European Geosciences Union
Division on Energy, Resources and the Environment
President: Viktor J. Bruckman
(Emailere@egu.eu)
Deputy President: Giorgia Stasi
(Email)
ECS Representative: Rotman Criollo
(Emailecs-ere@egu.eu)
The EGU brings together geoscientists from all over Europe and the rest of the world, covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. This geoscientific interdisciplinarity is needed to tackle the challenges of the future. A major challenge for humankind is to provide adequate and reliable supplies of affordable energy and other resources. These should be obtained in environmentally sustainable ways, which is essential for economic prosperity, environmental quality and political stability around the world. One goal of the division Energy, Resources & the Environment (ERE) is to be a leading discussion forum for these issues. The core of the division consists of experts in various fields that will help meet the mutually coupled challenges of energy, resources and the environment.
Viktor’s research interests include energy transition and renewable energy from biomass, with a focus on forests. He is also involved in biochar research and the investigation of carbon and nutrient cycles which includes soil processes and climate change. His interdisciplinary and holistic approaches are directed towards a sustainable and eco-friendly production and utilization of energy and natural resources.
Giorgia is a geologist specialized in Ore Geology and Applied Geophysics. She works at the Geological Survey of Belgium (RBINS) with a focus on critical raw material and technology development, and she is currently enrolled in a PhD program in Applied Geophysics at the University of Liège, Belgium. Her research focuses on the development of geophysical techniques for deep mining and robotic autonomous exploration. She is also active in geoscience communication and dissemination activities to the public.
Johannes is a geologist with a background in sedimentology and structural geology. His research focuses on the secure and sustainable use of the subsurface for the energy transition, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen storage and geothermal energy. He is particularly interested in (1) how pore-scale mechanisms influence reservoir scale processes, (2) faults and (3) what role subsurface utilisation can and should play in a renewable energy system.
Michael is a geochemist and hydrogeologist by training with a research focus on the numerical simulation of hydrogeothermal systems in the subsurface. This includes quantification of interactions between deep and shallow groundwater systems, geochemical water-rock-interactions, coupled numerical simulation (hydraulical, thermal, mechanical, chemical), formation of ore deposits, CO2 storage in geologic formations and hydrogeothermal energy provision.
Sonja is a civil and environmental engineer by training with a background in both academia and industry. Her research focuses on hydrogeology , numerical flow and transport simulations and the sustainable use of georesources and the subsurface, for example investigating CO2 storage in geological media.
Ana T. Lima is a senior researcher at the Technical University of Denmark. Her work fringes on the natural and built environments, using (bio)geochemical, engineering, and modeling tools to understand contaminants in this continuum, create solutions, and translate them into policy. For the last 15+ years, she has worked on several continents and has had the opportunity to work with world-renowned leaders in two distinct fields: electrokinetics and (bio)geochemistry. Her most recent interests stem from the need to improve construction materials sustainability and quantify circular economy practices in alleviating GHG emissions and resource use.
Sarah Weihmann has a background in geosciences with focus on geomechanics and has been involved in both academic and industry projects in the oil and gas and nuclear waste storage sector. Her ongoing research interests include faults and fractures in geoenergy applications, geological storage of nuclear waste, reservoir geomechanics and numerical simulations. She is currently working at RWTH Aachen.
Rotman aims to understand the dynamics of the energy-water nexus in the subsurface, as well as exploring its relationship with human activities. This understanding will not only serve as the foundation for better resource management but also for considering the effects of climate change, anticipating and/or reducing natural risks, and integrating them into land and subsoil planning.
As ECS representatives, together with Tanushika Gunatilake, our commitment is to continue the work of creating a common space for early-career professionals, where we can support each other in our careers.
Thanushika research focuses on numerical modeling of fluids in the subsurface. Her research branches into two main directions: firstly, she delves into the geodynamic processes occurring at the Earth’s surface across various tectonic environments, such as the central Apennines or subduction zones, aiming to unravel the underlying physics of natural earthquakes. Secondly, she dedicates her efforts to exploring the transition towards a net-zero energy system, which involves conducting numerical studies on CO2 sequestration and geothermal exploration.
The 2024 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Roberto E. Rizzo for outstanding research in the field of rock fractures and associated community service.
The 2024 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to Gabriele Benedetti FracAbility: A python toolbox for survival analysis in fractured rock systems
The 2024 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to Isabel Lange Dissolution experiments on a polyphase basalt surface under conditions relevant to offshore CO2 storage
In our January issue we take a look at the range of ways that geochemistry, geophysics, mineralogy, petrology and other fundamental geoscience researchers can move their careers in unexpected directions, and learn about how an interdisciplinary perspective took outgoing ERE Division President Viktor Bruckman from forestry to policy!
EGU's Simon Clark is here to help you get started on making personal changes in 2025, in a way that is sustainable, and don't forget to have your say on how we run the Early Career Scientist activities, with the 2025 ECS Survey.
If you need financial support to attend EGU25 due to care-giving responsibilities, a disability, career status or another reason, apply for our new EDI Participation Support by 23 February 2025. The EGU25 Photo Competition is open until 31 March, submit your image to win free registration to EGU26! All this and much more in this month's Loupe!