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Dr. Bowen is a whole-plant physiologist and viticulture researcher at PARC Summerland. Her research is directed towards understanding the physiological ecology of grapevines, particularly the dynamic acquisition and utilization of resources such as water, nitrogen and solar energy. From her basic research she develops cultural strategies to improve wine grape quality. Dr. Bowen has also led the development of a geographic information system (GIS) for viticulture in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys where the diverse combinations of soils, climate, terrain require equally diverse cultural techniques to achieve high quality wine grapes. Analysis of GIS data has elucidated how varieties and cultural techniques interact with site conditions to influence vineyard performance and wine quality. In connected projects, the relationships between vineyard ecology (also known as terroir), fruit and wine composition and quality, and wine aging potential are being studied at PARC and WRC. | 