معرفی
Nicolas Cowan is an Associate Professor at the McGill Space Institute within the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at McGill University. Previously, he served as a CIERA Postdoc from 2010 to 2014 before becoming an Assistant Professor and eventually advancing to his current position as Associate Professor. His academic work spans multiple space-related research areas through the Trottier Space Institute.
Dr. Cowan's research focuses on the atmospheres of extrasolar planets using space telescopes and novel remote sensing methods. His primary goal is to empirically measure atmospheric reflectiveness (clouds), infrared opacity (greenhouse gases), and heat transport (winds) on exoplanets - factors that determine planetary climate including Earth's. He frequently constructs temperature and surface maps of exoplanets through a technique he refers to as "exo-cartography." His research spans astrobiology, exoplanetary atmospheres, and the formation and evolution of stars and planets.
Analysis of Dr. Cowan's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on characterizing exoplanetary systems through observational astronomy and theoretical modeling. His work bridges astronomy, planetary science, and climate science, with particular attention to atmospheric properties, planetary habitability, and observational techniques for studying distant worlds. The publications demonstrate expertise in data analysis from space telescopes and development of methods to interpret complex exoplanet observations.
Dr. Cowan teaches EPSC 186: Astrobiology, which covers the study of life throughout the universe, including the search for habitable worlds, formation and evolution of stars and planets, astronomical and geological factors impacting planetary habitability, and the evolution of life on Earth. The course is cross-listed with PHYS 186 and is not open to students who have taken or are taking EPSC 182, ANAT 182, or PHYS 186.
