Professor Peter Matthews

Professor of Applied Physical Chemistry (part time, research focussed, from January 2017, emeritus from April 2019) Research.

Leader of the Environmental and Fluid Modelling Group. Total personally awarded research income of £4.6m, as listed under the Research tab, from UK research councils (NERC, BBSRC and EPSRC), and industry (mainly Omya International AG and EDF Energy). 

Teaching to 2016. Environmental Science: terrestrial pollution (stage 2). Chemistry: computer interfacing and programming (stage 1), thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and electrochemistry (stage 2), and advanced theory of molecular interactions (stage 3). 

National Enterprise Educator Award 2012, won by the university with a significant element being Matthews' incorporation of the Flux Business Challenge into the chemistry course.  3rd leg.

Director and CEO of PoreXpert Ltd, the University's main spin-out company, which won the Vice Chancellor's prize for Applied Research in 2012. 

Management. Resourcing Advisor for the Faculty of Science and Technology (2010-11).  Career track - see Research tab 

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Member of the Society of Core AnalystsCo-ordinating

Member of the British Soil Water Physics Group

Associate Editor, European Journal of Soil Science (2011-14)

Founding editor, newsletter of InterPore (the International Society for Porous Media research)

Member of the EDF Energy Independent nuclear reactor core Graphite Validation Group

Matthews has supervised 21 PhD projects, 18 as Principal Investigator, with a 100% completion rate.The following students have completed since 1999: 

• K.Jones.  The effects of irradiation and oxidation on pore-level structure of nuclear graphite. 2019
• C. Levy. Nanoporous calcium carbonate-based substrates for controlled delivery of functional materials. 2017
• D. Gantenbein. Talc and modified calcium carbonate formulations for the control of pitch in paper production. 2012
• C.M. Gribble. Surface adsorption and pore level properties of mineral and related systems of relevance to the recycling of paper. 2011
• J.C.Price. A study of wicking and depth filtration. 2008 D.A.Holtham, Measurement and modelling of soil structuring under white clover. 2006
• G.M.Laudone, Environmentally Friendly Technology: The Behaviour of Natural and Synthetic Binder Systems within Paper Coatings, 2005
• A. Johnson, Modelling and prediction of pollutant flow in natural and perturbed soils, 2004.
• P. A. Bodurtha, Cleaner technology - optimising absorption and optical characteristics of novel paper coating formulations, 2003.
• J. Schoelkopf, Cleaner technology - wetting characteristics of pigment structures, 2002.
• L.A. MacDonald, Sub-surface migration of an oil pollutant into aquifers, 2000.
• T.J. Mathews, Void structure, colloid and tracer transport properties of stratified porous media, 1999.

 Previous teaching interests 

Chemistry Computer interfacing and programming (stage 1)

Thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and electrochemistry (stage 2). 

Advanced theory of molecular interactions (stage 3), including use of the PoreXpert software package developed by Matthews' research group Environmental Science Terrestrial pollution (stage 2).

A course involving a field trip to North Wyke Rsearch, with theory based on the fundamental work behind Matthews' BBSRC and NERC research projects.  

Educational publications Experimental Physical Chemistry, by G.P.Matthews, 500pp, Oxford University Press (1985). 4 refereed papers describing new experiments with which to teach school and undergraduate level physical chemistry Molecular Dynamics software CD published by Education in Chemistry (American Chemical Society).

Virtual reality teaching package developed to teach the modelling of soil void structure using the in-house Pore-Cor software Accreditation/validation activityHEFCE National Assessor for Chemistry and Environmental Science, leading to inspections at Imperial College, Warwick, Leicester de Montfort and Cheltenham and Gloucester CollegeChairing of 10 degree validation panels within the university and its partner colleges, including: Cert HE Combined Arts (English and History), Penwith College, 2006.

Media Practice and Society, Plymouth, 2004.

History, Heritage and Archaeology, Truro College, 2003

Other activities: mock QAA assessments for the University of Plymouth, Environmental Sciences at Plymouth and Agricultural Studies at Seale Hayne external advisor for the combined honours scheme, Oxford Brookes University

Peter Matthews takes a paternal delight in the achievements of his family, and the business, medical, scientific and engineering interests of his children.With his wife Diane as main carer, Peter has extensive experience in the rehabilitation of babies and children following abuse, neglect or abandonment. The efforts of Peter and his wife were recognised in a prize and citation presented by Pirate FM, on behalf of Cornwall County Council Children's Services, at a celebration evening in Newquay in October 2008.Peter also sings first bass in the East Cornwall Bach Choir.He is a keen photographer, with several photos published by local media, such as The Cornish Times in March 2018, and has raised beef and dairy cattle, sheep and ponies in his SPS registered 0.9 hectare field.