A look back at the February 9 conference

LECTURE by Professor J. Louis BANTIGNIES at the University Institute of Technology (IUT) in Nîmes:

Understanding the Anthropocene: challenges for a sustainable future

On Thursday, February 9, the University Institute of Technology (IUT) in Nîmes welcomed Professor J. Louis BANTIGNIES from the Polytech School of the University of Montpellier for a lecture on humanity's impact on the planet, defining a new geological era called the ANTHROPOCENE. This lecture, organized by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (SGM) as part of its sustainable development program, brought together not only all SGM/Nîmes students, but also, via video link, SGM students from the IUTs of Blois, Chartres, Forbach, and Nantes. The conference provided an overview of major study reports from various sources (IPCC, etc.) showing how human activities have caused a disruption in the planet's natural balance. Through a fun and interactive presentation, Mr. Bantignies successfully motivated the audience by asking the key question of whether the exponential deterioration of all environmental indicators is compatible with sustainable development in a finite system (the planet). The overall answer to this question is that humans must adapt, and do so quickly.

This conference, presented eloquently to a young audience, raised awareness among all attendees, prompting much reflection and many questions.