Science Café explores nano-petrophysical studies

The City of Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science (MONAS) and Sigma Xi will present “Science Café – Nano-Petrophysical Studies for Energy and Resources Geosciences,” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, via Zoom, the City of Las Cruces said in a news release.

The presenter will be (Max) Qinhong Hu, Ph.D., who will join his Las Cruces audience live from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). For a link to the program, email education@las-cruces.org, call 575-522-3120 or go to zoom.us with webinar ID 813 5775 9108.

The research on nano-petrophysics, the study of rock properties and their interactions with fluids (gas, liquid hydrocarbons and aqueous solutions), in nanopores of tight rock formations, has been receiving much attention in emerging energy and resources geosciences, the city said. Hu’s presentation will discuss the geological and engineering applications these interactions aid, including the remediation of contaminated sites, geological repository for high-level nuclear waste, shale petroleum development, enhanced geothermal systems and underground carbon and hydrogen storage.

Hu has a bachelor’s of science degree from Zhejiang (Agricultural) University, a master’s of science from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.

Before taking his current position at UTA in 2008, Hu worked as a postdoctoral fellow, geological scientist and staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley and Livermore National Laboratories for 12 years.

MONAS, 411 N. Main St. downtown, is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit Route 1 Stop 1.

For additional information, contact Stephanie Hawkins at 575-541-3372 and shawkins@las-cruces.org.

Visit https://las-cruces.org/museums and follow Las Cruces Museums on Facebook and Instagram @LCMuseums.