Hans-Peter Plag

Hans-Peter Plag is a Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU), specializing in geophysics and Earth system science. He holds a Ph.D. from the Free University of Berlin and has over 40 years of academic and research experience. His roles include leading projects on geodetic monitoring, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Plag has authored numerous publications and secured grants totaling millions in funding, focusing on sea-level rise, geohazards, and global environmental monitoring.

• Education: Ph.D. in Geophysics (1988), M.S. in Geophysics (1982), B.M. in Mathematics (1974).
• Affiliations: Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO) at ODU.

His research interests span geodetic imaging, Earth system monitoring, and sustainability science. Key areas include:

• Sustainable anthropsphere management
• Sea-level fluctuations and coastal adaptation
• Global change monitoring via geodetic techniques (GPS, InSAR)
• Risk assessment for geohazards and extreme events

Plag has pioneered real-time earthquake and tsunami warning systems using GPS data. His work contributes to global initiatives like GEOSS (Group on Earth Observations) and the Blue Planet initiative for ocean monitoring.

Recent articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches to climate change communication, SDG implementation, and planetary physiology. He emphasizes integrating science into societal decision-making to address existential threats like sea-level rise and ecological collapse.

Grants include projects on conservation leadership, Caribbean sustainable development goals, and coastal resilience. His expertise bridges geophysics, policy, and global systems science.