The secret life of geothermal
New Zealand sits on one of the richest geothermal landscapes on Earth. It quietly powers a fifth of the country, but generating electricity is only part of the story. The hot water beneath our feet creates valuable minerals, shapes the landscape and could even help tackle climate change. But this remarkable resource isn't always predictable.
Discover how scientists are learning to read the warning signs of hydrothermal eruptions, explore new ways of harnessing geothermal energy, and see how geothermal could play an even bigger role in New Zealand's future.
Bio
Professor David Dempsey is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Canterbury whose research focuses on geothermal systems, carbon dioxide removal and human-triggered earthquakes. After studying at the University of Otago and the University of Auckland, he held research positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Stanford University. Throughout his career, he has used computer models to tackle complex problems in energy and hazard geoscience, although these days he mostly directs AI agents to do it on his behalf.
Event
Tuesday, 15 September 2026, 6:30pm – 7:30pm @Cascade, 219 High Street, Christchurch Central 8011
The other talk at this location is Microplastics: The global experiment no one consented to at 8:00pm – 9:00pm
