Navigating the Future of carbonates and mixed systems at the AAPG/EAGE Symposium in the age of energy sustainability

Since its early days, the field of carbonate and mixed systems has been driven by close collaboration between the energy industry and academia, serving as a vital force for advancing concepts and applications. As we navigate the future of energy sustainability and its associated challenges, this collaboration is more crucial than ever. Prof. Dr. Maria Mutti from the University of Potsdam, president of AAPG Europe, and Dr. Aus Al-Tawil, Director of Excellence at Saudi Aramco, together with a diverse team of experts forming the Technical Committee (including Dr. Rendall from the University of Potsdam), organized the first AAPG-EAGE Symposium on this topic. The aim was to rejuvenate the environments for a new platform for this exchange as we move forward.

The event was attended by a selected group of international experts from all over the world and featured three parallel sessions, short courses, a panel discussion, a virtual field trip to Malaysia, and three excursions to explore local geology. The momentum generated by this event will help the community and this discipline to thrive and grow as we progress into the age of energy sustainability, where knowledge of carbonates and mixed systems is crucial for various applications.

The symposium encouraged greater collaboration between science and industry, fostering closer alignment between research programs and industrial needs. It recognized the opportunity to integrate new technologies and approaches, such as AI, with traditional workflows and concepts and emphasized the necessity of training and securing talent for a new generation of professionals in the field.

The next symposium is anticipated in 2026.