He completed three degrees while attending the University of Alberta. Bachelor of Science (1966), Doctor of Philosophy (1969). In 1969–1970, Clowes completed an National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at Australian National University.
Master of Science He became a professor at the University of British Columbia in 1970. In 1987, he became the director of Lithoprobe, a national geoscience research project Clowes continues to teach at University of British Columbia as a professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
His research, with colleagues and students, focuses on seismic and other geophysical studies of the Earth’s lithosphere.
And relation of the results to geology and tectonics.
2005- Logan Medal, Geological Association of Canada’s highest honour 2004–2006- Canada Council Killam Research Fellowship 2002- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 1998- Member, Order of Canada 1998- J. Tuzo Wilson Medal, Canadian Geophysical Union 1997- Distinguished Lecturer Award, The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum 1995- Honorary member, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists 1995- Distinguished fellow, Geological Association of Canada 1994- Fellow, Royal Society of Canada 1993- George P. Woollard Award, Geological Society of America 1988- Past President's Medal, Geological Association of Canada 1987-1988- Canada Council Killam Research Fellowship (declined); 1966, 1981- Best Paper Award, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists 1968- Best Paper Award, Geophysics.
