Education
B.A., Physics, 1963 - Lebanon Valley College
B.S., Mathematics, 1964 - Lebanon Valley College
M.A., Solid State Physics, 1966 - Wake Forest University
Ph.D., 1972 - Brigham Young University
Major: Acoustics,
Minor: Astrophysics

ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Solar Energy Short Course, Univ. of Utah, 1977
Coal Production, Technology & Utilization, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Tenn., 1978
Solar Energy Installation Workshop, University of Delaware, 1979
Wind Energy Short Course, Pennsylvania State University, 1980
Alcohol Fuel Seminar, Midlands Technical College, Midlands, SC, 1981
Alcohol Fuel Training Prog, Wilson College, Shippensburg, Pa,1981
Energy Audit Training Program, Maryland Energy Office, 1983
Mysteries of Quantum Mechanics, St. U. of N. Y. (L.I.), 1988
Digital Signal Processing, Acoust. Soc. Short Course, 1995
Computer Programming in C++, Frostburg State Universty, 1997

GRANTS RECEIVED
Solar Energy Study Grant, Appalachian Regional Comm., 1979
Solar Energy Training Program, U.S. Dept. of Energy, 1980
Wind Energy Study Grant, Appalachian Regional Comm., 1981
Local Business Energy Audit Program, Maryland Energy Office, 1983
Small Business Energy Conservation Program, MD Energy Office, 1984-85
Maryland Historic Trust, for the restoration of historic bank building, Mt.Savage, MD., 1987-1988

FSU FACULTY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Fac.Lect: The Japanese Educational System: Utopia or Quagmire? (9/29/94)
Workshop/Speaker: Workshop & Lecture by Marc Abrahams (10/19/95)
Project support: Travel expenses to Ecuador. (Intersession 1996)
Lecture Series: 3 lectures by Dr. V.Svistunov, Ukrainian scientist, April ‘97
Workshop/course: on “Superconductivity” by V. Svistunov, April, May ‘97
Project support: Travel to Nicaragua. (Spring Break 1998)
Assigned Time: Study of high temperature superconductivity, Spring 1998
Assigned Time: Write an acoustics textbook, Spring 2000

RESEARCH ASSOCIATESHIPS
Acoustics Laboratory, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah,
Jan -> June, 1977
Laboratoire d'Acoustique, Universite du Maine, LeMans, France,
March -> June, 1985; June -> August, 1986; June 1990
Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan, Sept, 1991 -> March 1992
Fraunhofer Institut fur Bauphysik, Stuttgart, Germany,
March -> June, 1999

AWARDS AND HONORS
SPRING 2000:
(1) Award for team-taught course (developed with Dr. P. LaChance, English) “Modern Physics and Asian Metaphysics” by the Center for Theology and the Natual Sciences, Berkeley, CA.
(2) FSU Faculty Development award for academic achievement.

SPRING 2002:
Maryland State Board of Regent’s Award for Excellence in research and creative activity.

ACADEMIC SOCIETIES
1/65 -> Present American Association of Physics Teachers
1/67 -> Present Acoustical Society of America
3/68 -> Present Sigma Pi Sigma, National Physics Honor Soc.
1/77 -> 12/80 American Guild of Organists (Dean of Chapter)
1993 -> 1995 Acoustical Society of Japan
1996 -> 2000 Associate, CNRS Researchers, Paris, France

EMPLOYMENT RECORD
9/70 -> 5/74 Frostburg State Univ. Assist. Prof. of Physics
9/74 -> 5/82 Frostburg State Univ. Assoc. Prof. of Physics
9/82 -> 5/92 Frostburg State Univ. Professor of Physics
9/91 -> 3/92 University of Tsukuba Research Associate Tsukuba, Japan
4/92 -> 6/92 University of Tsukuba Contractual Professor Tsukuba, Japan
9/92 -> 8/93 University of Tsukuba Visiting Foreign Prof. Tsukuba, Japan
9/93 -> present Frostburg State Univ. Professor of Physics

PUBLISHED BOOKS
Music, Speech, Audio, W. J. Strong and G. R. Plitnik,
Soundprint Publ. Co., Utah, 1992, 460 pages.
Music, Speech and High-Fidelity, 2nd Ed., W. J. Strong and G. R. Plitnik, Soundprint Publ. Co., Utah, 1983, 380 pages.
Music, Speech and High-Fidelity, W. J. Strong and G. R. Plitnik,
BYU Press, Provo, Utah, 1977, 340 pages.

INVITED FOREIGN PRESENTATIONS
1. “Voices in the Wind”, a documentary film on the pipe organ for “The Nature of Things” TV series, Canadian Broadcasting Co., Inc, 1984, 60 minures; Scientific consultant and presenter.
2. “Measured and Calculated Input Impedance of the French Horn”, Acoustics Seminar, Laboratoire d’Acoustique, Université du Maine, LeMans, France, Jan. 1988
3. “Acoustical Principles of Scaling Rules for Pipe Organ Design”, Institute of Applied Physics Seminar, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan, Nov. 1991
4. “The Pipe Organ and Western Culture”, Kyushu Institute of Design, Fukuoka, Japan, May 1992
5. “The Teaching of Physics in American Universities”, Qinghai Junior Teacher’s College, Xining, P. R. China, July 1992
6. “A Physicist looks at the Pipe Organ”, Department of Information Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan, June 1993
7. “An Introduction to the Pipe Organ for non-Western Scientists”, English Club, Agro-environmental Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, July 1993

OTHER INVITED PRESENTATIONS
1. “Digital Computer Methods for Predicting the Acoustical Characteristics of an Oboe”, Wake Forest University, N.C., Sept. 1978
2. “The Physics of Organ Pipes”, American Institute of Organ Builders Annual Convention, Hagerstown, MD, Sept. 1982
3. “Energy Conservation for the Small Business”, Developed and produced an automated slide presentation and lecture with original pipe organ background music. Presented to businesses and service organizations throughout the state of Maryland, 1986 -> 1987
4. “The Acoustics of the French Horn”, Physics Seminar, Wake Forest University, Sept. 1987
5. “The History and Uses of Solar Energy in Israel”, Keynote speaker for the LDS Society, LaVale, MD, April 1990
6. “Solar Utilization Now (SUN)” Feature presentation for Earth-week symposium, FSU, April 19, 1990
7. “A Comparison of the Japanese and American Educational Systems”, Cumberland Engineers Club, MD, Dec. 15, 1993
8. “Diversity in a Multi-cultural World”, Key-note speaker for American Field Service (Cumberland, MD) 30th year celebration, May 15, 1994
9. “The Japanese Educational System: Utopia or Quagmire?” FSU Faculty Development Lecture, Sept. 29, 1994
10. “Japanese Culture and Education”, Alpha Delta Kappa Women Teacher’s Fraternity, LaVale, MD, Dec. 6, 1994
11. “Understanding the Japanese”, Rotary Club International, Cumberland, MD, July 22, 1995

OTHER PRESENTATIONS
1. “How to Construct an Acoustic Cannon”, Amer. Assoc. of Physics Teachers (Appalachian Section), Fall Meeting, Oct. 1984
2. “Un Capteur a Transduceurs Reciproques pour la mesure d’Impedances Acoustiques”, (with A. M. Bruneau), Twelfth International Congress on Acoustics, Toronto, Canada, July 1986
3. “Computing the Acoustic Impedance of Brass Instruments”, (with J. Ailing), Amer. Assoc. of Physics Teachers (Appalachian Sect.) Fall Meeting, Oct 1986,
4. “Is Time Travel Possible?”, FSU Faculty Develop. Lecture, May 1987
5. “How to Build a Trumpet”, FSU Physics Club, Oct. 1990
6. “Architecture and the Inner Harmony of Japanese Life”, FSU Faculty Club Lecture, Jan. 27, 1995
7. “Solar Usage Now: the Solar Imperative”, Illustrated Lecture for “Changes in the Contemporary World” Series, March 28, 1995
8. “Japanese Language” lecture to Linguistics Class, 1995 -> present
9. “Japanese Musical Instruments” to World Music Class, 1994 ->99
10. “Noh and Kabuki” to World Drama Class, 1995, 1996
11. “The Endangered Rainforest” to Environ. History Class, Apr, 1996

SYMPOSIA DEVELOPED (with P. LaChance, English Dept)
1. “Relativity in Science, Literature, and Art” (1985)
2. “Heraclitus and Modern Thought” (1986)
3. “The Nature of Time as Perceived by Science, Art and Cinema”, (1987)
4. “The Nature of Mind”, (1988)

INNOVATIVE COURSES DEVELOPED AND TAUGHT
Pipe Organ Building, Offered at FSU from 1976 -> 1989
Practical Solar Energy, Offered at FSU from 1980 -> 1987
Modern Physics and Asian Metaphysics, (team taught), offered alternate years from 1986 -> present
Acoustical Measurements conducted at the Laboratoire d’Acoustique, LeMans, France; Jan 1988
Solar Energy Tour of Israel, conducted throughout Israel; Jan. 1989
Historical and Cultural Aspects of Astronomy, conducted in Milan, Florence, Pisa, and Rome; June 1989
Technical English, taught at Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan; Sept 1992-> June 1993.
Language, Culture, and Communication, taught at the National Agricultural Institute, Tsukuba, Japan; April -> August, 1993.
Discordant Harmonies: Environmental Issues in Ecuador, taught throughout Ecuador, January 1996.

MUSICAL TRAINING
Piano: Private lessons, six years (2 years at university)
Pipe organ lessons:
high school: Four years
college: Four years
graduate school: Six years

INVITED PAPER AND ENCYCLOPAEDIA ARTICLES
"Organothymedia: Reflections on the enjoyment of the pipe organ", J. Acoust. Soc. Japan (E) 13, 1-10 (1992)
Encyclopedia of Science, Salem Press, Calif., (written 1991)
Producing and Detecting Sound
Resonance
Ultrasonics
Accelerometers
Distortion of Space-Time by Gravitation
Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Scientific Breakthroughs, Salem Press, Pasadena, CA. , (written 1993)
Phillips Corp. proposes the compact disc
The laser diode optical recording process
Alan Blumlein initiates the development of the modern stereophonic system
McGill’s Encyclopedia of Science: Medical Science, (written 1994)
Ear Infections and Disorders
Voice and Vocal Cord Disorders
Electric Shock and Injuries
Great Events from History II: Ecology and the Environment, Salem Press, Pasadena, Cal. (written 1994)
Rance Tidal Power Generating Plant on France’s Channel Coast is installed (1966)
The Aircraft Noise Abatement Act of 1968
The Noise Control Act of 1972
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Social Problems, (written 1995)
Television
Television and Children
Television Addiction
Encyclopedia of the Biological Sciences, Salem Press,(written 1995)
Evolution (and Creationism)
Love Canal
Holograms (definition)
Wise-Use (definition)
Ready Reference: Censorship, Salem Press, (written 1996)
Evolution
Encyclopedia of Propaganda, Salem Press, (written 1996)
Television and Propaganda
Meiji Era (Japan)
Biographical Encyclopedia of Science, Salem Press, (written 1996)
H. L. F. Helmholtz
James Clerk Maxwell
Tycho Brahe
Encyclopedia of Natural Resources, Salem Press, Ca. (written 1996)
Thermal Pollution
Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
Tidal Energy
Air Pollution and Air Pollution Control
Rain Forests
Solar Energy (written 1997)
Encycl. of North American History, Marshall Cavendish (written 1997)
Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
Magill Survey of Science: Applied Science, Supplement (written 1997)
Tidal Power
Encyclopedia of the Sixties in America, Salem Press, Ca. (written 1997)
Water Pollution
Biographical Encyclopedia of Mathematicians, (written 1997)
“Josiah Willard Gibbs”
Dictionary of World Biography: The Renaissance, Salem (written 1998)
“John Napier”
Current World Conflicts and Confrontations, Salem Press (written 1998)
“Japan”
MaGill’s Medical Guide:Pediatrics, Salem Press (written 1998)
“Speech Development”
Dictionary of World Biography: the 19th Century, Salem (1998)
Rasputin, Grigori Efimovich
Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, Salem (1998)
“Smog”
MaGill’s Military History, Salem Press, (written Jan. 2000)
“Norman Conquests (1066-1072)”
“Japanese Wars of Unification (1550-1615)”
“Samurai”

PUBLISHED PAPERS RELEVANT TO PIPE ORGANS
1. "Calculation of the Input Impedance of Organ Reed Pipes", J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 66, (1979)
2. "Un capteur a transducteurs reciproques pour la mesure d'impedances acoustique", A.M. Bruneau and G. R. Plitnik, Technical Report, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France, 1986
3. "Organothymedia: Reflections on the enjoyment of the pipe organ" , G. R. Plitnik, (Translated into Japanese by S. Yoshikawa), J. Acoustical Soc. of Japan, 47, #11, 874-882 (1991)
4. "Measurement and calculation of the natural frequencies of freely vibrating clarinet reeds", G. R. Plitnik, K. Onodera, and T. Idogawa, Trans. of International Congress on Musical Acoustics, Tokyo, Aug., 1992
5. “Natural frequencies of the clarinet reed”, K. Onodera, K. Nagai, T. Idogawa, and G. R. Plitnik, Trans. of Acoustical Soc. of Japan Spring Meeting, March, 1993
6. “Free vibration of a partially constrained mechanical reed”, G. R. Plitnik, T. Idogawa, and K. Onodera, Trans. of Acoustical Soc. of Japan Spring Meeting, March, 1993.
7. “Forced vibration of a mechanical reed constrained by a non-linear boundary”, Transactions of the Acoustical Society of Japan Research Group on Musical Acoustics, June. 1993.
8. “Vibrational Characteristics of Pipe Organ Reed Tongues,” G. Plitnik and R. Knox, J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 98, #5 (2), p 2956, 1995
9. “The effect of Organ Reed Pipe Interior Geometry on the Vibration Spectrum,” J. Acoust Soc Amer 100, #4 (2), p 2844, 1996
10. “Organ Building in Southeastern Europe: The Josef Angster Story,” G. Plitnik, Journal of the International Society of Organbuilders #6, pp. 52-64, Nov. 1999
11. “Vibration characteristics of pipe organ reed tongues and the effect of the shallot, resonator, and reed curvature,” G. R. Plitnik, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, July, 2000.