Senior Scientist Scott Lowman received the 2017 Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumni Award from the Department of Horticulture in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The award recognizes alumni contributions in the areas of leadership, service, and philanthropy to the community and/or college demonstrating Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim (That I may serve).
Since 2003, Lowman has volunteered at Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit urban farm in Lynchburg. The non-profit focuses on providing healthy food to the community and employment opportunities for people with special needs. Lowman spearheaded the effort to resurrect the once-abandoned greenhouses and property that Lynchburg Grows now calls home.
At the Institute, Lowman’s research focuses on sustainable agriculture by using biology and technology to increase agricultural yields while reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Lowman has lead multiple efforts focused on precision agriculture including providing regional growers with essential data regarding their crops with the use of an AgBot (drone) and utilizing SMART tables to evaluate plants during their initial growth stages. Lowman also co-created a library of beneficial bacterial endophytes to research their potential applications in agriculture.
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized as an outstanding recent graduate alumnus by the Department of Horticulture and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This award truly belongs to the great people who helped me along the way as well as the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research for providing me the opportunity to grow and thrive,” said Lowman.
PHOTO: Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture Professor and Department Head Roger Harris (left) and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Allen Grant (right) present Scott Lowman with his award.
