10 things you didn't know about Dr Henry Lowe

With the recent move by a number of the United States to legalise the use of marijuana, Jamaica has been thrust to the forefront of that debate because of the prevalence of its use here.

Noted and celebrated scientist Dr Henry Lowe has been at the forefront of a number of studies and scientific research into the wholesome properties of marijuana. It also has the added bonus from what many now see as the inevitability of the Jamaican Government moving to decriminalise personal use of what is now a controlled substance.

Today, Outlook shares 10 things not previously known about the pioneering scientist, businessman, and wellness guru.

1 He is the fourth of 10 children for David Lowe (now deceased) and Josephine Lowe who is still alive, active and well at the young age of 95! She ensures that she attends all of the activities related to the EHF Group of Companies. He has two sons, David and Jason. He lost three of his siblings to cancer and, as such, his cancer-related research is very personal to him.

2 He always views failures or challenges as opportunities. This is highlighted in his autobiography, It Can be Done. His education, scientific research and development as well as his business achievements bear testimony to this.

3He is the double awardee of British Commonwealth Scholarships (under the scholarship and fellowship plan) - to Sydney University Australia (MSc) and Manchester University in England (PhD). He has done academic work in five countries at a number of universities, including the above and the University of the West Indies, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Oxford University.

4 He was asked to set up Jamaica's first Ministry of Science & Technology and the Environment after successfully establishing an energy-management system which saw Jamaica's energy crisis in the '70s and early '80s dramatically reduced. Along with former Prime Minister Michael Manley, he helped to establish Jamaica as a beneficiary of the Latin American/Caribbean Energy facility, then called OLADE and which is now Petrocaribe.

5 He served as regional and international consultant in Energy, Environment, Health Sciences and Science & Technology (S&T) to several regional and international organisations. He was a member of the Commonwealth Science Council and advisor in S&T to the UN Secretary General.

6He has served CAST (now the University of Technology) for 17 years as lecturer, head of science, and left as vice-principal. He established most of the current science-based programmes at the UTech. He is also the co-founder of AAIMS, the first offshore medical training facility in Jamaica.

7 He has received several local and international recognitions, and awards for his work, the latest of which was the national award of the Order of Jamaica in 2012. He has been regarded as one-of-a-kind in reaching the top in five career pathways: academia, business/entrepreneurship, innovation/creativity, science and technology and civil service.

8He was recognised in 2006 as the 'Jamaica Observer Business Leader of the Year', for his visionary leadership in acquiring, 'Jamaicanising', and expanding Blue Cross of Jamaica, and for commercialising the Eden Gardens concept of wellness and providing opportunities for healthy lifestyles in Jamaica.

9 Has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications for the popular press as well as 23 books. For more than 15 years, he wrote a column in The Gleaner called 'Science and you'. He was the first Caribbean person to write a science textbook series to meet the needs of Jamaica, and Caribbean students (Science Adventures).

10 He is a philanthropist and loves to help people, especially the youth. This is best demonstrated by his health-care and education programmes for inner-city children. With the Environmental Health Foundation, he cleaned up the lead-poisoning menace in Fraser's Content (Red Pond), St Catherine. He also finds time for travelling (he has visited most countries of the world and has gone around the world three times). He enjoys good wine and research and development work, which he treats as a hobby.

- CFJ