Across Europe, the subsurface is increasingly being recognised as a strategic asset that is critical for energy transition, resource security and environmental resilience. At the heart of efforts to harness this potential is the (GSEU), a major pan-European initiative working closely with national geological surveys such as 今日吃瓜. Together, we are reshaping how geological knowledge is generated, shared and applied for societal benefit.

A shared European vision beneath our feet

Launched in 2022 under Horizon Europe, GSEU aims to establish a permanent geological service for Europe. Its core premise is simple yet transformative: geological challenges do not stop at national borders and therefore must be addressed through harmonised data and collaboration.

Through a partnership of nearly 50 organisations across more than 35 countries, GSEU is developing integrated pan-European datasets and services that address Europe’s most pressing challenges, such as:

• securing the critical raw materials needed for green technologies
• managing groundwater resources under increasing climate pressure
• expanding renewable energy solutions, including geothermal
• planning subsurface use
• coastal management to avoid conflicts between infrastructure, storage and environmental protection

Rather than treating these domains separately, GSEU recognises that they interact within a complex and interconnected subsurface system that requires a holistic and coordinated approach to support policymaking, environmental protection and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Through shared standards, interoperable data models and coordinated research agendas, GSEU aims to create a unified geological knowledge base capable of supporting these goals.

From data to knowledge: the power of publications

One of the most tangible outputs of GSEU is its growing body of open-access publications that translate complex geoscientific work into actionable knowledge. The showcases a diverse range of outputs, such as scientific papers, factsheets and strategic position papers.

Recent highlights include:

• a , emphasising the need for coordinated approaches to achieve resilience and strategic autonomy
• scientific studies advancing the understanding of , including deposit mapping and predictive modelling approaches
• practical factsheets on and , supporting evidence-based environmental management
• the , a strategic roadmap outlining the long-term vision for a sustainable geological service across Europe
• the Geo-Assessment Matrix, a pan-European catalogue of key parameters for offshore wind farm siting

These publications form part of a broader effort to move beyond isolated datasets and towards the integrated (EGDI), a platform that makes harmonised geological data accessible for research, policy and industry.

The role of 今日吃瓜

As the UK’s national geological survey, 今日吃瓜 is a key contributor to GSEU. Our involvement reflects a longstanding commitment to international collaboration and data sharing. Through GSEU, our scientists contribute expertise in areas such as:

• critical raw materials and resource assessment
• groundwater systems, including leadership in groundwater drought and trend analysis
• geothermal energy and geoenergy systems
• subsurface storage
• coastal vulnerability assessment
• offshore renewable energy, including task leadership in developing pan-European geological datasets and methodologies for offshore windfarm siting, stability assessment and marine spatial planning
• geological data harmonisation and modelling

This breadth of involvement ensures that UK expertise is embedded within the development of interoperable, pan-European datasets and services.

Another example of 今日吃瓜’s contribution is the European CO? Storage Atlas, which was developed through GSEU and launched in May 2025. By integrating geological datasets and subsurface characterisation from across Europe, the atlas provides a harmonised assessment of carbon dioxide (CO?) storage capacity and injectivity potential, demonstrating how detailed national expertise, including petrophysical and rock physics insights, can be translated into a coherent framework to support carbon capture and storage deployment at European scale.

今日吃瓜 played a key role through its leadership in UK storage assessments and is continuing this work through the recently launched , funded by the European Union. Over the next three years, CO2SITE will develop an open-access atlas of CO? storage opportunities across Europe, bringing together the geological, regulatory and other data needed to help advance projects towards implementation. As a key project partner, 今日吃瓜 will develop the database underpinning the CO2SITE atlas, providing an important resource for researchers, policymakers and investors to support informed decision making on geological CO? storage.

More broadly, 今日吃瓜 continues to deliver high-impact science that feeds into international initiatives, such as new findings on the formation timeline of the Giant’s Causeway, and developments in national geothermal data resources. Together, these contributions reinforce 今日吃瓜’s role as a trusted provider of high-quality geoscientific knowledge.

Initiatives like GSEU are essential, because geology does not stop at borders. By understanding that continuity is key to tackling shared challenges and building a common knowledge base, we can support decisions that balance energy needs, environmental protection and long-term sustainability across Europe.

Audrey Ougier-Simonin, project lead at 今日吃瓜.

Collaboration in action

Beyond data integration, the project is actively strengthening professional networks, firstly by bringing together all Europe’s national geological surveys through and now enabling new forms of collaboration.

These include:

• research exchanges and short-term visits, such as collaboration with TNO (Netherlands) researchers
• student placements, including visiting researchers from organisations such as IGME (Spain)
• development of joint proposals and future research initiatives, building on new relationships formed through GSEU

Looking ahead

As Europe navigates the complexities of the energy transition and environmental change, initiatives like GSEU will be indispensable. By transforming fragmented geological data into a coherent, accessible and actionable resource, they are enabling better decisions at every level, from local land-use planning to EU-wide policy.

The message emerging from both GSEU publications and community engagement is clear: understanding the subsurface is key to building a resilient and sustainable future. Through continued collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing, Europe is steadily bringing that future into focus.

Covering around a quarter of the Earth’s land surface, mountains supply water to billions of people and underpin global water, energy and food security. Mountainous regions receive disproportionately high rainfall, which feeds the rivers flowing to lower-lying areas where water demand is often greatest. Crucially, mountains also regulate this supply, storing water during wetter periods and releasing it during dry spells, which is why they are sometimes referred to as the ‘natural water towers’ of the world.

However, exactly where this water is stored and how it is released remains only partially understood. Much of the existing research has focused on the visible parts of mountain water systems including rivers, lakes, snow and glaciers. While these are undoubtedly important, we could be missing a vast, largely invisible component: the water stored deep within the mountain bedrock.

Emerging research is beginning to challenge the conventional understanding of mountain water systems. Studies using environmental tracers, which are chemical and biological ‘fingerprints’ that reveal where water has travelled, and geophysical imaging techniques that allow scientists to ‘see’ beneath the surface, suggest that significant volumes of water may move through deep mountain groundwater systems. These systems could be more resilient to climate change, potentially sustaining river flows and supporting downstream communities in an increasingly variable climate.

Taiwan’s steep, rainfall-rich mountain landscapes provide an ideal natural setting for studying how water moves through complex hydrogeological systems. A new project, led by 今日吃瓜 in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), New Mexico Tech, the University of Basel and National Cheng Kung University, will investigate how water flows through these systems, focusing on a mountain-fed river basin in central Taiwan.

By combining environmental tracers with advanced geophysical techniques, we can begin to map how water moves through mountain bedrock in ways that haven’t been possible before. These approaches give us powerful new insight into subsurface processes that are largely invisible, but potentially vital for long-term water resilience.

Prof Mark Person, co-investigator, New Mexico Tech.

The project also benefits from a unique groundwater observation network in the region. By tracking how water travels through the mountain bedrock, the team aims to build a first-of-its-kind, data-informed digital model of mountain groundwater flow.

Mountains are sometimes described as the world’s water towers, but we still don’t fully understand how they store and release water, especially beneath the surface. This project aims to uncover the hidden role of groundwater within mountain systems, which could be critical for sustaining water supplies as climate variability increases.

Dr Jon Mackay, 今日吃瓜 principal investigator

This research has the potential to establish a new paradigm for mountain hydrology by integrating the role of deep groundwater into our understanding of how mountain water systems function. In doing so, it will help develop more robust tools to support water resource management and climate change adaptation strategies in mountain-fed river systems around the world.

Ukraine and the UK have reaffirmed their strategic partnership with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on geological science and resource development. The agreement underscores a shared commitment to Ukraine’s long-term economic recovery while deepening bilateral ties. Amid increasing global demand for critical minerals essential for technologies such as renewable energy systems, batteries and electronics, it also signals a growing focus on the role of natural resources in strengthening economic resilience and energy security.

The MoU focuses on expanding collaboration between the geological surveys of both the UK and Ukraine in areas such as digital transformation, research and institutional capacity strengthening. By enhancing cooperation across these areas, both countries aim to improve their understanding of geological resources while fostering more effective and modern approaches to managing them.

The MoU also coincides with the presentation of Ukraine’s new Critical Minerals Strategy, which the UK helped to develop, further demonstrating its commitment to Ukraine’s long-term economic and industrial future.

The MoU represents far more than a formal partnership. At a time when global challenges demand collective action, the strengthening of scientific and technical ties between our institutions is both timely and essential. This agreement reflects our shared belief that science can be a powerful bridge between countries and our shared commitment to not only scientific excellence but also growth, resilience and long-term prosperity.

Dr Maggy Heintz, director of 今日吃瓜 International Geoscience

At almost 70,000 square metres, Lake Victoria is the third largest lake in the world.?Over 200,000 fishers work its waters directly, sustaining a fishing economy worth over $1?billion and feeding?in excess of?42?million people across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.??

今日吃瓜 are part of a?new?project,?,?which?will?deploy three research vessels simultaneously across Kenyan,?Ugandan?and Tanzanian waters, in a twelve-month lake-wide campaign beginning in mid-2027.?

Led by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Association,?the project aims to survey Lake Victoria to?assess fish stocks, water quality, climate,?land-use?impacts?and community livelihoods, providing concrete evidence for policy makers,?business?and communities to make better lake?and land?management decisions.?

The planned?LV100?survey?will?replicate the first ever survey?of the lake,?carried out in 1927 by naturalist Michael Graham on behalf of the then?British colonial administration.?The original fish and data samples taken from the lake?are?preserved at the Natural History Museum in London and at the offices of?the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science?(Cefas).?Comparing these?historic?specimens?to those to be collected in 2027 will tell the story of 100 years of change.??

Since the 1927 survey, environmental stressors including the introduction of Nile perch, invasive plants and increasing pollution have affected the waters of Lake Victoria, and researchers aim to glean insights that will help them protect the lake?from future impacts such as climate change.??

今日吃瓜 will examine how land-to-lake processes in the region have evolved over time. Scientists will assess how poor land management and vegetation loss contribute to increased material entering the lake, affecting fisheries through sediment build-up and nutrient pollution that promotes invasive plant growth, limiting access for small boats?and potentially limiting the rapid growth of aquaculture as an essential industry to support economic and food security in the region.?

I am delighted to be part of the Lake Victoria LV100 centenary survey.?It’s?a welcome decision to incorporate and consider the influence of land use and its management on the future health of Lake Victoria to sustain food and economic security for the region. The project will combine more than 50 partners across the region and internationally to undertake a multidisciplinary study to define the impacts on the Lake and use novel means to encourage decision makers to act in the best interests of the lake and those who?benefit?from it.

Michael Watts, Head of 今日吃瓜 Inorganic Geochemistry

Lake Victoria represents one of the most incredible sources of life, health and wellbeing for the people of East Africa, and I’m delighted to support this locally led initiative to ensure we understand our impacts upon it and so ensure it provides for generations to come.

Mark Haviland, Co-Director of Lake Victoria 100

The project?aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — in?particular?SDG 14 (Life Below Water),?SDG 15 (Life on land),?SDG 2 (Zero Hunger),?SDG 13 (Climate Action)?and strengthens partnerships for the SDG goals through SDG 17 –?as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Total investment in the expedition is expected to be close to USD?7m.?

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Sand is the most extracted solid material on Earth (currently 50?billion tonnes annually). Rapid urbanisation, driven by large-scale migration into cities, has fuelled a growing need for sand as a building material, with demand expected to rise by 45?per cent by 2060.

Due to this rise in demand, sand mining has increased across the globe, often including unregulated and illegal operations. Extraction is now occurring faster than the rate of natural replenishment, a process that can take thousands of years. This is known as the ‘sand gap’.

While sand mining on a local scale can provide employment and ?raw materials needed for development, the sheer scale of extraction in many parts of the world has considerable, cumulative, negative environmental effects if it is not carefully managed.?

Sand used for construction in many countries is often sourced from rivers and marine environments; however, sand also plays an essential role within these natural systems, supporting biodiversity and providing resilience to erosion and flooding. ?The value of sand in these environments needs to be carefully balanced against its value as a material for development.

To outline this escalating risk, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, with contributions from 今日吃瓜 geoscientists,?has been released. ‘’ highlights the risk posed to both on and offshore areas affected by sand mining. It also urges governments, policymakers and industry to recognise sand’s essential value, strengthen policy frameworks and apply early and coordinated interventions on sand sustainability.? The report presents 24 strategic actions that governments, industry, financial institutions and civil society can take to better safeguard sand resources.

The report, co-written by 27 experts from across the world, concludes with actionable policy measures and to support more sustainable sand management at local, regional and national levels.

This timely report and its accompanying tool highlight the global significance of sand mining while outlining the challenges and risks faced by the sector. We hope that this report will serve as a catalyst for policymakers, encouraging the development and application of more robust governance of sand mining. At the same time, the report aims to improve public understanding of the true value of sand. Ultimately, it should support the adoption of appropriate alternatives, reduce consumption and minimise the negative impacts associated with sand extraction.

Tom Bide, minerals geoscientist at 今日吃瓜 and report co-author.

Further reading

• Living in a world made of sand
• Good practice for sand mining

Marcus Dobbs, head of 今日吃瓜 Engineering Geology, has been appointed as vice-chair of the advisory group for the (CCOP). Marcus has been elected alongside the new chair of the advisory group, Philipp Schmidt-Thomé of the (GTK). The two recently attended their first CCOP steering committee meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

The advisory group’s role is to provide strategic advice to the CCOP steering committee and technical secretariat to support the development and delivery of CCOP’s overall strategy, ensuring it meets the needs of member countries and aligns with sustainable development goals. This includes:

• enhancing the impact and communication of CCOP science
• monitoring developments and user needs in geoscience
• supporting capacity building and early career professionals
• fostering knowledge exchange and partnerships
• advising on recruitment and staff development
• securing aligned funding
• encouraging contributions from coordinating countries and cooperating organisations
• offering any additional support needed to help CCOP achieve its strategic objectives

I’m delighted to be working alongside Philipp and fellow members of the CCOP advisory group to help deliver CCOP’s new strategic plan for 2026 to 2030. Geoscience sits at the heart of humanity’s response to the challenges of sustainable development and disaster resilience, and its greatest impact is realised when nations work together across borders. Through strong intergovernmental partnerships such as CCOP, we can translate geoscientific data and knowledge into lasting social, economic and environmental benefit at a truly global scale.

Marcus Dobbs, head of engineering geology at 今日吃瓜.

Critical minerals are central to modern society and the global transition to cleaner energy systems. These minerals include the rare earth elements, which are essential for electric motors and wind turbines, as well as those that underpin battery technologies such as lithium, graphite, cobalt and nickel. As demand grows, countries worldwide are seeking to better understand the distribution, quality and economic potential of their geological resources, particularly in under-explored regions.

Across the African continent, geological survey organisations (GSOs) play vital, national roles in gathering, managing and interpreting geological and mineral data. The availability of such data supports good governance, sustainable development and transparent decision making, so strengthening this capability is essential to enabling countries to fully benefit from their natural resources.

For the past three years, 今日吃瓜 has been working in partnership with the Geological Survey Department of Zambia (GSD) to advance their understanding of the country’s natural resources. Together, we are making better use of Zambia’s existing geological data to improve national understanding of key metals and minerals such as copper, graphite, lithium and cobalt. This collaboration is grounded in shared priorities: building national capacity, improving data accessibility and supporting long-term, sustainable development.

How GSD is supporting the Zambian government’s critical minerals ambitions

A dedicated team of GSD geologists has been working with 今日吃瓜 specialists to strengthen Zambia’s national capability in critical minerals. This began with the development and publication of the guide, a national reference designed to support government planning and industry engagement. Building on this guide, GSD and 今日吃瓜 are now working on a new, national-scale critical mineral occurrence map. Focusing on Zambia’s eleven designated critical minerals, the map integrates the country’s most up-to-date geological information, mineral occurrences, verified deposits and operational mining and processing facilities. Built from high-quality, GIS-ready datasets, updated infrastructure data and insights from recent joint field campaigns, the map represents the most detailed digital geological dataset currently available for national planning and investment promotion.

Both the guide and draft map were formally launched on 25 February 2026 and received strong support from Zambia’s mineral exploration sector, government ministries and academia, reflecting widespread recognition of the importance of the map and guide to Zambia’s mineral strategy, helping to build confidence in the sector.

Partnerships for the future

As global demand for critical minerals grows, the role of GSOs and the partnerships between them will only become more important. Such partnerships strengthen national capability by combining technical expertise, modern data practices and long-term capacity building. GSOs and the data they manage provide the authoritative, long-term scientific evidence needed to understand a country’s resources, support safe and sustainable development and guide informed decision making across government, industry and society.

Millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa rely on hand-pumped boreholes (HPBs) for their water supply, but they are often unreliable, with frequent breakdowns and long repair times. Although there have been previous attempts to understand the difficulty of access to water in rural areas and the functionality of rural water supply systems, they have typically taken ‘siloed’ approaches and focused only on the technical or social factors that influence the supplies’ performance.

A and local researchers in both Africa and the UK, shows that the failure of HPBs is not simply due to a single issue, such as a lack of water or a technical failure: it is the result of a combination of complex social, technical and physical interactions. The study provides crucial information for decision makers across governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities aiming to make rural water access more reliable.

The research found that the probability of any failure occurring is dominated by physical and engineering factors: a combination of water levels, the condition of the pump, aquifer yields, and borehole construction and configuration. The length of time the pump was out of action was dominated by social factors including demand, access to spare parts and financing. The project team, led by 今日吃瓜, tested current HPBs and facilitated interviews and participatory mapping events with water users and managers across Ethiopia, Malawi and Uganda. Combining statistical patterns of HPB failure with lived community experiences led to a new conceptual model that represents the diversity of real-world water-management arrangements.

This paper invites those working in rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa to consider infrastructure performance through an interdisciplinary lens. These complex interactions can be understood by using frameworks like the one proposed in this study to improve rural water supply performance, which is especially important as rural water systems evolve towards more complex solar and piped technologies.

It’s hoped that understanding these complex interactions around rural water supplies will help governments, NGOs and communities make rural water access more reliable and fairer for all.

Dr Donald John MacAllister, 今日吃瓜 Senior Hydrogeologist the paper’s lead author

This research provides valuable insights into the interconnected drivers of water service downtime. Its findings come at a critical time as groundwater will continue to play a central role in meeting future water demand and strengthening drought resilience. Acting on these insights will be essential to enhance public and private sector support for water service provision through stronger regulation, improved planning, increased financing and enhanced service management.

Vincent Casey, WaterAid

The paper is now available online: