Edward O Wilson, naturalist known as a ‘modern-day Darwin’, dies aged 92

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Edward O Wilson, a US naturalist known to some as the “modern-day Darwin”, died on Sunday at the age of 92 in Massachusetts, his foundation said in a statement.

Alongside the British naturalist David Attenborough, Wilson was considered one of the world’s leading authorities on natural history and conservation.

“EO Wilson was called ‘Darwin’s natural heir’ and was known affectionately as ‘the ant man’ for his pioneering work as an entomologist,” the foundation wrote. It did not cite a cause of death but said a tribute was planned for 2022

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.amp...rd-o-wilson-naturalist-modern-day-darwin-dies
 
Here is another relevant article.

E.O. Wilson, a Pioneer of Evolutionary Biology, Dies at 92

A Harvard professor for 46 years, he was an expert on insects and explored how natural selection and other forces could influence animal behavior. He then applied his research to humans.

Edward O. Wilson, a biologist and author who conducted pioneering work on biodiversity, insects and human nature — and won two Pulitzer Prizes along the way — died on Sunday in Burlington, Mass. He was 92.

His death was announced on Monday by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproj...om/2021/12/27/science/eo-wilson-dead.amp.html
 
Here is another relevant article.

Edward O. Wilson (1929–2021)

Edward Osborne Wilson, who wrote extensively on ants and popularized the field of sociobiology, died on 26 December 2021 at age 92. Ed vigorously promoted the idea of biodiversity and understood that the concepts of island biogeography apply to the fragmented habitats pervading much of the world. He titled his autobiography Naturalist and proudly considered himself to be one. Ants were his first love, and he used the insights he gained from studying them to understand the living world and the place of humans in it.

Ed was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on 10 June 1929, and he always celebrated his southern heritage. An early fishing accident left him blind in one eye. Because of this deficit, he was at greatest ease when studying small things, and ants quickly became his passion. He earned his BS and MS degrees in 1950, studying biology at the University of Alabama. After that, at the University of Tennessee, his professors recommended he move to Harvard University, which he did. He received his PhD in 1955 in biology. In 1956, he joined the Harvard faculty, and he remained there for the rest of his career.

Science | AAAS
 
One of biology's finest men has passed away. He was an avid naturalist and advocate of evolutionary biology and biodiversity conservation. His greatest legacy amongst many other works will be his book Half Earth in which he sets out a visionary agenda for mankind to save our Earth, ecosystems, species and lastly ourselves.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
One of biology's finest men has passed away. He was an avid naturalist and advocate of evolutionary biology and biodiversity conservation. His greatest legacy amongst many other works will be his book Half Earth in which he sets out a visionary agenda for mankind to save our Earth, ecosystems, species and lastly ourselves.
Click to expand...

@Kifaru Bwana very well said. I think he originally proposed preserving two thirds of the planet, but then decided to settle on one half. I personally prefer two thirds...

You can learn more about the Half Earth Project here, and you can play with their interactive map Half Earth Map
 
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