  Excitation of the anomalously low lying nuclear isomer $^{229m}$Th$(3/2^+,
8.28 \pm 0.17$ eV) in the process of inelastic electron scattering is studied
theoretically in the framework of the perturbation theory for the quantum
electrodynamics. The calculated cross sections of $^{229m}$Th by the extremely
low energy electrons in the range 9 eV--12 eV for the Th atom and Th$^{1+,4+}$
ions lie in the range $10^{-25}$--$10^{-26}$ cm$^2$. Being so large, the cross
section opens up new possibilities for the effective non-resonant excitation of
$^{229m}$Th in experiments with an electron beam or electron (electric)
current. This can be crucial, since the energy of the isomeric state is
currently known with an accuracy insufficient for the resonant excitation by
photons. In addition, the cross section of the time reversed process is also
large, and as a consequence, the probability of the non-radiative $^{229m}$Th
decay via the conduction electrons in metal is $\approx10^{6}$ s$^{-1}$, that
is, close to the internal conversion probability in the Th atom.
