People

Education & Professional life

Since 2016:
Juror in the field of geography / space sciences at the "Jugend forscht" state competition BaWü

Since 2016:
Diver according to ISO 24801-2 and DIN EN 14153-2

Since 2016:
Radiation protection officer according to § 13/2 RöV

Since 2014:
Bust justified according to §27 Sprengg.

Since 2001:
Lecturer at the IAG of the Technische Universität Darmstadt

Since 1985:
Founder and Operations Manager of the Maltese Cave Rescue

1998-2001:
Postdoc at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology, University of Tübingen

1996-1998:
Freelance editor at Geo-Magazin and SWR-Fernsehen

1995-1998:
Doctorate in Earth Sciences with Dr. med. rer. nat.

1995-1997:
Journalism studies with degree as a media diploma

1991-1994:
Geology studies with diploma geologist

1987-1991:
Self-employed journalist

1986-1988:
Study of chemistry

Current Scientific Projects

• Development and operation of an underwater georadar device
• Application of electromagnetically active tracers in the saturated and unsaturated zone for the quantification of flow processes in real time
• Development and operation of the "i-rock reader" (multi-sensor rock gauge for three-dimensional measurements on cores and arbitrarily shaped, rectangular blocks of rock / slabs
• Heterogeneity and anisotropy of sub-meter petrophysical parameters (part of Shell's Digital Geology project)
• Control factors of the "stratigraphic base level" (especially paleoclimate research)
• Lacustrine sediment distribution systems (littoral)
• Quantification of specific explosive requirements for different types of rocks
• Calibration of pXRF devices for specific rock types
• Climate cycles in cave sediments

Methods

• Digestion analog studies
• Quantitative 3-D architectural element and lithofacies analysis
• Petrophysical measuring methods:
  • Porosity
  • Directional apparent and intrinsic permeability
  • Spectral gamma radiation
  • Magnetic susceptibility
  • Resistance measurement techniques (for laboratory and field)
  • Ultrasound velocities
• Petrology, clay mineral and pore space analysis (quantitative thin-section analysis, semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mobile and stationary, scanning electron microscopy)
• Gocad and Petrel (3-D visualization and interpolation software)

Awards

• 1984
  2nd State Winner (BaWü) at "Jugend forscht" (nationwide science competition for young people)

• 1985
  State winner (BaWü) and 3rd national winner at "Jugend forscht"

• 1998
  
  • "Walter Schall" award for the best dissertation
  • "Best Presentation" award at the "Sediment '98" conference in Erlangen