Peter Plumley
Research Associate Professor

Office: 223 Link Hall
Email: pplumley@syr.edu


Dr. Peter W. Plumley is the Director for Outreach for the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Research Associate Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. Dr. Plumley is an Earth Scientist with an extensive background in computers and technology. Dr. Plumley’s research has been in the areas of plate tectonics and application of paleomagnetic techniques to regional tectonics. His expertise also lies in the areas of use of World Wide Web and Internet2 for delivery of academic programs requiring high-bandwidth, interactive computational programming, and Computer Aided Virtual Environments (CAVE’s). Most recent and active research is focused on educational issues of secondary students related to motivation and the Science of Learning. Dr. Plumley is responsible for development and implementation of K-12 outreach for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Students impacted by his outreach programs in 2001-03 number approximately 2,800 students from middle schools (4th – 8th grade) per year and 2,100 high school students (9th – 12th grade) per year. Dr. Plumley received his Ph.D. from the University of California Santa Cruz in Earth Science in 1984. At Syracuse University, he has taught courses that range from Geophysics and Structural Geology to Engineering Problems.

Research Interests
Active: NSF, GK-12 math science, 2003-2006, $1.5M
Active: NSF, Science of Learning Center, 2003-2005, $250,000

Submitted: NSF Informatrix: An evolving infrastructure for creative minds, $498,000

In development (NSF/NASA: CAVE computing simulation), $200,000.
In development (NSF Science of Learning Center – five year request) $25M

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