Edward O. Wilson took a break from searching for insects in the state reservation in 1998. Wilson passed away on Sunday at the age of 92.
Thomas James Hurst.
Edward O. Wilson was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. He died at the age of 92.
He was known as "the ant man" because he first studied ants. He created the field of sociobiology after broadening his scope to include the intersection of human behavior and genetics. The E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation said that he died on Sunday.
David J. Prend, the foundation's chairman, said in a statement that his impact extends to every facet of society. He was a visionary with a unique ability to inspire. He articulated what it means to be human.
Prend described Wilson as a "relentless synthesizer of ideas" who had a "courageous scientific focus and poetic voice".
Wilson studied how ant behavior evolved through natural selection as an entomologist at a time when scientists were gaining a deeper understanding of genetic mechanisms.
He gained a lot of attention for his 1975 book, Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, in which he said that human behavior was influenced by genetics.
Wilson argued that our genes guided our behavior. The idea of biological determinism caused a backlash from fellow academics and activists who compared it to the eugenics movement of the early 20th century.
His ideas were accepted by the general public and even by the critics.
Wilson took up the cause of biodiversity and environmentalism. Half of the Earth should be set aside as wilderness.
He told NPR in 2016 that the fate of the planet is in the hands of the people and countries that have the ability to change things.
The death of Ed Wilson is sad. The pioneer of island biogeography was a great entomologist.
Wilson's influence was felt by musician Paul Simon, who called him a "dear friend" on his deathbed.
Simon said that Ed was an intellectual giant and a gentle, humble, compassionate man.
Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for his books. The U.S. National Medal of Science was one of his many awards.
Catherine is Wilson's daughter. There was no cause of death for him.
