Interview with Massimo Verdoya
Tell us about yourself.
I am a professor of Solid Earth Geophysics and Geothermics and my main tasks are teaching and research. So far, I am also a vice-director of my Department. My fields of interest are thermal modeling of lithosphere, geophysical methods for assessing geothermal resources, simulations of heat and groundwater transfer, thermo-physical properties of rocks and soils.
What makes Geothermal so great?
Geothermal can be the answer to the continuous and increasing demand of sustainable and renewable sources of energy. It’s “democratic” as it is often available in many developing countries and, especially for the shallow resources, nearly ubiquitous. I realized that since I was a student, and now I try to spread these ideas also to my students. I think that a lot of work can be still done to improve and increase the electrical uses but the diffusion of shallow geothermal applications will be the future challenge.
What makes IGA so great?
The International Geothermal Association is a benchmark for the world geothermal community, a unique meeting point for scientists and professionals involved in the research and development of geothermal energy. I think that IGA can be a powerful tool to find synergies between the scientific and the professional community gravitating on geothermal energy and also to spread the “geothermal culture” among the public community.
