European Geosciences Union
Division on Energy, Resources and the Environment
President: Viktor Bruckman
(ere@egu.eu)
Deputy President: Giorgia Stasi
(giorgia.stasi@naturalsciences.be)
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.
ECS Representative:
Rotman Criollo (ecs-ere@egu.eu)
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 2023 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Johannes Miocic for outstanding and innovative research and community service in the field of safe and sustainable subsurface storage.
The 2023 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to Kai Bröker Slip tendency and reactivation pressure prediction of natural fractures at the Bedretto Underground Laboratory, Switzerland
The 2023 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award is awarded to Philip Salter Exploiting induced carbonate precipitation to improve reservoir storage integrity and geothermal system efficiency
In our March Issue, we are getting ready to make new connections at EGU24 which will be starting in just over two weeks! Learn about how find your personal collection of science interests and make the most of our biggest hybrid General Assembly yet!
Get all the insider tips form EGU’s Events Manager Jane Roussak as well as many othe guides and helpful articles on the EGUblogs, watch our recorded EGUwebinar on navigating the General Assembly with our Early Career Scientists and if you are a convener, don’t miss our EGUwebinar on 2 April that will help you be fully prepared for your session.