Lewis Owen PhD
Bio
2023 – present: Dean, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
2023 – present: Professor, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
2019 – 2023: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
2008 – 2019: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
2007 – 2008: Professor, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
2004 – 2007: Associate Professor, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
2001 – 2004: Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California
1997 – 2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California
1991 – 1997: Lecturer, Departments of Geography and Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London, United Kingdom
1989 – 1991: Lecturer, Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
1989 – 1989: Geomorphologist, Geomorphological Services, Ltd., United Kingdom
Education
Ph.D. Geography and Geology University of Leicester, UK 1988
B.Sc. Geology Imperial College, University of London, UK 1985
Area(s) of Expertise
My research and teaching focus on understanding the nature and dynamics of Quaternary paleoenvironmental change and landscape evolution, environmental geology and natural hazards along active plate margins. I have concentrated my efforts on two major geologic-geographic regions: 1) the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen; and 2) the western Cordilleras of North and South America. This is because these regions provide some of the best natural laboratories for understanding the dynamics of geomorphic, tectonic and climatic processes, and ultimately they provide analogs for understanding the evolution of many ancient plate boundaries. I have also undertaken research in other regions, including the American Midwest, Egypt, Venezuela, Morocco, Trinidad, Thailand, Yemen, and the UK. To undertake this research, I apply remote sensing, field methods, and geochronology. I direct two Quaternary geochronology laboratories (see: https://lewisaowen.wixsite.com/main).
Groups
Honors and Awards
- Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2021)
- Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2011)
- Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of London
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (1995)
- Busk Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (2011)
- President's Award of the Geological Society of London (1992)
- Clair P. Holdredge Award (2012)