Dr. William Bowerman
Dr. William W. Bowerman is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Toxicology, and served as Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park, 2011-2023. He was on the Faculty of Clemson University from 1999-2011, and was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Toxicology in 2012. He served as the United States Co-Chair of the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board from 2011-2014, and was a member from 1996-2014. This service has resulted in extensive experience in cross-boundary and multi-jurisdictional natural resources and pollution abatement management issues.
He received a B.A. in biology from Western Michigan University, a M.A. in biology from Northern Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in fisheries and wildlife-environmental toxicology from Michigan State University. He has been studying bald eagle ecology and effects of environmental pollutants in the Great Lakes region since 1984, and is recognized as an expert on sea eagles across the world. He was a member of the Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Team, USFWS, 1994-2008. He has started environmental monitoring programs using sea
eagles in the U.S. and Canada (bald eagles), Sweden (white-tailed sea eagle), Russia (Steller’s sea eagle), Uganda and South Africa (African fish-eagle) and his projects have occurred on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. He was selected in 2021 as one of 13 members of the National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering Standing Committee on the Use of Animals in Research from over 400 nominations,
and is the only ornithologist. He was selected as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in 2023.
He has published over 100 peer-reviewed works, and has presented over 400 papers at local, national, and international meetings. He has received over 100 grants totaling over $6.5 million. Dr. Bowerman has served as the major professor, co-advisor, or research chair of 10 Ph.D. graduates, 26 M.S. graduates, and 1 M.F.R. graduate, and has trained 2 Fulbright and 1 U.N. Scholars in his laboratory. His awards include: the Lowell Thomas Award under the theme of “ The Innovators”, 2023 and was honored to carry Flags #228 and #33 and Rolex #3 of The Explorers Club in the field; the William T. Hornaday Gold Medal for lifetime service to conservation, National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, Boy
Scouts of America; Distinguished Alumni Award, Northern Michigan University; Alumni Achievement Award, Western Michigan University; the Regional Forester’s Honor Award, Eastern Region, U.S. Forest Service; the Bald Eagle Person of the Year Award and Bald Eagle Research Award, The Eagle Foundation; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and member of the Cosmos Club. He was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a National Fellow of The
Explorers Club. He is the inaugural honoree of the Mary Todd Sabbatical Award by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.