By: James Austin
ORLANDO, Fla.- Nobody ever told Dr. Meg Lowman to get her head out of the clouds, it's a good thing too because if she had listened we might have never discovered the multitude of creatures living in the canopy's of forests around the world. In fact we would be missing one-half of the life on earth which resides exclusively in the lush green treetops.

Dr. Lowman gave a lecture about her life as one of the few female canopy biologists to a group of students at Valencia Community College on Nov. 11th.
“Forests are worth more alive then they are dead” said Dr. Lowman when explaining the impact of the rapidly disappearing forests. “Forests clean water, they keep soil erosion from occurring, and they store carbon.”

To help make the public aware of all the helpful things the forests are doing Dr. Lowman has written 3 books on tropical rainforests, two by herself and one with her two children who grew up climbing into the trees with her to study.

In addition to her views on conservation Dr. Lowman spoke on how she balanced being a mother and a scientist. She brought her children with her on many of her expeditions which took them all around the world and exposed them to all sorts of cultures. “I remember my son kind-of being a little sad cause he never had a car in high school, but he had a blow-gun and he really knew how to use it.” Dr. Lowman said.

The students in the audience seemed to appreciate what Dr. Lowman had to say. Martha Gibbons, a student, said she “loved how she incorporated her kids thinking and made it a little younger.”

Martha wrapped up the presentation by talking about the need for more biologists and more scientists in the future to help turn climate change and deforestation around. “She's right” said Caroline Austin, another student in attendance, “we really need to do something or these wonderful trees will disappear.”