BRENDA BOWEN

I am interested in advancing understanding of how landscapes change in repones to environmental perturbations. I study sediments from a systems perspective, as recorders of the connections between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. My geoscience research includes analysis of both ancient sedimentary records as well as modern systems that are impacted by human infrastructure, modification, and extraction. I utilize a broad range of geoscience tools including field observations, remote sensing, and laboratory analyses such as microscopy and geochemistry. My work benefits from collaborations with social science, planetary science, microbiology, anthropology, communications, humanities, engineering, planning, land management, and the arts. I value applied research that occurs in partnerships with communities, industry, nonprofits, and government agencies.  Beyond geoscience, I also lead research that works to facilitate institutional change, advance sustainability innovation and economic growth and support workforce development to create sustainable solutions around water and energy. I am interested in finding new ways to bridge disciplines to promote new ways of thinking across space and time.