Alejandro Escalona Varela is a Professor of Geosciences and Head of the Department of Energy Resources at the University of Stavanger (Norway), within the Faculty of Science and Technology. He holds a BS in Geophysics from Universidad Central de Venezuela (1995) and a PhD in Geosciences from The University of Texas at Austin (2003). His research focuses on energy security, climate goals, and subsurface utilization, particularly in continental margin basins. Key areas include basin evolution, tectono-sedimentary interactions, seismic/well data analysis, and near-surface geophysical applications for geotechnical and archaeological problems. He directs the National Center of Sustainable Subsurface Utilization (NCS2030) and oversees the Department of Energy Resources. Recent work emphasizes source rock characterization, CO2 sequestration, and paleogeographic modeling using plate tectonic reconstructions. His publications span marine and petroleum geology, structural geology, and interdisciplinary geophysical studies, with contributions to understanding subsurface dynamics in the Barents Sea, North Sea, and Caribbean regions. Notable projects include studies on Jurassic-Cretaceous sedimentation in the Barents Sea, Cretaceous source rock distribution in the Caribbean, and the application of advanced geophysical methods for subsurface imaging. His work bridges academic research with industrial challenges in energy transition and sustainable resource management.









