Education: BS, University of Puget Sound, 1994; MS, Montana State University, 1996; PhD, University of Washington, 2001. At SPU 2001–2023. Emeritus since 2023.
Lane Seeley earned his doctorate in experimental condensed matter physics, focusing on testing microscopic and mesoscopic models for phase changes in the nucleation of ice from liquid water.
He joined the faculty at Seattle Pacific University in 2001 and retired in 2023. Dr. Seeley worked closely with colleagues to build a close-knit Physics Department that is primarily focused on student learning.
He worked with departmental colleagues on several grant funded projects aimed at supporting K–12 physics and physical science teachers, and he played an active role in the development of web-based diagnostic tools for physical science teachers.
Dr. Seeley was also a lead researcher on the SPU Energy Project, a research effort aimed at studying and supporting energy learning among K–12 teachers. His research interests included building bridges between the energy we learn about and the energy we care about; studying growth in learner’s ability and disposition to use a rigorous energy model creatively and flexibly; and understanding some of the real and perceived obstacles to student-centered science instruction.
Selected publications
- Colliding without touching: Using magnets and copper pipe fittings to explore the energetics of a completely inelastic collision, L. Seeley and E.H.Shin, American Journal of Physics 86(9):712-717, 2018
- Design of an assessment to probe teachers’ content knowledge for teaching: An example from energy in high school physics, E. Etkina, D. Gitomer, C. Iaconangelo, G. Phelps, L. Seeley, and S. Vokos, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res., vol. 14, no. 1, p. 10127, May 2018.
- Constructing a sustainable foundation for thinking and learning about energy in the 21st century. L. Seeley, S. Vokos, and J. Minstrell, Seattle Pacific University, Teaching and Learning of Energy in K–12 Education, R.F. Chen, A. Eisenkraft, D. Fortus, J. Krajcik, K. Neumann, J. Nordine, and A. Schef (Eds.), pp. 337–56, Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014.
View Dr. Seeley’s CV (PDF) for more more publications.
Personal Links
Dr. Seeley’s personal webpage