WMU geologist co-chairs national conference

HOUSTON—Western Michigan University research geologist Autumn Haagsma is set to address climate change, carbon storage, and a sustainable, carbon-neutral energy future at the Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) national conference, solidifying and emphasizing the importance of global sustainability in the field of geology. 

The CCUS 2023 conference, under the co-chairmanship of Haagsma, takes place at the University of Houston from April 25-27 and aims to attract geoscientists and engineers from diverse sectors to facilitate their active involvement in the CCUS field, which is rapidly growing and in need of more qualified professionals.

“This year we expect more than 1,200 geoscientists and engineers from government, industry and academia to come to share their knowledge to assure a lower carbon future,” says Haagsma, who also serves as the director of the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education and assistant director of the Michigan Geological Survey at Western.

Haagsma has more than a decade of experience researching CCUS and has played an instrumental role in advancing the field, including helping to create the CCUS committee and launch the first American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) supported CCUS conference in 2021. Since then, the CCUS conference has grown substantially in size, gaining support from leading organizations such as the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

The need for CCUS specialists is growing, Haagsma explains, because policy instruments, such as the expanded 45Q federal tax credits and carbon credit mechanisms, are providing opportunities that offset the costs of CCUS deployment that were previously unaffordable for many companies. She notes that both subsurface technical knowledge and related data sets developed by the petroleum industry are critical inputs required for the world to successfully move towards a carbon-neutral and sustainable energy future. 

The conference, featuring 130 oral presentations and 54 poster presentations, will help lead the way for successful net-zero operations, developments and opportunities. In addition, the event includes pre- and post-event short courses and field trips, making it a comprehensive opportunity for learning and growth.

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