Skip to content

Edward O. Wilson

Professor, Harvard University

Edward Osborne Wilson is an American biologist (Myrmecology, a branch of entomology), researcher (sociobiology, biodiversity), theorist (consilience, biophilia), and naturalist (conservationism). Wilson is known for his career as a scientist, his advocacy for environmentalism, and his secular humanist ideas concerned with religious and ethical matters.

A Harvard professor for four decades, he has written twenty books, won two Pulitzer prizes, and discovered hundreds of new species. Considered to be one of the world's greatest living scientists, Dr. Wilson is often called "the father of biodiversity," (a word that he coined). He is the Pellegrino University Research Professor, Emeritus in Entomology for the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is a Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism.

What Is Human Nature? Paleolithic Emotions, Medieval Institutions, God-Like Technology

To understand ourselves, our creativity and emotions, we must grapple with our pre-human existence.

▸

4 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on the ‘Knockout Gene’ that Allows Mankind to Dominate Earth

Famed evolutionary biologist E.O. Wilson argues that humans came to dominate the Earth thanks to a social condition called eusociality.

▸

9 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson: Synthetic Biology Will Radically Change the World

The legendary biologist talks about ultimate biology breakthroughs we can expect in the next several decades and how the creation of artificial life, coupled with the advancement of artificial intelligence, will change the human race.

▸

6 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

Pheromones and Other Stimuli We Humans Don’t Get, with E.O. Wilson

Biologist Edward O. Wilson takes us through several natural stimuli that humans don’t understand yet are used by various animals to navigate and communicate within communities.

▸

7 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on the Importance of Biodiversity

The famous biologist discusses his life’s work in conservation and his efforts to save the ecosphere.

▸

8 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson: What Does E.T. Really Look Like?

The Pulitzer-winning biologist draws from our own knowledge of evolution and Darwinian theory to posit the physical and mental characteristics of extraterrestrial life.

▸

11 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

Science, Not Philosophy, Will Explain the Meaning of Existence

Biologist Edward O. Wilson calls philosophy a “highly endangered academic species” and suggests that explaining the meaning of human existence necessarily falls to science instead.

▸

9 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on the Century of Biology

Prof. E.O. Wilson says move over, physics. It’s biology’s century.

▸

3 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on ‘Superorganism’

Prof. E.O. Wilson on his breakthrough follow-up to the Pulitzer-Prize winning book, The Ants.

▸

3 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

How Ants Helped During the Vietnam War

E.O. Wilson’s secret foray into military research.

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on Harnessing Technology to Teach Science

Prof. E.O. Wilson talks about ways to disseminate high-quality knowledge online.

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on Modern Biology Education

Prof. E.O. Wilson compares biology class today vs. 60 years ago.

▸

3 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson on the Encyclopedia of Life

Prof. E.O. Wilson talks about the scope of the massive project to document every living organism.

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

You've been called a lightning rod. What does that mean?

Wilson served as a lightning rod back in the 1970’s when he first made the outrageous suggestion in a book called “Sociobiology” that human nature exists and it probably has […]

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

Who were your mentors?

Ones totally devoted to their subject, says Wilson.

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

How are humans and ants similar?

Ant societies are entirely instinct driven whereas we have a little wiggle room.

▸

3 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

Can we live green and also live well?

Sure can because the more we learn about how life works, the more we learn how we fit into this environment and how we can maintain and then reduce on […]

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

What is your advice to young scientists?

The more that you move toward that part of the advancing frontier of scientific knowledge, the better career you will have in terms of opportunities opening now in this century […]

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

What do political decision makers need to know about ecology?

The great problem in recognizing the peril of the living environment, one that ultimately affects our lives, is ignorance.

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

Do we have time to save our environment?

If we intelligently plan the establishment of reserves, where we get the maximum protection for the largest number of species, we can save the environment.

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

What has so enamored you about ants?

Ants are easy to find, says Wilson.

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

Wilson discusses the ways that the foundation devotes resources to science education, since only 30 percent of Americans know what biodiversity is.

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

What is the biggest threat to the environment?

Wilson says habitat destruction is the most harmful threat to our ecosystem.

▸

2 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson

How has Harrison Ford’s work affected your thinking about conservation?

Ford has been a pioneer in his work with Conservation International.

▸

1 min

—

with

Edward O. Wilson