Marc Durand was trained as an engineer-geologist (B.Sc.A and Ing.) at Polytechnique. Member of the Order of Engineers since 1968, he went on to obtain a master’s (M.Sc.A) from this same institution.

From 1969 to 1972, he studied at the National School of Applied Geology in France to obtain an engineering degree from the Special Geotechnical Section and a doctorate on the geomechanics of shales, marls and Triassic clays; this thesis led him to obtain a Doctorate-Engineer diploma from ENSG.

From 1972 to 1974, he continued as a post-doctoral CRSNG researcher at Polytechnique.

From 1974 to 1999, Mr. Durand was professor-researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He thus contributed to the training of a significant number of geologists in Quebec. In addition to teaching and research, he was responsible for the master’s and doctoral programs in this department for 10 years.

Upon retirement, he continued to work in his area of expertise and research, particularly on gas shales and unconventional oil deposits.