Owens, Joan Murrell
1933-2011 · Contribution: 1976-1995
Marine biologist and paleontologist
Marine biology, geology, and paleontology; research on deep-sea 'button' corals, described a new genus (Rhombopsammia, with species R. niphada and R. squiresi) and a new species (Letepsammia franki), and proposed how reduced calcium carbonate at depth shaped coral evolution
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1933, Miami, Florida
- Active since
- 1973
- Category
- Science & Medicine
- Best known for
- First African American woman to earn a PhD in geology
Impact on the world
Owens advanced coral taxonomy and deep-sea ecology, expanding scientific understanding of how corals live and evolve in the deep ocean.
An alternative history
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Sources
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Smithsonian Ocean
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