William Rowan

William Rowan FRSC (1891–1957), was a Canadian biologist and ornithologist best known as a founder of photobiology for establishing the link between the length of daylight and bird migration. Rowan was recognized for his findings with the Flavelle Medal in 1946. before returning to England and enrolling at University College London.

In 1914, Rowan's studies were briefly interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War.He briefly joined the London Scottish Rifles, but saw no active service and was discharged on medical grounds in 1915. He graduated in 1917 and after further study gained an MSc in 1919. After a brief spell as a school teacher in England, he was appointed as a lecturer in Zoology at the University of Manitoba in 1919, where he was a founder member of the Natural History Society of Manitoba. He moved to Edmonton in 1920 to found the department of Zoology at the University of Alberta, heading the department until his retirement in 1956.

Accomplishments

Recipient of Flavelle Medal (1946) Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1934) Fellow of the Zoological Society of London Fellow of the American Ornithologists Union (1950) Member of British Ornithological Union

Publications

On Photoperiodism, Reproductive Periodicity, and the Animal Migrations of Birds and Certain Fishes (1926) Riddle of Migration (1931)