Staff at PGC conduct research into areas of geology and geophysics within the region of Western Canada known as the "Canadian Cordillera", as well as along the continental margin that is Canada's West Coast. PGC researchers are involved in national programs on earthquake seismology and geodynamics, including the evaluation of earthquake hazards. They also undertake studies in reflection seismology, geomagnetism, paleomagnetism, geothermics, the Earth's gravitational field and marine sedimentology.

The principal research programs at the Pacific Geoscience Centre are:

• Earthquake Seismology
  The western component of Canada's National Earthquake Hazards Program, which is aimed at understanding the causes of, and hazards associated with, earthquakes in Canada.

• Geodynamics
  Monitoring and investigating movement of the Earth's crust in support of research into earthquake hazards.

• Marine Geoscience
  Research into the marine environment of Canada's West Coast both from a global and regional geoscience perspective, including seafloor mapping, sediment distribution, active faulting, and geological processes along the continental margin.

PGC also participates in special research projects such as:

• Georgia Basin Geohazards Initiative
• Sponge Reef Project
• Global Change: Mid-continent tilt project
• Geoscape Canada
• Mallik 2002 Gas Hydrate project