Charles H. Trautmann

Executive Director, Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca, NY
Adj.Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Cornell University

Education

B.A. Physics/Geology Amherst College (1974)
M.S. Engineering Geology Stanford University (1976)
M.S. Geotechnical Engineering Stanford University (1976)
Ph.D. Civil Engineering Cornell University (1983)

Experience

Since 1990, Dr. Trautmann has served as Executive Director of the Sciencenter, an educational science museum located in Ithaca, NY. At the museum, he has overall responsibility for museum's exhibits, programs, fundraising, and management.

Dr. Trautmann has directed more than $9 million of sponsored research and has had more than two decades of teaching experience from pre-K through graduate and in-service training of professionals. As a professional geologist and engineer, he has worked with the U.S. Geological Survey (Menlo Park), Geotechnical Engineers Inc. (Boston), and Cornell University (Ithaca), where he teaches as Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Trautmann has a long-standing interest in teaching and community service and served as president of the Ithaca Montessori School board of directors for two years. He is a regular contributor to conferences and publications on informal science education.

He has published more than 75 articles and reports and has consulted on a number of design and construction projects, with more than 50 assignments completed for public utilities, private industry, and the U.S. Government. He is a member of various professional societies and is a member of the honorary scientific and engineering societies Sigma Xi and Chi Epsilon. In 1987, he was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship by Germany to pursue advanced research for 14 months at the Technical University of Munich. He is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. In 1996, he was named Engineer of the Year by the New York State Society of Professional Engineers for his work in developing the Sciencenter and his service to education.

Dr. Trautmann is a registered professional engineer, certified professional geologist, and licensed radio amateur. He is past-president of the Ithaca Section of the American Soc. of Civil Engineers and serves on the advisory boards of the Paleontological Research Institution, Cayuga Nature Center, and Cornell Plantations. He serves on the board of directors of Tompkins County Area Development, is past president of the New York State Science and Technology Museum Consortium, representing 3.5 million visitors annually.