FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT:  Mary Anthony

mary.anthony@trinity.edu

Sept. 29, 2010

Trinity University Presents Pulitzer Prize Recipient to Discuss Biodiversity during DeCoursey Lecture Series

SAN ANTONIO – Edward O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, will present the Trinity University DeCoursey Lecture for the 2010-2011 academic year at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, in Laurie Auditorium. The title of his talk is “Biodiversity and the Future of Life.” His presentation is free and open to the public.

"Wilson’s Law:" If we save the living environment (the diversity of life) we will also automatically save the physical environment (threatened by habitat destruction and pollution), because the first cannot be done without the latter. Wilson believes that Earth's biodiversity is receiving far less attention than the physical environment and that Earth is losing species, at an accelerating rate. He has begun a key initiative now to map all of biodiversity, of which as many as 90 percent of species remain undiscovered. This project, and the expansion of biology that will occur with it, will help to save surviving biodiversity, resulting ultimately in enormous economic, health, and spiritual benefits.

One of the world’s most distinguished biologists, Wilson is considered the founder of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology and developed the base of modern biodiversity conservation.  He has published more than 400 articles and authored more than 20 books.  Wilson has received many of the world's leading prizes, including the Crafoord Prize, the National Medal of Science, and two Pulitzer Prizes for The Ants (with Bert Hölldobler) and On Human Nature.

Wilson has received many of the world's leading prizes, including the Commander, First Class, Royal Order of the Polar Star, Sweden (2009); Presidential Medal, Republic of Italy (2002); King Faisal International Prize for Science, Saudi Arabia (2000); International Prize for Biology, Government of Japan (1993); Crafoord Prize, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1990); and National Medal of Science (1976).  For his work in conservation, he received the Gold Medals of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (1990), the National Audubon Society (1995), and the New York Botanical Garden (2002).  Wilson was also awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1984) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Award, Principality of Monaco (2009). In 2006, Professor Wilson received the TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Prize, where he introduced the concept of the Encyclopedia of Life - a contemporary, dynamic web page for every named species.

Doors to Laurie Auditorium will open at 6:45 p.m. on the evening of the lecture.  The lecture series is made possible by a gift from the late Gen. Elbert DeCoursey and Mrs. DeCoursey of San Antonio.

For more information, contact Trinity’s Department of Academic Affairs at 210-999-8201.

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