Emphasis

Dr. Pearce is a versatile academic with primary research concentrations in i) materials physics of photovoltaic materials, ii) electronic device physics of solar photovoltaic cells, and iii) thermal physics of solar thermal devices. He also has considerable experience in the fields of applied sustainability (both in the U.S. and in developing countries), energy efficiency, energy policy, environmental education pedagogy and communication, and environmental stewardship at the university level. Recently, his work has broadened to focus on industrial ecology applications.

Background

Dr. Pearce is an assistant professor of physics at the Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he is coordinating two programs he initiated: nanotechnology and the sustainability: science and policy minor, the first of its kind in the PA State System of Higher Education. In addition, he currently is the manuscript editor for the International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering sponsored by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. He routinely consults for industry on energy and environmental related issues. Dr. Pearce received his Ph.D. in Materials (Engineering option) for the development of low cost solar cell technology with a minor in science, technology and society from the Pennsylvania State University. He also has two B.S. degrees from Penn State in Physics and Chemistry along with a minor in mathematics.

Primary Distinctions

Dr. Pearce is a prolific writer with over 40 peer-reviewed articles (with twelve specifically concentrating on sustainability and the remainder focusing on applications of physics in the renewable energy field), several book chapters, a patent pending and over 30 other publications including national conference proceedings (i.e. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Photovoltaic Specialist Conferences, Material Research Society Symposia, Greening of the Campus), international conferences (i.e. World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion and International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference), and government reports (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Department of Energy). His sustainable policy research has led not only to economical ecological stewardship improvements at Penn State, Clarion, and many other universities, but also was re-published twice by the Australian government. He has considerable experience in contract oversight, grant writing and supervision of programs having been the principal investigator or co-investigator on over $840,000 in external grants in the last two years while at Clarion.