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HomeNews and eventsEventsOpen lecturesSemester 1 - 25-26Celebrating World Geothermal Day: York's Geothermal Exploration

Celebrating World Geothermal Day: York's Geothermal Exploration

Talk

Professor Jon Gluyas, Durham University and Paul Bushnell, Deep Geothermal Scheme, University of York

This event has now finished.

Event date
Friday 17 October 2025, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Location
In-person only
Room PZA/103, Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York (Map)
Audience
Open to alumni, staff, students, the public
Admission
Free admission, booking required

Event details

Deep Geothermal Scheme Lecture

This evening public lecture, part of World Geothermal Energy Day, brings together experts to explore how geothermal energy works, why the UK has untapped potential, and what it means for the University of York’s own deep geothermal project.

  • Part 1: The science of geothermal energy. Learn how heat from deep underground can provide reliable, sustainable power and heating.
  • Part 2: York’s geothermal project. Hear about the University of York’s own geothermal energy project, and what it could mean for our community.

The event will conclude with a Q&A session, giving the public a chance to put questions directly to the experts.

Who should attend?

Open to all. Whether you’re curious about renewable energy, a student, a York resident or keen to understand the future of sustainable heat and power, come along.

Find out more

About the speakers

Professor Jon Gluyas - Chair in Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage at Durham University

Jon is a geologist with experience in Industry and academia.  He works on fluid rock interaction, initially on petroleum systems but now on geothermal energy, carbon geostorage, natural hydrogen and helium exploration together with environmental impacts including human induced seismicity.  He holds the chair in Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage at Durham University and is the current President of the Geological Society.  Previously at Durham, Jon was director of Durham Energy Institute for 6+ years, Dean of Knowledge Exchange and Head of Earth Sciences.  In 2024 he founded the UK National Geothermal Centre and in 2011/2012 chaired the development board for the UK CCS Research centre.  Jon has also been Chair of the British Geological Survey and president of both the Petroleum (now Geoenergy) Exploration Society of Great Britain and the Earth Science Teachers Association.  In 2001, Jon founded his first energy company and has gone on to found 14 more in energy and Earth observation, including in 2023, Snowfox Discovery, a hydrogen exploration company.  Jon has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and five books.

Paul Bushnell CEng MIET - Project Director, Deep Geothermal Scheme, University of York

Paul is a Chartered Engineer with over 35 years of experience across the Process Industries, FMCG, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Education sectors. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Paul has led numerous multidisciplinary engineering and infrastructure projects and also manages the operations of such facilities.

He currently serves as Project Director for the University of York’s Deep Geothermal scheme—one of the UK’s leading renewable energy initiatives in the higher education sector. His work is central to the University’s decarbonisation strategy and the delivery of sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure.

Venue details

Wheelchair accessible

No hearing loop

Contact

open-lectures@york.ac.uk