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NSF PA/M 01-16 - April 19, 2001
E.O. WILSON TO SPEAK ON "FUTURE OF BIODIVERSITY"
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
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What: |
Lecture on "The Future of Biodiversity"
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When: |
3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2, 2001 |
Where: |
National Science Foundation (Ballston
Metro Stop)
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Dybas (703) 292-8070/cdybas@nsf.gov
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