The Commons at Helm Library - Original Steering Committee

Dr. Fred Siewers is a sedimentary geologist with expertise in carbonate sedimentology, geochemistry and invertebrate paleontology. He received his Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Illinois, where he worked on the origin and stratigraphic significance of discontinuity surfaces (hardgrounds and paleokarst surfaces) in Middle Ordovician limestones. He has extensive experience in field geology as well as with a variety of laboratory techniques, including sedimentary petrography, cathodoluminscence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and geochemical microanalysis. Current projects are focused on the petrology and origin of Middle Pennsylvanian coal-ball concretions and the use of ostracodes for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Bahamian lakes. He teaches courses in Earth History, Geological Field Techniques, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Paleontology and Professional Preparation, and he advises undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of independent research projects. Recently, he has turned his research and teaching focus to clean energy, sustainability and climate change issues and has projects underway with the Illinois State Geological Survey focused on geological carbon sequestration.