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Join "CanopyMeg" and Hilfiger in Sept. 23 Virtual Book Chat

Elmira, NY (09/14/2021) — Tree lovers, book lovers and more will be interested in an upcoming virtual chat at 7 p.m., Sept. 23 with Elmira native, renowned conservationist and author, Dr. Meg Lowman. Joining her in the chat is another renowned Elmira native, Betsy Hilfiger. The two will discuss Lowman's new book, The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us, and answer audience questions.

A blend of memoir and fieldwork accounts, Lowman's book invites readers to live among scientists and travel the world-even in a hot-air balloon! It is an uplifting story of a nerdy tree climber-the only girl at the science fair-who becomes a giant inspiration; a groundbreaking, ground-defying field biologist; and a hero for trees everywhere.

Sponsored by Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, NY, the Cornell Botanical Gardens and Elmira College, those interested in the virtual chat can register for the event here.

Lowman, founder and executive director of TREE Foundation in Sarasota, Florida, worked with Elmira College faculty to develop a sustainability minor. Launched in the spring, this program prepares students to identify the links between environmental, political, and social factors that influence health and development. Students learn through a combination of interdisciplinary courses and immersive, on-location research in the Finger Lakes region or around the world, gaining the skills necessary to meet the major challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.

Lowman's roots are in Elmira but her studies have taken her around the world. As a graduate student exploring the rainforests of Australia, Lowman realized that she couldn't monitor her beloved leaves using any of the usual methods. So she put together a climbing kit: she sewed a harness from an old seat belt, gathered hundreds of feet of rope, and found a tool belt for her pencils and rulers. Up she went, into the trees.

Forty years later, Lowman remains one of the world's foremost arbornauts, known as the "real-life Lorax." She planned one of the first treetop walkways and helps create more of these bridges through the eighth continent all over the world.

Hilfiger is also tied to a newly launched program at Elmira College, serving as the family liaison for the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School at EC. This program combines business education with real-world fashion industry experience and gives students a chance to explore fashion business fundamentals and the latest market trends.

One of nine children, Hilfiger was born and raised in Elmira, New York. Part of her career life was spent in the medical field using her degree as a Registered Nurse. The other part was spent working in the fashion industry with her brother Tommy Hilfiger, and recently as Director of Community Affairs for the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation.

About Elmira College

Founded in 1855, Elmira College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering 25-plus majors, an honors program, 17 academic societies, and 18 Division III varsity teams. Located in the Southern Finger Lakes Region of New York, Elmira's undergraduate and graduate student population hails from more than 20 states and nine countries. Elmira is a Phi Beta Kappa College and has been ranked a top college, nationally, for student internships. The College is also home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four historically significant Twain heritage sites in the U.S., which attracts Twain scholars and educators from around the world for research on the famous literary icon. Proud of its history and tradition, the College is committed to the ideals of community service, and intellectual and individual growth.

Media Attachments

Lowman, founder and executive director of TREE Foundation in Sarasota, Florida, worked with Elmira College faculty to develop a sustainability minor.

Elmira natives Dr. Meg Lowman and Betsy Hilfiger will have a virtual chat at 7 p.m., Sept. 23 to discuss Lowman’s new book, The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us.

Elmira native Betsy Hilfiger is also tied to a newly launched program at Elmira College, serving as the family liaison for the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School at EC. This program combines business education with real-world fashion industry experience and gives students a chance to explore fashion business fundamentals and the latest market trends.

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