Simon Jowitt

Simon Jowitt is the tenured Director of the Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research in Economic Geology and holds the Arthur Brant Chair in Exploration Geology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He also serves as Nevada State Geologist and Director of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. His expertise spans geochemistry, mineral exploration, and critical mineral economics. Jowitt holds a B.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh, M.Sc. from Camborne School of Mines, and Ph.D. from the University of Leicester, UK. He previously worked at Monash University (Australia) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

Research focuses on geochemical processes in mineral systems, including magmatism-metallogeny links, global tectonics, and the environmental impacts of mining. His work addresses critical mineral supply chains, energy transition needs, and metal recovery from waste. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles and serves as Vice-President for Student Affairs at the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).

• Education:
  • B.Sc. (Hons) Geology, University of Edinburgh
  • M.Sc. Mining Geology, Camborne School of Mines
  • Ph.D., University of Leicester
• Awards: SEG Waldemar Lindgren Award (2014)

His research integrates fieldwork, geochemical analysis, and computational modeling to advance exploration strategies and sustainable resource management. Current projects emphasize Nevada's mineral potential, lithium resources, and critical metal recovery from unconventional sources.