Scientist Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University will speak at the National Science Foundation on the future of biodiversity on May 2, 2001. In the past several decades, scientists have found the biosphere to be far richer in biodiversity than ever before conceived, says Wilson. But the evidence is also compelling, he believes, that species and ecosystems are being extinguished at an accelerating rate by human activity, "a loss that will inflict a heavy price in wealth, security, and spirit," maintains Wilson. In his talk, Wilson will outline some of the steps that can be taken, and to a limited extent are underway, to slow and eventually halt this downward spiral.
Wilson is the author of two Pulitzer Prize-winning books--On Human Nature, and The Ants--and is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the 1977 National Medal of Science, the 1990 Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the International Prize for Biology from Japan (1993), the Gold Medal of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (1990) and Audubon Medal of the National Audubon Society (1995). He is currently Honorary Curator in Entomology at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, and a professor of biology at Harvard. Wilson serves on the boards of directors of The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and the American Museum of Natural History, and lectures around the world. His most recent book is Consilience (1998).
Who: Edward O. Wilson
What: Lecture on "The Future of Biodiversity"
When: Wednesday, May 2, 2001, 3 p.m.
Where: National Science Foundation
(Ballston Metro Stop)
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia
For more information contact:
Cheryl Dybas, 703-292-8070/cdybas@nsf.gov
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Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-8070
National Science Foundation
18-Apr-2001