Edward Osborne Wilson or better known as E. O. Wilson is one of the
world’s leading expert in the field of biology. Born in the Alabama, he
spent his early childhood in the Washington. When his parents separated,
Edward went on to stay with his father. Owing to a fishing accident in
his childhood, Wilson had to live with a dysfunctional left eye his
whole life. His disability prevented him from studying animals and birds
in the field so he concentrated on studying miniature creatures such as
ants and bugs. Thus began a long-lasting association and in today’s
world he is regarded as the foremost authority on the study of ants
which is also known as myrmecology and he has contributed immensely
towards further discoveries in this field. In addition to myrmecology,
E. O. Wilson is also credited for being the founding father of the
branch of biology known as socio-biology and biodiversity. In addition
to his research work, he has written bestselling books that have gone on
to win major accolades. Many universities and organizations across the
world have conferred upon him numerous accolades and honours. Read on to
know more about the life, work and achievements of this eminent
biologist
Childhood & Early Life
Wilson
was born on June 10, 1929 in the town of Birmingham, Alabama to Edward
Wilson and Inez Wilson. In his early childhood, the Wilson family mainly
lived in areas close to Washington DC and Mobile in Alabama.
Major Works
- The book ‘Diversity of Life’ he published in the year 1992 also went on to become one of the best sellers of the period and the book also explained how the extinction of certain species came about due to the various activities of human beings.
Award & Achievements
- He won a Pulitzer Prize for the book ‘On Human Nature’ in the year 1979 and it remains one of the most important works on the subject of socio-biology.
- Wilson won the ‘Crandoor Prize’ in the year 1990 for his theory on island biogeography and it is the highest prize in the biological sciences that is decided by the ‘Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’.
- In the year 1991, he won the Pulitzer Prize again for his path breaking book ‘The Ants’ which he co-authored with Bert Holldobler.
- ‘TIME Magazine’, one of the most influential magazines in the world, named him among the top 25 most influential individuals in the USA.
