At Vanderbilt University Chappell is a Research Professor of Physics. He has been involved in teaching and research and is active in science communica-tion, outreach and education. His research has focussed on Solar-Terrestrial physics.

From 2002-2009, Chappell was the Director of the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Prior to this he guided the creation of a new interdisciplinary major in the Com-munication of Science and Technology.

In September 1996, Chappell and former NBC Today Show host Jim Hartz joined Vanderbilt as Visiting Professional Scholars to conduct a project examin-ing media coverage of news related to science and technology. The resulting book, "Worlds Apart," was released in March 1998.

As Associate Director for Science at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (1987-1997), he served as the chief scientist for the center. He directed research in solar terrestrial physics and has been a principal investigator on several satel-lite missions.

From 1976 to 1985, Chappell was the mission scientist for Spacelab 1, a joint European/American shuttle mission. In December 1985, he was selected to train as a backup payload specialist crew member for the space shuttle mission STS-45, which was carried out in March 1992.

From 1994 to 1995, Chappell worked with Vice President Al Gore to create the K-12 GLOBE science education program. In 1989 he co-founded the Aspen Global Change Institute with John Denver's Windstar Foundation. As a scien-tist and spokesman for the space program, Chappell has done shuttle mission commentary on CNN as well as television interviews in the US and abroad.

Chappell graduated magna cum laude in physics from Vanderbilt University and received a Ph.D. in space science from Rice University. He has authored many published scientific articles. Chappell is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the International Academy of Astronautics and is a Fellow of the American Geo-physical Union. He has received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and Exceptional Service and the American Geophysical Union Ambassador Public Outreach Award.