Harvard Gazette interview on Edward O.
Wilson
‘Search until you find a passion and
go all out to excel in its expression’
Wilson had always been fascinated
with nature and with insects. Even as a young child, he found himself wandering
outside, observing all the creatures that were around him. He was guided to
ants because of a lack of activities to participate in as a child. Those lack
of options frequently led him to nature, and fueled his passion for ant
biology. His passion grew throughout high school and after he graduated from
the University of Alabama. Then as a part of the doctoral program, He attended
the University of Tennessee. While there his professor, Jack Sharp, noticed
Wilson’s work and decided that he didn’t belong Tennessee, but rather at
Harvard. With a letter of recommendation, Wilson would soon be there. While at Harvard,
he was told that they didn’t care what he did, or what field of study he wanted
to go into. They only desired that he accomplish something extraordinary.
Wilson was determined to do exactly that. While at Harvard he made
incredible insights on not only insects, but science as well. In the 1970s his
book biological roots of behaviors, “Sociobiology” touched off an academic row.
He also received two Pulitzer Prizes for “The Ants’, and “On Human Nature”. He was awarded the National Medal of Science
in 1976 and the Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1990.
In 1996, he retired from full time scholarship and teaching, but he still
carried on with his research and writing.
