W. Maxwell Cowan facts for kids

W. Maxwell Cowan (born September 27, 1931 – died June 30, 2002) was an important scientist from South Africa. He was a neuroscientist, which means he studied the brain and nervous system. Cowan was known for his work on how the brain develops and how its different parts connect.

He helped create new ways to study the brain's connections, which changed the field of neuroanatomy (the study of the brain's structure) in the 1970s. From 1978 to 2002, Cowan was the first editor of a major science journal called Annual Review of Neuroscience. He also served as a top leader at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a large organization that funds scientific research, from 1987 until he retired in 2000.

Early Life and Learning

William Maxwell Cowan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on September 27, 1931. His parents were from Scotland. In the 1920s, his family moved to South Africa because many shipbuilding jobs in Scotland were lost. They hoped to find work in the mining industry there.

Growing up in Johannesburg, Cowan went to Germiston High School and finished when he was just 15 years old. He wasn't sure what to do next, as no one in his family had ever gone to university. At first, he planned to work at a law firm and study law part-time. However, the firm suggested he go to the University of the Witwatersrand for at least a year to study pre-law.

During that first year, Cowan's interest in law faded. He became more aware of the unfairness between different groups of people in South Africa. He decided to change his path and study medicine instead. A family friend suggested it as a way to help his community. He studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, earning his first degree in 1951.

In 1953, a professor named Raymond Dart suggested Cowan go to Hertford College, Oxford, in England. There, he studied neuroanatomy and worked on his doctorate under Wilfrid Le Gros Clark. He earned his DPhil (a type of doctorate) in 1956 and his medical degree (BM BCh) in 1958.

Working as a Scientist

After finishing his studies, Cowan taught anatomy at Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1958 to 1966. He then moved to the United States, becoming an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for two years (1966–1968).

In 1968, he joined Washington University in St. Louis. There, he started and led the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Washington University School of Medicine until 1980. Another scientist, Steven E. Hyman, said that Cowan made this department "one of the most important early intellectual centers for neuroscience research."

From 1980 to 1986, Cowan was the director of developmental neurobiology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He then returned to Washington University as a top leader, helping to manage the entire university.

Leading the Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In 1984, Cowan became a member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). This institute is a private organization that provides money for biomedical research and employs many scientists.

Cowan became the vice-president and chief scientific officer at HHMI in 1987. He held this important position until he retired in 2000. In this role, he helped guide the institute's scientific goals and supported many research projects.

Work as a Journal Editor

Cowan played a big part in making neuroscience a combined field of study in the 1960s. He was the managing editor of The Journal of Comparative Neurology from 1968 to 1980. Under his leadership, it became a leading place for new neuroscience research.

He was also the first editor-in-chief of The Journal of Neuroscience from its beginning in 1980 until 1987. His work with these journals helped share new discoveries and shape the way neuroscience research was published.

Personal Life

Cowan married Margaret Sherlock, a school teacher. They had two sons and one daughter. He signed his scientific papers as "W. Maxwell Cowan," but his friends called him "Max."

People knew Cowan for his scientific skills and his ability to explain complex ideas clearly. He was also known for thinking about the "big picture" in science and for his strong leadership. He was a mentor to many other scientists, helping them grow in their careers.

After dealing with prostate cancer, Cowan passed away at his home in Rockville, Maryland, at the age of 70.

Awards and Recognitions

• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1976)
• Member of the National Academy of Sciences (1981)
• Karl Spencer Lashley Award, American Philosophical Society (1984)
• Member of the American Philosophical Society (1987)

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