The biologist had also participated in the invention of the notion of biodiversity, which he brought into common language. It was 92 years old.
Le Monde with AP and AFP
He was nicknamed “the heir of Darwin”. The great American scientist Edward Osborne Wilson, an internationally renowned expert on ants, died at age 92 years, announced the foundation that bears its name, Monday, December 27
The scientist, who died on Sunday in Massachusetts, “has devoted his life to study the natural world and to inspire others to take care of it as he did,” said the Foundation. Eo Wilson, who has long taught at Harvard University, has written dozens of books, two of whom have earned him the Pulitzer Prize for the Trial: the first, in 1978, for the human nature, the second, in 1990 , for ants.
The one who is considered the founding father of sociobiology also participated in the invention of the notion of “biodiversity”, which he brought into common language. He defended the importance of preserving the diversity of species and ecosystems. In 2007, there were more than two dozen religious and scientific leaders to sign a statement calling for urgent changes in values, lifestyles and public policies to avoid disastrous climate change.
Very criticized for one of his theories
The Time magazine had described it as having “one of the great careers of the science of the XX e century” by highlighting his work of mapping of the social behavior of the ants, through which He showed that their colonies communicated via a pheromone system.
Wilson ‘s theories of sociobiology have transformed the field of biology and restarted the debate between nature and education among scientists. He had triggered a wave of criticism after suggesting, in one of his books, that the behavior of humans resulted in part of principles enrolled in their genes. Its detractors argued that such a theory reinforced social injustice, including discrimination against women, stating that inequality was included in human genes.
The entomologist remains very much respected. The Scientist Steven Pinker lamented, Monday, the death of a “great scientist”. “We had disagree on certain things, but it did not affect its generosity and the fact that it is willing to discuss”, Has it tweeted .