Margaret D. Lowman
Encyclopedia
Margaret D. Lowman, Ph.D. a.k.a "Canopy Meg" received a B.A. with honors in biology and environmental studies from Williams College
(1976), M.S. in ecology from Aberdeen University (1978), and Ph.D. in botany from the University of Sydney
(1983). Dr. Lowman's expertise involves canopy ecology, canopy plant-insect relationships, and constructing canopy walkways.
in North America.
education programs and numerous other conservation education initiatives. Her books on canopy ecology are not just about her field work but add dimensions in what its like to be a woman in a male dominated profession, and what its like to be a single parent mom. Her sons co-author It's a Jungle Up There and add their insights on how their mother's career and their family not only existed, but thrived.
in Sarasota, Florida where she helped raise donations over 100 percent and increased membership by "friend-raising". The Selby Garden's lecture series "Tuesdays In The Tropics" was well attended by the community with topics such as "Does Money Grow on Trees? Challenges of Rain Forest Conservation". With a change in the board's botanical emphasis and Selby Gardens' role in a scandal involving scientific dishonesty, Dr. Lowman left Selby Gardens to teach at New College of Florida
in Sarasota. The Center for Canopy Ecology relocated from Selby Gardens to New College following Dr. Lowman.
canopy walkway opened after a 1997 proposal from Dr. Lowman. It includes a walkway through Florida Oak-Palm Hammock and a tower that reveals a "sea of green" above the treetops. It has given visitors a view of the trees that changes people's perspective on the importance of forest conservation.
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(1976), M.S. in ecology from Aberdeen University (1978), and Ph.D. in botany from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
(1983). Dr. Lowman's expertise involves canopy ecology, canopy plant-insect relationships, and constructing canopy walkways.
Research
Meg Lowman has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and several books including Life in the Treetops (1999) and It's a Jungle Up There (2006). From 1978-1989 Dr. Lowman lived in Australia and worked on canopy research in rain forests and dry forests. She was instrumental in determining the cause of Eucalypt Dieback Syndrome in Australia, and worked with forest conservation and regeneration. Meg taught at Williams College in Massachusetts, pioneering many aspects of forest canopy research. During her time there she spearheaded the construction of the first canopy walkwayCanopy walkway
Canopy walkways are bridges between trees in the canopy of a forest; mostly linked up with platforms inside or around the trees. They were originally intended as access to the upper regions of ancient forests for scientists conducting canopy research. Eventually, because they provided only...
in North America.
Work
Dr. Lowman believes in conservation through education which is a very strong theme in her most recent book "It's a Jungle Up There". She has been involved in several JASON ProjectJASON Project
The JASON Project is a middle school science curriculum program that is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics....
education programs and numerous other conservation education initiatives. Her books on canopy ecology are not just about her field work but add dimensions in what its like to be a woman in a male dominated profession, and what its like to be a single parent mom. Her sons co-author It's a Jungle Up There and add their insights on how their mother's career and their family not only existed, but thrived.
Organizations
In 1999 Dr. Lowman became the Executive Director of Marie Selby Botanical GardensMarie Selby Botanical Gardens
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are extensive botanical gardens dedicated to research and collections of epiphytes, especially orchids and bromeliads, and their canopy ecosystems...
in Sarasota, Florida where she helped raise donations over 100 percent and increased membership by "friend-raising". The Selby Garden's lecture series "Tuesdays In The Tropics" was well attended by the community with topics such as "Does Money Grow on Trees? Challenges of Rain Forest Conservation". With a change in the board's botanical emphasis and Selby Gardens' role in a scandal involving scientific dishonesty, Dr. Lowman left Selby Gardens to teach at New College of Florida
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. It was founded originally as a private institution and is now an autonomous honors college of the State University System of Florida.-History:...
in Sarasota. The Center for Canopy Ecology relocated from Selby Gardens to New College following Dr. Lowman.
Canopy access
Dr. Lowman has developed an expertise for using different canopy access techniques such as slingshot fired ropes, hot air balloons with sleds, canopy cranes, and canopy walkways. In 2000 the Myakka River State ParkMyakka River State Park
Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, that is located nine miles east of I-75 in Sarasota in Sarasota County and that includes portions of southeastern Manatee County. A small portion of the park was the gift of the family of Bertha Palmer to the state, being a portion of her massive...
canopy walkway opened after a 1997 proposal from Dr. Lowman. It includes a walkway through Florida Oak-Palm Hammock and a tower that reveals a "sea of green" above the treetops. It has given visitors a view of the trees that changes people's perspective on the importance of forest conservation.
Awards and honors
- Cover review on Sunday New York Times Book Review for Life in the Treetops, 1999
- Margaret Douglas Medal from National Garden Club of America for Conservation Education, 1999
- Williams College Bicentennial Medal for achievements in tropical botany, 2000
- Girls, Inc. Visionary Award for Public Science & Education Outreach, 2000
- American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA) Award for Program Excellence in creating two canopy walkways, one at Selby Gardens with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, and one at Myakka State Park, 2001
- Ecological Society of America, Eugene Odum Prize for Excellence in Ecology Education, 2002
- Kilby Laureate Medalist for work as a rainforest canopy expert, 2002
- Asteroid (10739) Lowman named by Carolyn Shoemaker of the US Department of the Interior, 2003
- Woman in Power Award, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), 2003
- Selected three times as Chief Scientist, The JASON ProjectJASON ProjectThe JASON Project is a middle school science curriculum program that is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics....
in Science Education (2004, 1999, 1994 in Panama, Peru and Belize, respectively) - Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow, 2006
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Conservation from Sarasota County, 2006
- Mendel Medal for achievements in science and spirit
Books
- Lowman, M.D. 1974. Some Aspects of the Fabric of Life, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 204 pp.
- Heatwole, H. & M.D. Lowman. 1986. Dieback: The Death of an Australian Landscape, Reed & Co. 150 pp.
- Lowman, M.D. (ed.) 1992. Ecology of Hopkins Forest. Williams College Printers. 100 pp.
- Lowman, M.D. and N.M. Nadkarni (eds.) 1995. Forest Canopies. Academic Press 624 pp. (Second Edition in paperback 1996)
- Lowman, M.D. 1999. Life in the Treetops. Yale University Press. (Editions in German, Chinese and Korean)
- Lowman, M.D. and H.B. Rinker)eds.) 2004 Forest Canopies. Elsevier Press. (All articles peer-reviewed, with several chapters written by M.D. Lowman)
- Lowman, M.D., J. Burgess and E. Burgess. 2006 It’s a Jungle Out There – More Tales from the Treetops. Yale University Press.