2025 Cary Environmental Symposium

Dr. Meg Lowman, nicknamed Canopy Meg and called "The Real-Life Lorax" by National Geographic, has devoted over four decades to exploring the “eighth continent” of the world's treetops. Her research and exploration have taken her to 40 countries, where she works to save forests and also mentors girls. She has published 200 research papers. She built the first public canopy walkway in North America at Myakka State Park in Florida, which is the first public treetop trail. It is a novel suspension bridge and tower providing researchers and visitors with eye-level views of the forest canopy and a spectacular above-the-treetops view of the entire park.

Canopy Meg was the founding director of the Nature Research Center at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Under her leadership, the Daily Planet was funded and built. She oversaw the exhibitions and also hired the staff for the NRC, which was the first museum team in the world with over 50% women scientists.

Her recent successes include partnering to build a canopy walkway in Malaysia which led to designation as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme site; working with Coptic priests in Ethiopia to save their last remaining forests; and speaking to three million kids each year about trees. Her best-selling memoir, The Arbornaut was published in 2021

Musical background and introductory piece: Godi Godar on xylophone

Godi Godar Moteke Molanga was born and raised in the remote village of Ikoko Bonginda in the Lac Tumba region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Godi founded Go Conscious Earth (GCEarth) in 2012 in response to nearby rainforest destruction and managed to convince the government to stop a million-acre logging project in the Congo Basin rainforest. Next in line to become village chief, Godi is intimately familiar with his people and the challenges they face. His passion for rainforest conservation for the benefit of all beings lies at the center of GCEarth’s work and is an integral part of the success of long-term forest conservation.

Douglas Tallamy

Homegrown National Park

Friday, September 19, 2025
Cary Theater
Doors Open: 7:00 pm
Program: 7:30 pm

Admission is $20. Please reserve tickets in advance.
Seating is General Admission. Tickets go on sale on August 6.
Join the Waitlist for Tickets

Our parks and wildlands are too small and fragmented to support vital native species, putting ecosystems at risk. Homegrown National Park encourages individuals to restore biodiversity by reducing lawns, planting native species, and removing invasives to rebuild ecological networks and protect our planet’s future.

Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has taught insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, and other related subjects. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.

Musical background and introductory piece: Chelsie Rose on Harp

Chelsie Rose used to print song lyrics and tape them to the outside of her glass shower so she could belt her favorite tunes daily. At the age of 7, an angel told her to play harp, so she took lessons with International Award Winning harpist Jan Jennings and continued playing harp and singing on and off throughout her life. Living in China, Chelsie performed full time as a singer and cajon player covering pop favorites. She won first place at the NATS regional singing competition of 2025. She has written songs of friendship, the forest, and an encounter with a baby elephant! Find her on Spotify and at open mics in Durham.

Samantha "Foxx" Winship

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Thursday, September 25, 2025
Cary Theater
Doors Open: 6:30 pm
Program: 7:00 pm

Admission is $15. Please reserve tickets in advance.
Seating is General Admission. Tickets go on sale on August 6.
Join the Waitlist for Tickets

As proprietor of Mother's Finest Urban Family Farms in Winston-Salem, Samantha “Foxx” Winship’s remarkable journey stands as an inspiring testament to dedication, love, and innovation in the realms of agriculture, holistic healing, and community empowerment. As a Native of North Carolina and a descendant of Indigenous people, Samantha’s life is deeply rooted in a strong cultural heritage, and she channels that strength into her mission of healing and nurturing both the land and the people around her. Her multifaceted roles as an artist, beekeeper, apitherapy specialist, and preservationist converge into a powerful force for positive change.

As the “farm mother, queen, and visionary of illuminating light,” she stands as a guiding force for her community, combining her expertise in farming and beekeeping with her passion for holistic wellness. Her dedication to preserving nature and providing safe, healthy food reflects her commitment to sustainability and the environment. As a beekeeper, she not only contributes to the vital task of saving the bees but also integrates the transformative benefits of apitherapy into her holistic health practices.

Musical background and introductory piece: Dave Devlin on Ukulele

Dave Devlin hails from Wake County. He has an easy-going personality and plays music to match! He loves to create original music in the folk style, but also enjoys branching out into other styles like the blues, country, and rock and roll, by putting his own unique spin into the work of some of music’s greats! When he plays shows, he can run up to four hours without the need to repeat a song, unless of course you liked it so much you want to hear it again! If you’re looking for an artist to create a relaxed environment where people can come together to enjoy life, connect with others, and share in the love of music, then he's the musician for you!