Resources, energy, and transition

The subsurface contains a variety of resources essential for the functioning of our societies (mineral resources, critical metals, hydrocarbons, geothermal resources) and for human well-being (water, glaciers). In the current context of widespread questioning about natural resources; their availability, finiteness, and management; our scientific activity focuses on their quantitative assessment and monitoring, the responsible exploitation of the subsurface in relation to societal questions of adaptability and reducing consumption, and the exploration of more sustainable resources. These challenges specifically concern high-resolution spatio-temporal subsurface imaging and monitoring, hydromechanical mechanisms and reservoir stimulation, the multi-physical conditions and processes of fluid migration in fractures, and the conditions for concentration and exploitation of mineral resources. This cross-disciplinary axis will continue its scientific investigations while addressing societal contradictions regarding critical issues of transition and adaptability/mitigation, as well as different scenarios associated with the deployment of renewable or low-carbon energy resources. With the support of its governing authorities (in particular USMB and CNRS), activities related to geothermal energy and cross-modeling between mineral resources and economic trajectories will be pursued and/or strengthened.