UM atUM [S02-ep10]: From Coastal Aquifers to Polymers

[Podcast] - Published on December 8, 2022 in Science and Society

This week on *AUM science*, Linda Luquot, a researcher at Géosciences Montpellier and a laureate of the French Academy of Sciences, talks to us about coastal aquifers. In the second part of the show, Vincent Darcos tells you all about the polymer tray on the Synbio 3 platform. Finally, Sorenza Seghers invites you to visit the exhibition *Spotlight on Biodiversity*. A program co-produced and broadcast by Divergence FM 93.9.

Did you know that the water in rivers, streams, and lakes accounts for barely 1% of the Earth’s liquid freshwater supply? Did you know that in France, about 75% of the water we consume comes from groundwater? At a time when water crises have never seemed so close to home—we even got a taste of the early signs this summer—these vast freshwater reservoirs represent a strategic resource that we urgently need to focus on in order to ensure their sustainable use. But first, where are these aquifers located? Pretty much everywhere, since the Earth’s crust is composed of about 20 to 25% water. Everywhere, including along the coast, where these coastal aquifers can be the site of interactions between freshwater and seawater.

We’re discussing this with our guest today, Linda Luquot, a researcher at Géosciences Montpellier. Her work was recognized last October with the Michel Gouilloud Schlumberger Prize from the French Academy of Sciences (watch the ceremony here). Today we’re drawing on one of her publications, which appeared in the Journal d’hydrologie and is titled: “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Characterizing Coastal Alluvial Aquifers to Improve Understanding of Seawater Intrusion and Submarine Groundwater Discharge” (April 2022).

After the peptide lab, our report continues at the Synbio 3 platform in the Balard Chemistry Cluster and takes you today to the lab dedicated to polymers. Vincent Darcos is our guide, and he talks to us about pearl necklaces and spaghetti.

Finally, our last-minute guest will be Sorenza Seghers, a master’s student in science communication at Mediacces. She invites you to the Departmental Environmental Center at the Restinclières estate for the exhibition Spotlight on Biodiversity , on view through December 30.

AtUM , you’ve got the schedule—let’s get started!

Co-production: Divergence FM / University of Montpellier
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Lucie Lecherbonnier / Aline Périault
Reporting and editing: Aline Périault
Director: Tom Chevalier

Listen to the show “AUM science” on Divergence FM 93.9