About ENGIE

ENGIE is an EIT-funded project which aims to raise the interest of young girls for geosciences and the related engineering disciplines, and thus to improve the gender balance in these professions that are traditionally dominated by men. Although the focus is on girls, the ENGIE actions are open to anyone who wants to know more about geosciences.

Our aims for this event

Even though it is vital for our life, geoscience is not a core subject in public education. However, the knowledge of geosciences helps us to manage energy, minerals and water – the resources which are essential for human life. The basic aim of this conference was to emphasise the importance of geosciences for future generations. Topics which have high relevance and interest nowadays will be discussed and the gender aspects of geo-professions will also be touched on. The conference welcomes school students, educators, policy makers, media representatives and anybody else interested in Earth sciences. The event was organised under the umbrella of the first International Geodiversity Day and the European Year of Youth 2022. on the 6th of October, 2022.

How to watch the presentations and access the slides?  

The conference was recorded and it is available on the ENGIE methodology course site, after registration.

 6 October 2022

08:30 – Registration and welcome coffee

09:00 – Welcome by EFG & ENGIE coordinator

Moderator: Eva Hartai – University of Miskolc

09:10 – ENGIE key outcomes

09:25 – Statement by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel – Carlos Morais Pires, Member of Cabinet – European Commission, DG Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

09:35 – Video pitches by the awardees of the ENGIE video and photo contests

09:50 – Message from the EIT RawMaterials Project Officer – Agata Poczmańska – EIT Raw Materials

10:05 – Importance of geoscience for future generations – different perspectives

  • Geology in the energy transition – János Szanyi – University of Szeged
  • Sustainability of raw materials supply – Karen Hanghoj – British Geological Survey
  • Mitigation of geohazards – Pavlos Tyrologou – European Federation of Geologists
  • Groundwater quality and supply – Marco Petitta – Sapienza University of Rome

11:05 – Coffee break

Moderator: Adrienn Cseko – La Palma Research Centre

11:25 – Importance of geoscience for future generations – different perspectives (cont.)

  • Geoheritage and geo-conservation – Anjana Khatwa – Wessex Museums Trust
  • Geoscience in public conversations – Hazel Gibson – European Geosciences Union
  • Gender in geosciences – Lena Abrahamsson – Luleå University of Technology

12:10 – Awareness raising initiatives 

  • International Geodiversity Day – Jose Brilha – University of Minho
  • The role of geological surveys in raising public awareness of geosciences – Giorgia Stasi & Renata Barros – Geological Survey of Belgium

12:40 – Panel discussion

Moderator: Ruth Allington – European Federation of Geologists

13:00 – Conclusions & ENGIE follow-up activities

13:10 – Networking lunch

Lena Abrahamsson – Luleå University of Technology (LTU)

Lena Abrahamsson is professor and head of subject in Human Work Science and scientific leader for the future area “Creaternity” at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden. She is also board member of Blekinge Institute of Technology. Her own research interest covers workplace, technology and organisational changes, learning, safety & health, and gender issues in industrial companies. She is today active in projects on digitalisation, green industrial transformation, and sustainable development, many of them with a gender perspective, in the mining and steel industry. She leads a research group of 29 people, supervises doctoral students and works as a project manager in research projects. In the Master program Industrial Design Engineering she teaches mainly in the courses “Organisational development” and “Production and organisation”.

 

Renata Barros – Geological Survey of Belgium

Why is geology essential in the transition to a more sustainable future, and how can we do a better job at explaining the importance of geological knowledge to society? These are the main questions guiding Renata’s research. With an international career in Brazil, Ireland, and since 2019 Belgium, she has focused mainly on understanding better the formation and distribution of rock deposits of critical metals (lithium, tantalum, gallium etc.) that are used in batteries and other clean energy technologies in development. She is also leading initiatives of geoscience outreach and data & knowledge transfer to non-experts and experts. For more info, you can check her personal website: https://sites.google.com/view/renatabarros/

 

José Brilha – University of Minho

José Brilha is a geologist and Full Professor at the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal). Member of the: i) UNESCO IGCP Scientific Board; ii) UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team; iii) World Commission on Protected Areas – IUCN and its Geoheritage Specialist Group. He was: i) President of ProGEO (European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage); ii) coordinator of the “Working Group Geoheritage Assessment” of the IUGS’s “International Commission on Geoheritage”; iii) co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Geoheritage (Springer). Currently he develops applied research on geodiversity and geoconservation in cooperation with geoparks, protected areas and other conserved areas. He was involved in the initiatives for the establishment of the International Geodiversity Day.

 

 

Hazel Gibson

Hazel Gibson is the Head of Communications at the European Geosciences Union. She has previously worked extensively around public perceptions of geoscience and science communication, including studying geothermal power, subsurface visualisations and the influence of regional geological heritage. Combining experience in industry and science communication with an interdisciplinary research approach, Hazel has developed a whole new understanding of how expert and non-expert geoscientists conceptualise the geological subsurface and how that understanding can be used to improve the effectiveness of our communications.

 

Karen Hanghøj – British Geological Survey

Karen Hanghøj is the Director of the British Geological Survey. She is a geologist with extensive experience in research and innovation management and the minerals and metals industry. Karen is passionate about understanding the complexity of resource management, about environmental and social sustainability, and about the role of geoscience in finding solutions to societal challenges. Karen holds a PhD in Geology from University of Copenhagen and has worked with research on geological processes in the lower crust and mantle and their associated mineral deposits, before taking senior leadership roles in research and innovation organisations. She is a member of a range of international committees and working groups.

 

Anjana Khatwa 

Anjana Khatwa, PhD, is an award-winning Earth Scientist, presenter and advocate for diversity in natural heritage spaces. Anjana is a passionate storyteller, searching for hidden clues locked away in rocks, fossils and landscapes to reveal the extraordinary mysteries and stories about life on earth. For over 20 years, Anjana has worked as a learning and engagement professional in the natural heritage sector helping people of all backgrounds connect with the landscapes around them. She lives in Dorset, close to the Jurassic Coast, in a house filled with rocks and fossils.

 

Marco Petitta – Sapienza University of Rome

Marco Petitta, PhD, is Full Professor of Hydrogeology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, authoring about 90 papers on international journals. He coordinated the European Project Horizon2020 KINDRA (2015-2018). Following EU projects still ongoing are KARMA (PRIMA program, 2019-23) and NINFA (Horizon Europe, 2022-26). For the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) he was Chairman of the Italian Chapter (2012-2016) and Vice-President for Western and Central Europe /and he is now Vice-President for Science and Program Coordination. He served as Coordinator of the Panel of Experts in Hydrogeology of the EFG (European Federation of Geologists) and he is still Member of the EC Working Group of Groundwater, for the Common Implementation Strategy of Water Directives. He is member of the Editorial Board of several international journals and of Advisory Boards of International Projects as GEOERA, REGULATE and GSEU.

 

Agata Poczmańska – EIT RawMaterials

Agata Poczmańska is the Education Officer at the EIT RawMaterials responsible for educational strategy and activities in the Eastern and Southeastern Europe. She has a strong educational and EU-related background gained through her 14-year professional experience. She was working at the Educational Research Institute (IBE) in Poland, among others on development of the Qualifications System. As chief researcher and manager, she carried out national/international projects in lifelong learning and vocational education and training. She was nominated by the Ministry of Education as a member of the Polish Experts Team for ECVET. In recent years, Agata was a Head of the Project Development Unit at IBE. She was also cooperating with Cedefop, Polish Craft Association and Center for Civil Education.

 

Pavlos Tyrologou – European Federation of Geologists 

Pavlos Tyrologou holds a BSc (4 years Hons) degree in Geology and Applied (engineering) Geology from Glasgow University, an MSc in Applied Environmental Geology from Cardiff University and a PhD in Environmental Geotechnical Engineering from Imperial College London. He is professionally accredited in the UK both as a Chartered Geologist and Eurogeologist in the field of Engineering Geology. Pavlos has 19 years of consultancy experience in various public infrastructure design/works in Greece, United Kingdom, Australia, Saint Maarten, and Madagascar. He is an expert witness for the Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office. He is also the coordinator of the Panel of experts on Natural Hazard & Climate Change, the external relations officer in EFG and the Editor-in-Chief of the European Geologist journal.

 

Georgia Stasi – Geological Survey of Belgium

After finishing her MSc degree in Geology (UNIPD) in Italy, Giorgia moved to Belgium in 2017. Since then, she is working as geologist at the Geological Survey of Belgium (RBINS) with a focus on critical raw materials and technology development. Giorgia is currently enrolled in a PhD program in Applied Geophysics at the University of Liège (Belgium), with research focusing on the development of geophysical techniques for deep mining and robotic autonomous exploration. Actively participating in geoscientific outreach activities, promoting geology and mining for the energy transition to the society, she is also the ECS representative of the Energy, Resources and the Environment division at the European Geoscience Union.

 

János Szanyi – University of Szeged

János Szanyi is a professor at the University of Szeged, Hungary. He has graduated with a master’s degree in mathematics and computer science and also engineering-hydrogeology. He worked for the Hungarian Geological Survey for 12 years, first as a field geologist and later as a head of the Regional Office in Szeged. At the university, and also at the Hungarian Geological Survey he took part in many hydrogeological and geothermal activities, like planning and doing fieldwork, organising geothermal data base. He coordinated several international geothermal energy utilization projects.

He has lectures in Hydrogeology, Modelling groundwater and heat flow, and Geothermics. He is the coordinator of the Panel of Experts on Geothermal Energy at the European Federation of Geologists.

1 Data processing notice

The organiser of this event (ENGIE project) is collecting the data you have provided for the registration to the ENGIE Final conference.

Your personal data are processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

The following personal data are collected: email address, first name, last name, your professional affiliation (optional) and any dietary requirements (optional). In the registration form, we also ask attendees if they would like to receive information about future ENGIE activities.

The recipients of your data will be the staff of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) in charge of the event organisation. Your data will not be shared with third parties and will not be used for other purposes than providing access to the event and informing interested persons about follow-up activities.

Your data will be kept for a maximum period of three months after the end of the event. Data will be automatically deleted at the end of this period.

You have the right to access your personal data and the right to correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data. If you have any queries concerning the processing of your personal data, you may address them to anita.stein_at_eurogeologists.eu.

2 Notice of filming, photography and audio recording

Photography, audio and video recording may occur during the event for communication and promotional purposes. By attending this event, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for communications and promotional purposes on websites, social media, newsletters and other publications by the event organisers. You release the organisers of the event, its staff, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitising, or publication and use of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or sound recordings.

If you do not notify the organisers that you do not want to be filmed, recorded or photographed, you waive all rights you may have to any claim for the use of your image for communication activities related to the event.

You have the right to choose not to be filmed or photographed during the event. Please notify us (anita.stein_at_eurogeologists.eu) of your wish to not be featured on websites, social media, newsletters and other publications.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event.

The event was organised under the umbrella of the first International Geodiversity Day and the European Year of Youth 2022