Elmira College Announces New Academic Offering with World-Renowned Scientist Dr. Margaret "Meg" Lowman

Published: Monday November 09, 2020

Elmira College is expanding its academic offerings by launching a new minor - one developed with prominent Elmira-native and world-renowned scientist Dr. Margaret "CanopyMeg" Lowman.

Lowman is a pioneer in forest canopy science and founder and executive director of TREE Foundation in Sarasota, Florida. She will be working with Elmira College faculty to develop a sustainability component for the College's environmental science program. Initially, this will include the addition of a sustainability minor.

"We are excited to be working with Dr. Lowman to add a sustainability component to our environmental science program," said Charles Lindsay, president of Elmira college. "We launched the environmental science major and minor in the fall of 2019, and EC faculty are now working with Dr. Lowman to add the sustainability minor to the program. Her international reputation in the field of forest canopy research and environmental stewardship lends an exciting component to that work."

Equipped with degrees in biology, ecology, executive management, and a Ph.D. in botany, Lowman transformed her childhood passion of trees and building tree forts into mapping canopy biodiversity worldwide and spearheading the construction of North America's first canopy walkway in Myakka River State Park in Southwest Florida. Over the years, she has used her treetop exploration to influence government policy and encourage environmental stewardship.

"Elmira College's approach to environmental science education aligns with my vision and passion," said Lowman. "It's imperative we continue to provide students with rigorous and unique hands-on opportunities to understand the environment. Their careers will help chart our global future in the face of climate and cultural change."

Among Lowman's many outreach initiatives are large-scale, distance-learning programs, forest conservation in Africa and the Amazon, science books for public audiences, and nature camps for youth, including the Meg Lowman Treetop Camp at Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, in which EC faculty regularly participate.

Elmira College remains a dynamic institution rooted in its founding values while continuing to explore innovative partnerships for current and future students. This intersection of innovative programs and critical thinking skills, make Elmira College a place where students not only develop targeted skills to succeed in today's challenging and complex world, but also a place where they can embrace who they are and learn to lead in their own way.

To learn more about Elmira College, visit Elmira.edu. For more on Lowman's work as a scientist and an educator, please visit her website CanopyMeg.com.