From Italy to the Australian ’’geological library’’, Prof. Fiorentini’s journey is full of inspiration and enthusiasm.
Have you ever wondered what stories the Earth has to tell?
Rocks, minerals, and the land beneath our feet hold secrets about our planet’s past, present, and future.
At young4STEM, we love diving into the world of STEM, so we were thrilled to chat with Prof. Marco Fiorentini—a top geologist and professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA). He gave us the inside scoop on geology, critical minerals, and why this field is more exciting than you might think.
From Italy to Australia
Prof. Fiorentini’s journey started with his bachelor's degree in Milan, Italy, but his passion for geology took him to Australia. He’s now a professor and the Director of the Centre in Critical Resources for the Future at UWA (www.criticalresources.org.au). The resources and their criticality aren’t focused on specific commodities like metals and minerals but on us. Students, like us, are the critical resources that have the power to tackle big challenges and make a change. He studies how Earth’s resources form and how we can use them wisely. His story is proof that STEM can take you anywhere—literally!
Geology: More Than Just Rocks
Geology is a mix of chemistry, physics, and maths that helps us understand how our planet works. Prof. Fiorentini came to Western Australia, an archive of the history of the Earth to study rocks that generally are destroyed during the normal geological processes that shape our planet, mainly because there in Western Australia they were somehow preserved for us to interrogate them. This amazing “geological library” has been collecting information in the form of rocks and minerals for hundreds of millions of years. Why is the atmosphere rich in Oxygen? Why did climate change happen? Those are the questions these rocks have answers to! You just need to find the right rock…or better the appropriate rock. They hold clues about past climate changes, ancient environments, and even how continents formed. So, studying rocks is like being a detective solving Earth’s biggest mysteries.
Do you know what makes your phone, laptop, or electric car work? Minerals! Economic geology is a discipline within the broader field of Earth Sciences that helps scientists find and extract important metals—like copper—minimizing any harm to our precious environment. Economic geologists can determine, based on their knowledge of a particular area and the nature of the mineralizing processes that operate to concentrate metals in any given Earth reservoir (any metal, just pick your favorite from the Mendeleev Table) whether there could be any potential deposits to be found. This knowledge-based approach, which relies largely on STEM-related fields of study, helps explorers to find resources in a focused way, minimizing search space (ie you don’t have to disturb the environment over large areas but you can have a surgical approach) and making future mining more efficient.
Copper: The Superhero of the Future
One of the most critical metals of the future? Copper! It’s a must-have for things like electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and power grids. But here’s the challenge: we need to mine it in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. That’s why young scientists (like you!) can make a difference by finding smarter, greener solutions for mining and resource management.
Interested in Geology?
Geosciences is a platform where all STEM fields come together. It is a glue that holds together various STEM fields. Prof. Fiorentini has some advice for anyone thinking about a career in geology:
Get strong in STEM – Science, chemistry, physics, math, and problem-solving skills are key.
Stay curious – The Earth still has so many secrets to uncover. Be ready to realize something important from simple assumptions we keep for granted.
Be okay with uncertainty – Sometimes, science doesn’t have clear answers, and that’s what makes it fun!
Think outside the box – Geology connects with many fields, from space science to climate studies.
Start now!
Geology isn’t just about the past—it’s shaping the future! As we work toward a more sustainable world, geologists play a crucial role in making sure we use Earth’s resources wisely. Whether you’re interested in space, the environment, or tech, there’s a place for you in this field.
Our talk with Prof. Fiorentini was just the beginning. young4STEM is all about connecting students with experts who are making an impact. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories, and who knows—you might have just discovered your dream STEM career!
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