In memoriam: Robert Lee Bowden Jr., professor emeritus of physics
Robert Lee Bowden Jr., professor emeritus of physics in the College of Science, passed away July 21 in Blacksburg at the age of 91. A beloved teacher, Bowden was also a lifelong learner who was always reading, always curious.
Bowden was born April 10, 1933, in Paris, Tennessee. He grew up in Murray, Kentucky, and graduated from Murray State University in 1955. Bowden’s connection to Virginia Tech began in 1957, when he enrolled as a graduate student. After earning his master's degree and Ph.D. degrees in physics, he joined the faculty in the Department of Physics. In 1968, Bowden and his wife, Gail, traveled around Europe and Asia, where he taught for a year at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.
He returned to Blacksburg, where he continued to teach in the physics department and was promoted to associate professor in 1968 and full professor in 1978. His numerous publications explored the nuances of mathematical physics, neutron transport, and radiative transfer as well as analytical, numerical, and chaotic analysis of nonlinear integral equations. Bowden’s teaching interests focused on physics education, especially how best to integrate computational tools into physics teaching. Throughout his 34 years at Virginia Tech, Bowden developed a reputation for being a teacher who challenged his students to reach their full potential. Bowden retired in 1997 as professor emeritus.
In 2008, he established the Robert Lee Bowden Jr. Essay Prize to encourage and reward excellence in scientific writing. The prize highlights the importance of science writing and communication skills, which equip scientists with the ability to articulate the impact and importance of their work to colleagues in other fields as well as non-technical audiences.
“Bob’s lifelong commitment to learning, both as a student and teacher, is a legacy that will continue to have impact for decades,” said Mark Pitt, professor and chair of the Department of Physics. “His advocacy for science communication in particular will continue to make a difference for students here at Virginia Tech.”
Read Bowden’s full obituary online.
