On the second day of the 12th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers -proEXPLO 2021- Thierry Sempere gave a talk on "Exploring Peru for metals and hydrocarbons using innovative thinking".

"In fact, the Andes are far from being homogeneous, either longitudinally or transversally. In my opinion, one should not try to generalize all Andes because it is always better to avoid comparing apples and oranges. This marked lateral topographic variation reflects that the processes - I insist on the plural - that resulted in the construction of the Andes have also varied longitudinally - and probably transversely as well. We should always remember that," he said.

He also commented that the main problematic paradigm is the widespread belief that the Andes result only from tectonic shortening imposed by the subduction of the Nazca plate. "This belief is now so ingrained by tradition that it has become dogma," he questioned.

In another part of his presentation, Thierry Sempere indicated that there are two types of geologists, academic geologists and economic geologists. "Dogmatists outnumber creative ones. What academics really care about is dogma. On the other hand, creative people know that dogmas stop progress. And we know that innovation sometimes brings discomfort," he said.

Sempere also disagreed with those who seek to write papers without adequate validation of the data. He also expressed the risk of falling into the trap of arranging the data to justify conclusions that have already been reached. In this sense, he expressed his concern that the so-called "post-truth" may also affect information and research in geology.