Margaret D. Lowman

American biologist and ecologist (born 1953)

Margaret D. Lowman, Ph. D. a. k. a. Canopy Meg (born December 23, 1953) is an American biologist, educator, ecologist, writer, explorer, and public speaker. Her expertise involves canopy ecology, canopy plant insect relationships, and constructing canopy walkways. Nicknamed the "real life Lorax" and "Einstein of the treetops", Lowman pioneered the science of canopy ecology. She is known as the "mother of canopy research." For more than 30 years, she has designed hot air balloons and walkways for treetop exploration to solve mysteries in the world's forests, especially insect pests and ecosystem health. She works to map the canopy for biodiversity and to champion forest conservation around the world. Lowman's academic training includes Williams College (BA, Biology) in 1976; Aberdeen University (MSc, Ecology) in 1978; Sydney University (Ph. D., Botany); and Tuck School of Business (Executive Management).

Lowman has authored more than 100 peer reviewed scientific publications and several books including Life in the Treetops (1999), It's a Jungle Up There (2006), and The Arbornaut (2021). From 1978 to 1989 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. She 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 walkway in North America.

Lowman currently serves as the Director of Global Initiatives and Senior Scientist for Plant Conservation at the California Academy of Sciences. Her role is to strategize and promote the academy's mission for sustainability science, and to disseminate her team's accomplishments to groups ranging from elementary classes to corporate executives to international conferences. Lowman previously served as Chief of Science & Sustainability at the California Academy of Sciences. In this role, Lowman was responsible for the academy's programs of scientific research and exploration as well as its programs addressing the challenge of sustaining life on earth. She led their twenty first century strategy of integrating research with sustainability initiatives both local and global. As the academy's inaugural Chief of Science and Sustainability, she re organized internal operations to prioritize relevant science, sustainability, collections and efficient financial practices.

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 Park canopy walkway opened after a 1997 proposal from 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.