New Master for Darwin

Professor Mary Fowler, currently Dean of Science and Professor of Geophysics at Royal Holloway, University of London will become the sixth Master of Darwin College on 1st October, succeeding Professor William Brown. Her past knowledge of the College and its bright, busy, diverse and mature student body will be invaluable." - —Professor William Brown - An Old Darwinian, Professor Fowler matriculated at the College in 1972 to study for a PhD in Geophysics having graduated at Girton College with a First in Mathematics. A distinguished earth scientist she has published widely in journals and is author of a widely respected text book, The Solid Earth: an introduction to global geophysics, for which she was awarded the Prestwych Medal by the Geological Society in 1996. Her research has contributed in a number of important areas, including the first use of synthetic seismogram techniques to model oceanic crustal structure from marine seismic experiments, studies on the mechanisms of formation of sedimentary basins, the study of magma chamber processes on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and her work on the biogeography of deep-sea hydrothermal vent fauna. A review of the 2005 second edition of The Solid Earth said "The book provides an exciting review of a decade of advances and improved comprehension of the interior working of the Earth. It is truly a wonderful text and a source of reference for many facts in the field of Geoscience." (Environmental Geology). Professor Fowler comes from a distinguished academic family.