From thepilot.com:

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences introduced Margaret D. “Meg” Lowman as director of their new wing, the Nature Research Center.

For 30 years, Lowman has helped pioneer the science of canopy ecology, designing hot-air balloons and walkways for treetop exploration while studying the links between insects and ecosystem health. In her new role, Lowman will oversee the new wing’s research agenda, participate in fundraising efforts and assist with the integration of existing museum programs.

“Meg’s international network and passion for science have continually led her into leadership roles where she seeks best practices to solve environmental challenges,” says Betsy M. Bennett, museum director. “We are delighted to have her at the helm of our new wing.”

Lowman, affectionately called the “mother of canopy research,” was one of the first scientists to explore this “eighth continent” and has spent the majority of her career mapping the canopy for biodiversity and championing forest conservation around the world.

Full article

Dr. Meg Lowman is now the Director of the Nature Research Center (NRC) which is scheduled to open in fall 2011. Here is a Fact Sheet for NRC. (PDF format).

From WRAL.com:

Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Tuesday introduced the director of its new Nature Research Center and accepted a $1.5 million gift to support the center.

Margaret D. “Meg” Lowman will oversee the center, which will bring research to the forefront and highlight current scientific issues that affect people’s daily lives when it opens late next year. Lowman helped pioneer the science of canopy ecology, designing hot-air balloons and walkways for treetop exploration while studying the links between insects and ecosystem health.

Full article

Dr. Lowman appeared on “Community – The TV Show” on April 23, 2010.

Popular Science Magazine is doing an article on the 10 coolest college classes in the country. One of their selections was Canopy Ecology with CanopyMeg. Canopy ecology has been taught at New College (FL) for 7 years, but will be taught at North Carolina State University (NC) in the next few years. So, hopefully canopy students can take flight to all different types of forests in USA.
Photos of our demonstration — with students — in Myakka River State Park, FL are below.

[View with PicLens]

Students in pictures include: Christine McCormick, Taylor Jamrok, Meghan McAvoy, Sun, Ling

From Wired News:

If you want to study the rainforest, there is no better place to be than on top of it — literally. This pretzel-shaped structure on top of the Masoala National Park forest in Madagascar is called a canopy raft. Biologists use it to access the rainforest canopy, the upper layer of the forest.

These inflatable surfaces are lowered by a blimp and placed right on top of the trees, providing scientists with a working surface of 400 square metres of mesh strung between PVC hoops. “We just used to have ropes and climbing gear,” says canopy scientist Meg Lowman of the New College of Florida. “Now, a canopy raft mission costs about $1 million, involving about 50 people at the base camp and eight on the raft,” she says. “They last for days and everybody takes turns on one.”

From the Herald-Tribune:

Although it is tempting for residents around the Gulf Coast to limit their conversations to complaints about the oil spill, it is even more important to talk about solutions, and educate ourselves about the scientific process of “ecosystem restoration.”

Employing the best solutions is critical to the future of jobs, economy, ecology, tourism and quality of life in Florida and throughout the Gulf states. Insisting on the best solutions to this catastrophe will require citizens with a sound education of restoration ecology. This science is defined as “restoring the natural cycles to a disturbed or damaged landscape.”

In a nutshell, here are 10 ways to clean up oil from water bodies. While each has potential benefits, most restoration processes also involve drawbacks:

1.Manual shoreline cleanup — Although time-consuming and requires training, this is a great way to utilize large teams of volunteers.

2.High-pressure washing — Pressure-cleaning can actually damage more delicate organisms, but may be effective for sea walls, boats and other surfaces.

3.Natural recovery — Eventually Mother Nature will do the best job of any restoration actions, but she requires a relatively long timeline, perhaps beyond our lifetimes.

4.Dispersants — Chemicals break down surface oil effectively, but they actually break the oil into smaller particles which can enter the food chains and contaminate ecosystems for generations.

5.Burning — If oil slicks are collected into thick mats, burning reduces the chance of onshore oil, but the resulting black smoke and particulates produce a different type of pollution.

6.Booms and skimmers — This labor-intensive equipment is very effective with few side effects, but is best used near the source before the oil disperses. Booms can be effective in keeping oil away from delicate areas such as bird rookeries, public beaches, or harbors; but placement is tricky and uncertain.

7.Absorbent materials — Pads, bark-chip mats or other large sponge-like substances can absorb oil, but then require removal themselves as toxic waste.

8.Vegetation cutting — Removing marsh grass or other oily vegetation usually does more harm to the integrity of the ecosystem than the benefits of a relatively small amount of oil removal.

9.Mechanical removal — Bull-dozing and hauling away oily sediments such as blackened beach sand are appropriate for heavily soiled areas, but usually does more harm to the ecosystem over time than the short-term aesthetic benefits.

10.Use less oil — The most powerful action for cleaning oil spills is to avoid them altogether. One important solution is embarrassingly missing from most regional, and even national, conversations: conservation of fuel.

Americans may be missing the biggest educational solution or teaching moment of the Gulf catastrophe if parents and policymakers overlook these three important words: Use less oil.

Margaret Lowman is director of Environmental Initiatives at New College of Florida.

The Fragile Forest: Inside Brazilian Amazonia is a celebration of the spirit of the Amazonian rainforests. This book aims to introduce the reader to the mystery and romance of the region, supported by scores of photographs shot over multiple visits. While every attempt has been made to bring alive the Amazonian basin and its significance as the greatest biodiversity hot spot on this planet, this book is not intended to be a detailed historic, economic, scientific or geographic reference for the region.

In addition to photographs, the book provides useful maps, fact files, environmental diversity and relevant information for prospective travelers and readers.

For information on how to obtain an advance copy of the book, please e-mail the author at bhaskardk@gmail.com

UPDATE on 8/18/10:
Some additional images from inside the book:

Article about the book from The Columbia County News-Times:
Photographer’s book takes readers on Amazon journey

The books can be purchased in bulk from:
International Fine Art Gallery
917, Littleton St, Augusta, GA 30904
Tel: 706-294-2055
Email: valledolmo@att.net

Comments on the book:
“I commend this book ‘The Fragile Forest inside Brazilian Amazonia’ which gives a unique insight into a vast landscape that it is essential to maintain. Bhaskar’s text and breathtaking photography allow a deep understanding of this immensely important part of our landscape.”
[Neil Lawson Baker, Chairman, The National Open Art Competition, Chichester, England]

“You have wonderful photographs and the book has a special evocative feel to it, unlike anything else I know of. The overall impression is inspired, and very inspiring!”
[Dr. Oliver Phillips, Professor of Tropical Ecology, University of Leeds, UK]