Wilson speaks on biodiversity
Nuri Abdur-Rauf / Copy Editor
“Voices of Discovery” speaker Edward O. Wilson
addressed Elon’s community with his views on the state
of the world Monday night in McCrary Theatre. His
presentation was a culmination of a day and a half spent on
Elon’s campus; speaking in classes and talking to
faculty and staff members. Wilson presented arguments about
the actions of individuals and how they will affect the human
race and the world as a whole in the future.
“The biosphere is far richer in biodiversity than ever
thought of before,” Wilson said. “And we could
lose as much as half of it.”
Wilson’s background in the field of science makes him
a definite authority in the area of biology. Named one of
Time magazine’s “America’s 25 Most
Influential People” in 1995, and “The New
Darwin” by Thomas Wolfe, Wilson has devoted his
life’s work to exploring the planet and has a genuine
compassion for the conservation of biodiversity, which he
says is “the totality of creation.”
Wilson has won more than 80 awards and published 22 books.
He has accomplished what he calls turning “the study
[of biodiversity] into a lifelong calling.”
Beginning his speech with kudos to Elon as being a
“leading private university,” Wilson went into a
series of open-ended questions.
“Have you ever wondered how we will be thought of
1,000 years from now, even 100 years?” he asked,
“What might we have overlooked? What are we
neglecting?”
Wilson suggested that at this time in our world’s
history, humanity must begin to take notice of its relations
with the rest of the biosphere. This must be done through
looking at land use, population growth rates and preservation
of species.
“The 21st century will have to be the century of
environment,” Wilson said, expressing that now is the
time when we need to seriously pay attention to these issues.
He gave an example of looking at the immediate future with
the image of a bottleneck with an open end. This open end is
attributed to the fertility rate worldwide, which is the
number of children per woman.
Wilson said that 40 years ago, the fertility rate was six
children, whereas today women on average, bear three
children. The number continues to drop. According to the
United Nations, the population will peak at nine billion
later in this century then will begin a steady decrease,
Wilson said.
“Eight hundred million people remain in what the
United Nations calls absolute poverty,” Wilson said.
Wilson spoke about the high volume of species extinction,
and how it is currently reshaping biodiversity.
The overlying message of Wilson’s speech was for
people, no matter who they are, to sit up and take notice of
the world around them.
He thinks of his studies as “not a philosophy, but a
science” and is “exhilarated by their
prospects.”
| 
