GeoERA Webinar Series: Towards a Geological Service for Europe

Whether it concerns reliable energy supply, access to raw materials for products we use in our day-to-day activities, clean groundwater sustaining society and biodiversity but threatened by climate change or safety in urban areas, many solutions lie dormant under the Earth’s surface or are directly connected to the subsurface.

The Geological Surveys of Europe are addressing society’s concerns by developing innovative solutions within the GeoERA research network in partnership with some other organisations. Through the umbrella organisation, EuroGeoSurveys these solutions are part of the roadmap towards establishing a Geological Service for Europe.

After all, the subsurface is deeply integrated with our daily lives, from energy production and storage, to sustainable heating and cooling, critical and sustainable raw materials, construction materials and sustainable supply of water for society and nature. The underground provides a vital link to many essential new technologies and solutions that are challenging the geoscience and indeed all science communities to address the global climate goals and the targets of the European Green Deal.

Together with our key partners and stakeholders, we want to investigate the role of subsurface information in the R&D value chain. What services are needed and how can we improve the embedding of our research results?

We will therefore conduct a webinar series, scheduled to take place in the week of 9-13 November 2020. It will be spread over 5 sessions, beginning with an overarching session on the grand challenges faced by society and how geoscience can play a key role in addressing them. The topics will be fleshed out by four thematic sessions focused on clean energy, groundwater, mineral raw materials and information management.

The webinars will provide an insight into the current research projects of GeoERA and will include insights from guest speakers to highlight the relevant links between geosciences and their sectors. How their results and products can be of use to the stakeholder community as well as the current EU policy objectives will form part of the discussion, while also delving into future needs and opportunities for collaboration.