Background
Cowan, William Maxwell was born on September 27, 1931 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Son of Adam and Jessie Sloan (Maxwell) Cowan.
Cowan, William Maxwell was born on September 27, 1931 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Son of Adam and Jessie Sloan (Maxwell) Cowan.
Bachelor of Science, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, 1951. Bachelor of Science (honorary), Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, 1952. Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University, 1956.
Bachelor of Medicine, BCh, Oxford University, 1958. Master of Arts, Oxford University, 1959. Doctor of Science (honorary), Emory University, 1995.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Northwestern University, 1995. Doctor of Science (honorary), Cold Spring Harbor, 2001. Doctor of Letters (honorary), Kalamazoo College, 2001.
From demonstrator to university lecturer anatomy Oxford University, 1953-1966. Fellow Pembroke College, 1958-1966. Visiting professor anatomy Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, 1964-1965.
Associate professor University Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, 1966-1968. Professor, chairman department anatomy and neurobiology Washington University Medical School, 1968-1980. Research professor, director Weingart Laboratory Development Neurobiology, Salk Institute Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, 1980-1986.
Vice president Salk Institute Biological Studies, 1982-1986. Provost and executive vice chancellor Washington University, St. Louis, 1986-1987. Vice president, chief science officer Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, 1988-2000.
Member Institute Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, 1978. Foreign associate National Academy of Sciences, 1981. Distinguished adjunct professor neuroscience Johns Hopkins School Medicine, 1988-2000.
Distinguished adjunct professor neuroscience University TEx. Southwestern Medical Center.
Studies in Developmental Neurobiology 1981. Numerous articles in scientific journals. Editor: Annual Reviews of Neuroscience 1978-1989, Journal of Comparative Neurology 1969-1980, Journal of Neuroscience since 1981.
Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences, Royal Society (London). Foreign member Royal Society South Africa. Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Philosophical Society, Society Neurosci.
(president 1977-1978), Norwegian Academy of Sciences (foreign), Sigma Xi, Alpha Omega Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa.
Fellow American Academy Arts and Scis.
Royal Society (London); foreign Royal Society South Africa; American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Philosophical Society
Society Neurosci. (president 1977-78)
1977 - 1978
Norwegian Academy Sci. (foreign)
Sigma Xi
Alpha Omega Alpha
Phi Beta Kappa.
Photography, reading, travel.
Married Margaret Sherlock, March 31, 1956. Children: Ruth Cowan Eadon-Rainer, Stephen Maxwell, David Maxwell.