Dr. Sean I. Peters

Volcanologist | Planetary Scientist | Educator | Writer

About Dr. Peters

I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow and faculty member at Middlebury College.

From August 2021 – December 2022, I served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Idaho. Prior to that, I worked as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for the Himeji Board of Education in Himeji, Japan teaching English. Previously, I was a senior research specialist and graduate research assistant at Arizona State University studying volcanic processes across the Solar System.

My graduate work focused on the formation and evolution of shield volcanoes on Mars and the morphology and propagation of lava flows on Earth & Mars. I have also been active in efforts to promote accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (AJEDI) within the geological sciences and broader academia.


Academic Interests

Teaching / Mentoring

Teaching provides an opportunity to nurture the next generation of critical thinkers. I am passionate about sharing knowledge with students, igniting creativity, and inspiring students to pursue their ambitions.

Over the years, I’ve developed an interest in mentorship. Teaching and mentoring go hand-in-hand. Mentorship offers the opportunity to guide students through difficult, and sometimes, foreign spaces to help them actualize their potential.

Writing

I enjoy writing in all forms, both fiction and non-fiction. I have published three peer-reviewed manuscripts to date and I am preparing two more for submission in mid-2023 and 2024.

With respect to fiction writing, I have written several short stories, some of which I’ve submitted to contests, and published a couple of poems (long ago). Currently, I’m working on two novels (one completed awaiting revision; one in progress).

DEIJA/ Outreach

Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Justice, and Accessibility is paramount to the scientific enterprise. Different perspectives and backgrounds results in more creative thinking and better science. However, DEIJA isn’t just about doing better science, it’s also about valuing people.

Whether it’s judging science fairs, giving talks, or serving on review panels, I want to serve the scientific community and engage the public in science.


Poster Presentations

American Geophysical Union 2019
Geological Society of America 2019
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018
American Geophysical Union 2017
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2016