Dr. Margaret Lowman Addresses Millbrook Community on Canopy Ecology and Environmental Stewardship
Millbrook welcomed world-renowned biologist, writer, and educator Margaret D. Lowman, Ph.D., also known as “Canopy Meg,” to campus on November 1st.
She addressed the Millbrook community on the importance of environmental preservation and stewardship, as well as about her work and research.
Nicknamed the “Einstein of the Treetops” by the Wall Street Journal and “Real-Life Lorax” by National Geographic, Dr. Lowman pioneered the science of canopy ecology.
Nicknamed the “Einstein of the Treetops” by the Wall Street Journal and “Real-Life Lorax” by National Geographic, Dr. Lowman pioneered the science of canopy ecology.
“Environmental stewardship has been central to Millbrook’s mission since the inception of the school,” said science deparment faculty member Ava Goodale ’01.
Stewardship for the natural world has also been historically based in Millbrook’s strong science program and wildlife conservation work at the Trevor Zoo. It is also this year’s academic spotlight, and it was both fitting and an honor for Dr. Lowman to launch this year’s forum series.
Millbrook is the only high school in the United States to have a zoo and canopy walkway; and both are completely unique to Millbrook.
The zoo was established in 1936 at Millbrook, and founder, Frank Trevor, was Millbrook School’s first biology teacher and a man with a passion for sharing his love of wildlife with all people, especially children. Today, the zoo houses more than 180 exotic and indigenous animals, represents 80 species, is home to 9 endangered species, operates a veterinary clinic, is accredited by the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, and spans over six acres. Further, it is central to Millbrook’s community service tradition, and students are integral to maintaining the zoo and caring for the animals.
The canopy walkway was also born from the passion of a faculty member. Built in 1995 with the vision of H. Bruce Rinker, chair of the Science Department at that time, the walkway is about 80 feet at its highest point and is one of the oldest walkways of its kind in Dutchess County. The walkway has important ecological significance as the four platforms are built into mature red oak trees connected by wooden walkways, which are each surrounded by sugar maple, shagbark hickory, and American beech trees.
“Our students are consistently utilizing Millbrook’s canopy walkway as an extension of the science classroom,” says Goodale. This year her students collaborated on an experimental design around the distribution and abundance of organisms. “As a class they created the procedure, collected data from the walkway, and analyzed their findings,” she explained.
Beyond addressing the Millbrook community, Dr. Lowman visited with students studying environmental science, which offered the truly unique opportunity for them to relate their research to her research. They also discussed redesign models for Millbrook’s walkway, as the structure needs to now accommodate our more mature trees.
Dr. Lowman embodies Millbrook’s motto – Non Sibi Sed Cuntis – and has devoted her life to securing the future of biodiversity. Her work is relevant to our school community and beyond, and we are excited to use what was learned from her visit to propel our continuous environmental stewardship efforts. Thank you, Dr. Lowman!
