Michael Stowell made important contributions to the study of epitaxy and the growth of thin films, through experimental observations by electron microscopy and diffraction and through theoretical interpretation of the kinetics of the nucleation of thin surface films. He also applied electron microscopy to a number of other metallurgical studies, including the deformation of ordered alloys, rapidly quenched aluminium alloys, graphite nodule nucleation in cast irons and superplastic aluminium alloys.

He was responsible for suggesting and carrying out the initial work on the development of the world's first commercial superplastic aluminium alloy, 'Supral'. He played a major role in its development, which resulted in the setting up of a new company to manufacture engineering components from Supral and in the gaining of a Queen's Award for Industry in 1981. He led teams of metallurgists and engineers tackling a range of industrial problems, whilst also contributing strongly to basic metallurgical research and maintaining a steady flow of good quality scientific publications.

Dr Michael Stowell FRS died on 27 February 2022,