Richard Pawlowicz

Richard Pawlowicz is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on ocean physics, seawater properties, geophysical fluid dynamics, and coastal processes. He holds a PhD from the MIT/WHOI Joint Program and has been a faculty member at UBC since 1996. His work integrates field observations, numerical modeling, and novel instrumentation, such as neutrally buoyant floats (Swish floats) and satellite-tracked drifters, to study coastal circulation, estuarine dynamics, and double diffusion processes. He leads research in the Salish Sea, Strait of Georgia, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, emphasizing subsurface mixing, dispersion, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.

Education & Background: B.Sc. (Hons) from Queen's University (1987), PhD from MIT/WHOI (1994), Postdoctoral research at Institute of Ocean Sciences (1994–1996).

Research Interests: Ocean circulation, nonlinear waves, estuarine mixing, double diffusion in stratified basins, and the application of TEOS-10 seawater standards. He collaborates on projects like the MEOPAR Observation Core and has developed influential software tools for oceanographic analysis.

Students & Supervision: Active supervisor of graduate students and postdocs in physical oceanography. Notable supervisees include Mark Halverson, Caixia Wang, Sam Stevens, and Grace Watts. He emphasizes mathematical rigor and writing skills, requiring strong backgrounds in PDEs and fluid dynamics.

Labs & Teams: Member of the MEOPAR Research Management Committee, co-chair of SCOR/IAPWS/IAPSO seawater committees, and collaborator with the Pacific Salmon Foundation's citizen science programs. His work contributes to coastal resource management and climate resilience initiatives.