On December 19, 2024, a workshop on Geophysics and Green Transition, organized with the participation of the University of Bucharest, brought together 152 students, educators and experts. Taking place in Buzău, the event focused on the critical intersections of geophysics, green transition and smart cities while, at the same time, trying to bridge the gap with the younger generation on these topics.
In this context, the participants (students, educators, and experts of the GeoAlliance project from the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Bucharest) explored how geophysical techniques integrated with geological mapping can assess geothermal potential and drive the development of geothermal energy, a cornerstone for green transition, but also had the opportunity to observe the role of geophysics in advancing toward resilient and sustainable smart cities.
The event featured an extended presentation developed in the frame of the “Driving Sustainable Urban Futures: A Romanian-Norwegian Innovation Geophysical Alliance for Green Transition and SMART City Development” project (EEA and Norway Grants) by Florina Chitea, Nicolae Cruceru, Ioane Dumitru (project members) with an input for the nuclear energy from Șerban Alin (“Horia Hulubei” National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering IFIN-HH), while Esther Bloem (The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) and Ilias Fikos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) brought contributions for the topic of waste-to-value.
The presentation included examples and discussion on topics such as:
- geophysics, geophysical tools, and surveying results 2D and 3D to support the green transition
- conventional power (oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear) and environmental impact, renewable and green power
- geophysical data acquisition to accelerate geothermal development in the urban environment
- municipal solid waste as a source of energy for heating (case example of Oslo) and geophysics for landfill management and the possibility to extract methane
- geophysics as a preventive tool for underground triggered problems in urban areas (case examples of Slănic and Bucharest).
The program of the event is available here.
The organizing team was formed by teaching staff from the National College Spiru Haret from Buzău City and members of the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Bucharest, namely Cristina-Iuliana Iacob, Felicia Boșcodeală, Elena Suditu, Alina Ichim, Valentin Biro, Florina Țuluca, Ana Suditu and Nicolae Cruceru.
A Call for Continued Engagement
As noted by Florina Țuluca, teaching staff at the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Bucharest and the director of the project, the event „highlighted the importance of maintaining open channels of communication with the younger generation to inspire sustained progress in geophysics and green transition. Only by involving students and educators in these critical conversations, we can ensure that the future of energy and environmental stewardship remains optimistic and innovative”. Not last, Florina Țuluca emphasized the vast possibility of the young generation from Buzău area to get involved into Citizen Science Initiatives.
The project nr. 2024/39508 – Driving Sustainable Urban Futures: A Romanian-Norwegian Innovation Geophysical Alliance for Green Transition and SMART City Development is co-financed by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Romania 2014-2021, in the frame of the SME Growth Programme Romania.