Chris Jackson on sustainable geology

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Chris Jackson discusses how geology intersects with climate, energy transition, and society, tracing his path from a curious outdoors-loving student to a professor and public communicator. He explains basin analysis, salt tectonics, volcano research, and his move toward sustainable geoscience, while also reflecting candidly on racism, representation, and the need to make science more inclusive.

Main Topics: From outdoors to geology (Priority: 5/5): Jackson explains that his interest in geology grew from enjoying landscapes, rivers, valleys, and fieldwork more than abstract science, with the Peak District shaping his early curiosity. Oil, climate change, and energy transition (Priority: 5/5): He addresses the apparent contradiction of working in oil and gas while speaking on climate change, arguing that geologists’ tools are relevant to both fossil fuels and renewable energy as society transitions. Sustainable geoscience and basin analysis (Priority: 5/5): Jackson defines sustainable geoscience as using geoscience to support societal development, including health, water, safe cities, and hazard forecasting; he explains basins as sediment-filled geological archives. Salt tectonics and hydrocarbons (Priority: 4/5): He describes why salt is scientifically fascinating: it flows over geologic time, seals hydrocarbon traps due to low permeability, but can also close drill holes and complicate extraction. Volcano research and BBC expedition work (Priority: 4/5): Jackson recounts joining a BBC volcano project at Nyiragongo, where he served as an interface between scientists and viewers and described the physical demands of abseiling near an active lava lake. Representation, racism, and diversity in science (Priority: 5/5): He reflects on being one of the few Black geologists in the UK, discusses overt racism and microaggressions, and stresses the need to change both the pipeline into science and the systems inside it. Role models, education, and belonging (Priority: 4/5): Jackson emphasizes that students need to see scientists from backgrounds like their own, while also feeling that their own family and everyday achievements matter and are not less valuable than academic success.

Key Arguments: Geology can support both fossil-fuel exploration and the energy transition because the same subsurface skills and data are useful for renewable energy and climate reconstruction. Sustainable geoscience should be judged by its contribution to social goals such as health, water security, hazard mitigation, and safe urban development. Sedimentary basins are valuable archives of Earth history, preserving records of mountain building, erosion, and climate change. Salt is scientifically important because it flows and seals hydrocarbons, but its mobility also creates drilling and production risks. Public science communication can broaden participation by showing diverse scientists in visible roles. Racial diversity in science requires both more entry points for underrepresented groups and reform of the culture and structures that push people out. Small acts and assumptions in academia can function as microaggressions and reinforce exclusion even when not explicitly stated as racist. Role models matter, but they should present science as accessible and human rather than as distant brilliance reserved for an elite few.

Data Points: Years in academia: 16 years - Jackson says he has seen diversity discussions change during his 16 years in academia. First RI Christmas Lecture appearance by a Black scientist: First - He notes he was the first Black scientist to give one of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. RI Christmas Lectures origin: 1825 - The transcript states the lecture series dates back to 1825. Abseil duration during volcano filming: Just under 4 hours - He says the real abseil sequence for the BBC volcano show took nearly four hours. Borehole diameter: About the size of a coke can - He describes the narrow drill hole used in oil exploration. Depth of hydrocarbon accumulations: Several kilometers beneath the seabed - He explains where oil and gas targets sit below the ocean floor. Water depth above targets: Several hundreds of meters - He describes drilling beneath deep seawater to reach subsurface hydrocarbons. Age of a rock layer example: 200 million years - He uses a 200-million-year-old layer to explain seismic interpretation. Age of rocks under central London: About 150 million years - He notes that a basin beneath central London contains rocks of this age. Permian salt layer thickness: About 1.5 kilometres - He cites estimates for a pan-European salt layer’s thickness.

Pivotal Quotes: "Sustainable geosciences means a lot of things to lots of different people. In my eyes, what that means is a way of looking at geoscience so that it can have an ongoing contribution to the societal development that we all want." — Chris Jackson: Defining his new academic role and the meaning of sustainable geoscience. "It is a real conundrum because the very kind of skills that geologists have... are the same skills and tools we might then try and use to look for renewable green energy sources in the future." — Chris Jackson: Explaining the tension between a fossil-fuel background and climate-focused science. "There's no point in pouring more and more talented black scientists... into any system... if the reins of power are held by those who would still discriminate against those people." — Chris Jackson: Arguing that diversity efforts must address both recruitment and institutional culture.

Implications: The conversation shows geology’s broad relevance beyond oil and gas, from climate insight to hazard mitigation and sustainable development. It also underscores that widening participation in science needs structural change, not just inspiration.