Rowan Lockwood

Rowan Lockwood is a Professor of Geology at the College of William & Mary, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. They hold a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, an M.Sc. from the University of Bristol, and a B.A. from Yale University. Their research focuses on understanding how extinction events and environmental changes influence the evolution of marine invertebrates, particularly bivalves and ostracods. Current projects include using fossil records for Chesapeake Bay oyster conservation, assessing extinction risks under climate change, and exploring Paleogene climate impacts on marine life. Lockwood teaches courses such as Paleontology, Evolution and the Fossil Record, and Tropical Coral Reef Environments.

Key research contributions include studies on sexual dimorphism's role in extinction survival, Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum impacts on mollusks, and undergraduate education strategies using the Paleobiology Database. They have advised numerous students, including undergraduates and graduate researchers, on projects ranging from shellbed taphonomy to avian flight mechanics. Lockwood collaborates widely, engaging with institutions like VIMS and international colleagues on interdisciplinary projects linking paleontology, conservation, and climate science.

Publications span over two decades, addressing topics like Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction patterns, morphological adaptations in extinct species, and educational innovations in paleontology. Their work bridges fossil record analysis with modern ecological challenges, providing critical baselines for marine conservation efforts.