Rocky Mountain Discovery Series

An interview series with Oil & Gas Leaders

Robert Sterling

July 22, 2026

8:30 to 9:30 am

Denver Earth Resource Library 

The Rocky Mountain Discovery Series is an hour-long interview dedicated to the Rocky Mountain Association Members whose technical work and leadership have shaped the oil and gas industry across one of North America’s most significant energy regions. Each meeting features a single senior guest in a candid, in-depth conversation about the discoveries, decisions, and forces that defined their careers. Unscripted and unfiltered, the series captures the depth of their experience.

Our inaugural conversation kicks off with the 2025 Michael Johnson Award for Exploration, Rob Sterling. He has made influential contributions to shale and tight-oil geology, with widely cited work on plays including the Bakken, Niobrara, Mowry, and Codell. His early core and geochemical studies in the Bakken helped establish workflows that were later adopted across multiple basins and played a key role in launching the tight-oil revolution. Rob’s work has been broadly recognized, including the AAPG John W. Shelton Award and multiple honors for best papers and presentations.

Talk Schedule: 

• 8:00 am - Doors Open - Breakfast Available
• 8:30 am - Interview Begins
• 9:15 am - Audience Q&A
• 9:30 am - Event Ends 

Registration Costs: 

• Members: $15
• Non-Member: $25 (not a member? join today!)
• Student Member: Free (not a member? email staff@rmag.org)

Refund policy:

If you need to cancel a registration for any reason, you must do so by 4:00pm on the Thursday before the event. Refunds will not be available after 4:00pm on the Thursday before the event. If you are unable to attend, your registration is transferable to another RMAG member, or if you are a non-member your registration is transferable to whomever you wish. 

Sponsorship Opportunities: 

Interested in sponsoring the series? reach out at staff@rmag.org