Bloomington Leader

After decades of examining mudstones, Juergen Schieber, a professor at Indiana University Bloomington's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, sought new perspectives through a Fulbright award. This opportunity led him from Indiana to Milano, Italy, where he collaborated with marine geologists to advance his research on sedimentary rocks.

Schieber's work focuses on the fine-grained rocks that constitute nearly two-thirds of Earth's sedimentary record but remain poorly understood. His collaboration in Italy aims to explore these rocks' roles as hydrocarbon source rocks—types that can produce oil under certain conditions.

In Milano, Schieber worked alongside Italian scientists who had collected an extensive range of marine sediment cores using specialized ships. He contributed his expertise in preparing soft muds for high-resolution examination with an electron microscope. This partnership allowed them to gain insights into ancient mudstones' origins.

During his three-month stay, Schieber and his colleagues spent one month analyzing prepared samples with an electron microscope and two months interpreting the data. Beyond scientific gains, the experience emphasized collaboration and adapting to new environments.

Schieber noted the efficiency gained by working in person rather than remotely with long-time collaborators at the Institute of Marine Sciences: "If you have an upbeat mood about you, your science gets upbeat too," he said. The immediate feedback loop enabled them to troubleshoot challenges and refine techniques promptly.

His time in Italy is set to be part of a larger project, as warehouses full of unexamined sediment cores await analysis. Schieber plans future visits to continue exploring sedimentary rocks' roles as hydrocarbon sources and their sealing properties' implications for groundwater protection and hazardous waste containment.

For those considering similar international opportunities like a Fulbright experience, Schieber advises: “Do it,” he said. “Don’t worry about it...anything that opens your mind is a good thing.”

Schieber's experience underscores the significance of international collaboration and hands-on research while highlighting the enduring excitement found in scientific discovery.