UL Lafayette researcher named to ‘50 Under 50’ list of North America’s top geoscientists

Dr. Brian Schubert of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ray P. Authement College of Sciences at is one of the best geoscientists in North America.

Schubert, a professor who directs the college’s School of Geosciences, has earned a “50 Under 50 Award,” recognition for mid-career geoscientists “whose contributions to research, education, leadership, service, and mentorship are shaping the field for generations to come,” according to the Geological Society of America.
 
The geological society recently announced the inaugural “50 Under 50” class as part of a joint initiative with the Geological Association of Canada and the Mexican Geological Society.

Schubert’s spot in the elite club is built on a body of work that spans field research in Siberia to innovative student mentorship projects on UL Lafayette’s campus. Results of his research have been significant, yielding advancements in areas such as the application of stable isotopes, plant physiology, modern environmental change and Earth's climate history.
 
One project showed how rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere change the chemical makeup of plants over time, findings that have given scientists new ways to determine how much carbon dioxide was in the Earth’s atmosphere as far back as millions of years ago.
 
Schubert also developed a method for studying tree rings in modern and fossil wood with isotopic analysis, a process that extracts climate information from the rings and reveals patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature shifts. 
 
The findings are helping scientists figure out things like whether droughts or warming trends are atypical or part of a natural cycle.
 
“Recognition for your research is really nice and it’s very rewarding to know that you are helping to make meaningful contributions to science,” Schubert said.
 
“But I think the most gratifying work I do is the teaching and mentoring. I’ve taught thousands of students during my time here and that’s really important to me, that people learn about the world around them,” he added. 
 
Photo caption: UL Lafayette’s Dr. Brian Schubert is one of the best mid-career geoscientists in North America. Schubert has earned a 50 Under 50 Award, a designation jointly given by the Geological Society of America, the Geological Association of Canada and the Mexican Geological Society. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette