The microbiologist Prof Dr Michael Schlömann was appointed to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg 26 years ago. With his teaching and research, he made a significant contribution to firmly establishing biology as a discipline at the university. He was Dean and Vice-Rector of Education and took over the university management as Acting Rector on an interim basis in 2008. Michael Schlömann is now retiring. But only formally: he will remain at TU Bergakademie Freiberg as a researcher, as he still has a lot planned!
When Michael Schlömann was appointed Professor of Environmental Microbiology at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in 1998, there was not even a laboratory for biology here. So for the first two years, he commuted between his former university in Stuttgart, where he was allowed to continue using the laboratory for his research, and Freiberg, where the lectures took place. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) funded the professorship for the first five years, after which it was incorporated into the staffing plan. Today, biosciences are an integral part of the Bergakademie. It has had its own institute since 2006, to which two professorships are now assigned. "I studied biology because the environment was always important to me," says Schlömann. "And when it comes to environmental research, there's no getting around the biosciences." This is particularly true for TU Bergakademie Freiberg, which also sharpened its environmental science profile from the mid-1990s and successfully introduced three new degree programmes in this field: Geoecology, Environmental Engineering and Applied Natural Science. With the Interdisciplinary Ecological Centre (IÖZ), the university founded a central scientific institution in 1996, which not only promoted interdisciplinary cooperation, but also ensured greater visibility for environmental research and teaching. Michael Schlömann was the first professor to be appointed directly to the IÖZ. The close cooperation with the IÖZ's practice partners was and remains fruitful to this day. "It has had a strong influence on my research," he says.
As a microbiologist, Prof Schlömann focuses on microorganisms such as bacteria and archaea. Microorganisms can be particularly valuable in the context of mining and its consequences: they clean contaminated soil and water and can extract raw materials from ores. Basic research or applied science? Michael Schlömann has always been interested in both: Understanding how the processes work in principle. But also how the findings can be utilised in practice. In 2013, he opened up a new field of work by acquiring funding for the Biohydrometallurgical Centre (BHMZ) from the Krüger Foundation, which has shaped bioscientific research at TUBAF to this day.
"In the beginning, it was mainly about organic pollutants in the environment. That was explosive in the 90s. Fortunately, the industry has become much cleaner, so we were able to turn our attention to other topics, such as environmentally friendly white biotechnology," he recalls.
Commitment to the university and urban society
During his term of office as Vice-Rector Education from 2006 to 2010, the modularisation of degree programmes as part of the transition to Bachelor's/Master's degrees was a central topic that Michael Schlömann dealt with. He also launched the Graduate and Research Academy (GraFA), which systematically supports young researchers and provides advice and further training beyond the subject-specific content. In 2008, he took over the position of Acting Rector for five months. "A wonderful experience," he says. "Because it was during this time that terra mineralia" was opened - undoubtedly a highlight of the university's recent history.
Professor Schlömann is also making a name for himself in Freiberg outside of the Bergakademie. He was involved in the "Freiberg für Alle" democracy network from the very beginning and worked tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that discussions were based on scientific facts. He repeatedly explained how mRNA vaccines or PCR tests work and was not deterred by the sometimes fierce hostility.
Things will not get much quieter around Michael Schlömann now. He remains a researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and still has a lot on his list: The description of a new Ferrovum species, for example, or the bioleaching of ores with microorganisms that also tolerate chloride. "The aim would be for it to also work with seawater. This would open up new opportunities for mining in the Chilean Atacama Desert, for example, where fresh water is extremely scarce." He already has a special connection with Chile since a research visit in 2013/14, which he wants to cultivate further. Another project is particularly interesting for a polluted region like Freiberg: the extraction of valuable metals such as cobalt or nickel from ores with bound arsenic - without the need for expensive and time-consuming capture of toxic vapours. According to Michael Schlömann, a new recycling process in which bacteria enable the enrichment of valuable elements such as silver and tantalum from electronic waste by dissolving solder is also very promising. It already works in the laboratory. The next step would be a pilot plant, for which he is currently looking for practical partners.