Science at UM [S02-ep10]: From coastal aquifers to polymers

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

This week on A l’UM la science, Linda Luquot, researcher at Géosciences Montpellier and winner of the Académie des sciences award, talks to us about coastal aquifers. In the second part of the program, Vincent Darcos tells us all about the polymer plate 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 contained in rivers, streams, and lakes accounts for barely 1% of the Earth's liquid freshwater supply? Did you know that in France, around 75% of the water we consume comes from groundwater? With water crises seemingly closer than ever—we got a taste of this last summer—these large reservoirs of fresh water represent a strategic resource that urgently needs to be addressed in order to ensure its 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 the coast, where these coastal aquifers can be the scene of interactions between fresh water and sea water.

We discuss this with our guest today, Linda Luquot, a researcher at Géosciences Montpellier. Last October, her work was recognized with the Michel Gouilloud Schlumberger Prize from the French Academy of Sciences (see the ceremony here). Today, we are focusing on one of her publications in the Journal d'hydrologie entitled: A multidisciplinary approach to characterizing coastal alluvial aquifers to improve understanding of seawater intrusion and underwater groundwater discharge (April 2022).

After the peptide platform, our report remains on the Synbio 3 platform at the Balard chemistry hub and today takes you to the platform 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 scientific mediation at Mediacces. She invites you to the Maison départementale de l'environnement (Departmental Environment Center) at the Restinclières estate for the exhibition Spotlight on Biodiversity , which runs until December 30.

At UM Science, you have the program, so let's get started!

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

Listen to the program “A l’UM la science” on Divergence FM 93.9