"Geosciences in the energy transition" will be the theme of the next Science Bar

[Press release] - Published on February 5, 2025 in Press Corner, Science-Society

On February 13, starting at 8:30 pm, the next Bar des Sciences organized by the University of Montpellier will take place. For this edition, Bénédicte Cenki (geosciences), senior lecturer in geology, and Clément Bonnet (Art-DEV), senior lecturer in economics, will discuss "geosciences in the energy transition".

The Bar des sciences has become one of Montpellier's flagship events for scientific culture, offering once a month, from January to June, a participatory and civic debate on all aspects of science. Throughout the season, scientists are invited to engage in a dialogue in which their knowledge and practices are not only shared, but also discussed. The season is co-produced by the UM's scientific culture services and its partners: Inrae, Inserm and IRD. This evening will be translated into sign language. Admission free, subject to availability.

A Science Bar dedicated to the search for rare earths

The current environmental crisis is prompting all sectors of the economy to look for alternatives to polluting industries that are costly in terms of non-renewable natural resources. Energy is no exception, and the transition to more sustainable modes of production and more reasonable consumption is at the heart of contemporary social and scientific issues. In this context, mining is seen as a polluting, dangerous and almost obsolete practice. Yet the raw materials needed to manufacture wind turbines, electric batteries and solar panels are indeed extracted from the earth. What do the geosciences tell us about the future of our green energies? Do our subsoils contain enough material for an energy revolution? Can we make mining less polluting? Could the circular economy make it possible to close mines?

Two multidisciplinary experts will be on hand to answer questions from the public on the subject of science and society:

• Bénédicte Cenki (Geosciences) is a lecturer in geology, studying the formation of critical metals in the earth's crust and the search for minerals essential to sustainable technologies.
• Clément Bonnet (Art-DEV) is a senior lecturer in economics. His work focuses on the energy transition and assessing the drivers and barriers to progress.