“Geology? Well, we study rocks, it's useless!” How many times have we heard that phrase! Yet geology is lurking everywhere in your daily life, without you even realizing it.
If you can read this article on your phone, it's because geologists have found the metals used to make them. If you can drink tap water in peace, it's because hydrogeologists protect water catchments from industrial pollution. If you can cross the Millau Viaduct without risk, it's because geotechnical experts have designed its foundations according to the nature of the subsoil. There are thousands of examples like this all around you.
Geologists will even play a crucial role in the decades to come for several major reasons linked to environmental, economic and social challenges. Here's why their expertise will be indispensable and what their main missions will be.
1. Climate change and natural resource management
- Monitoring natural hazards: With the increase in extreme climatic events (flooding, coastal erosion, landslides, etc.), geologists will be essential in assessing areas at risk and proposing preventive solutions.
- Water resource management: Groundwater management is becoming increasingly important in the face of drought and the growing scarcity of drinking water. Geologists study water tables and help find sustainable sources of water supply.
- Energy transition: The transition to renewable energies and the reduction of fossil fuels require geologists to identify suitable sites for geothermal, marine, solar and wind energy projects, as well as to find the mineral resources needed for green technologies (lithium, copper, cobalt for batteries).
2. Raw materials exploration and management
- Minerals and metals: The demand for rare metals (essential for technologies such as telephones, computers and electric vehicles) continues to grow. Geologists will continue to explore new sources of raw materials, while ensuring their responsible extraction.
- Recycling and the circular economy: Geologists will also play a role in developing solutions for recycling raw materials, reducing the ecological footprint of the extractive industries, and improving the management of mining waste.
3. Sustainable development and regional planning
- Urbanization and infrastructure: With a growing world population, geologists will be essential in planning the construction of cities and infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings) in stable, sustainable areas, reducing the risks associated with unstable soils or seismic zones.
- Restoring degraded ecosystems: Geologists will be called upon to restore polluted sites (mines, industrial zones) and help rehabilitate damaged natural landscapes.
4. Scientific and space research
- Planetary geology: Exploration of the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies is booming. Geologists specializing in planetology are essential for understanding the composition of extraterrestrial soils, identifying exploitable resources and participating in space exploration missions.
- Research into past climate: studying geological archives enables us to understand past climate changes and anticipate future developments. In this way, geologists help to model climate and its impact on ecosystems.
5. Reducing the environmental impact of industry
- Waste management: Geologists work on the management of toxic and radioactive waste to guarantee its long-term containment, ensuring that storage sites are safe and sustainable.
- Carbon capture and storage: In the fight against climate change, geologists are helping to find solutions for storing CO2 in deep geological formations, thereby reducing atmospheric emissions.
In short, geology offers a wide variety of career opportunities, often at the heart of major issues such as the energy transition, land-use planning challenges and responses to environmental crises. There are so many exciting careers to discover at our immersive days and open days.
