As part of their research activities around mineral resources and fossil ages, Johan Yans' research team is exploring the world in search of the finest/richest deposits, partnering with several universities and mining companies (Université Mohammed Premier d'Oujda, Geosciences-Rennes, Groupe Managem, etc.). They are taking part in paleontological excavations to collect sediment samples that will be dated using state-of-the-art isotope methods, in collaboration with ISEM (Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier), the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris and the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique.

Promoter (PI) | Johan Yans

  • Professor at the University of Namur
  • Director of the Department of Geology
  • President of the ILEE Institute
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Johan Yans
Photo by Johan Yans © Geoffroy Libert

Research areas

Johan Yans' research team explores natural resources and fossils.

  • Characterization and management of extracted minerals with a view to supplying geological materials for the tools of our daily lives (cobalt-lithium for batteries, sands for construction, indium for screens, etc.).
  • Dating by isotope geochemistry of fossil mammals and dinosaurs, with a view to perceiving, by analogy with past events, the effects on faunas of future climate change.

TEDx UNamur 2020 | Mine de rien

Johan Yans takes us through geological history up to the present day, when rare earths are increasingly exploited for the development of technologies. But what about mining methods? Recycling? Our consumer behavior? A thought-provoking talk about how we've been exploiting the earth for thousands of years.

"My job is to follow the seams to make a career"

We talk about it

Contact

Johan Yans - johan.yans@unamur.be