team undertook an extensive manual verification process. All scientist profiles considered for the ranking were manually reviewed and cross-referenced with publications found in a wide range of trustworthy sources. Although the number of papers published in top-tier journals and conference proceedings does not directly influence placement in the ranking, it is recognized as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s impact within their field.

Ranking positions are derived using each researcher’s H-index, using data compiled from OpenAlex and CrossRef—both regarded as the most comprehensive and well-established bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community. We encourage those interested in the detailed methodology to visit our methodology page for further information.

Research.com’s Mission and Motivation

Our core mission at Research.com is to inspire scientists, business professionals, and policymakers worldwide to discover the directions taken by the top experts in their disciplines. By presenting transparent and rigorous rankings, we aim to offer the research community a robust mechanism to identify leading experts at the global, national, and institutional levels across specific academic fields.

Key Results of the 4th Edition Morocco Earth Science University Ranking

• Top 3 Moroccan institutions with the highest number of leading scientists in Earth Science:
  1. Université Ibn Zohr (1 scientist)
  2. Cadi Ayyad University (1 scientist)
  3. University of Hassan II Casablanca (1 scientist)
• The world’s most prominent scholars in the Earth Science discipline are affiliated with: Brown University, KU Leuven, Macquarie University, Curtin University, Utrecht University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Hong Kong, China University of Geosciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, and University of Bristol.
  • Ranked #1 globally: Professor James W. Head (Brown University) with a D-index of 148
  • Ranked #2 globally: Jean Poesen (KU Leuven) with a D-index of 147
  • Ranked #3 globally: William L. Griffin (Macquarie University) with a D-index of 144
• Summary statistics:
  • The average total D-index for the top 5% of universities is 2,404, compared to an average of 377 across all 822 institutions analyzed.
  • Top 5% of scholars at universities have, on average, 9,544 published articles in Earth Science, versus an average of 1,521 papers for all 822 universities.
  • The average number of citations for researchers affiliated with the top 1% of universities is 279,971, contrasted with an average of 80,226 for all universities surveyed.

Through rigorous data collection, meticulous manual verification, and a transparent methodology, the Research.com Best Earth Science Universities in Morocco Ranking aims to provide a credible and reliable resource for identifying leading institutions and researchers contributing to advances in Earth Science.