Science Profile: E.O Wilson
E.O Wilson: Caretaker of Biodiversity
Perhaps Edward Osborne “E.O.” Wilson was destined to be a naturalist. Still the moments where Wilson was exposed to the complex workings of the natural world did not harm or disrupt his interest. One moment which Wilson remembers in great detail, occurred in a park close to the National Zoo in Washington DC. Rock Creek Park was where Wilson escaped into the world of insects with his friend Ellis MacLeod . Once Wilson lifted up the bark of a dead tree, where a great colony of Citronella ants moved around in a frenzy hoping to escape impending dangers from above. Wilson watched the ants move into their surrounding undergrowth and was in awe about what he had seen. Wilson later would read and cherish an article about ants a few weeks later. Ironically, the article was published by the director of the National Zoo just a few blocks away from the park. This was the first time Edward was allowed to enter the world of ants. This moment changed his life forever. He continued to study ants until he knew more about them than any man who has walked on this earth.
Another moment which sparked Wilson’s interest in Nature involved snakes. When Edward moved to Alabama he often visited Mr. Perry, a man who owned a gold fish hatchery, because they both shared a similar love for nature. Sometimes Wilson would venture down streams, untrodden on by anybody else, looking for snakes. He held a profound interest for them and captured lots of them. One day Wilson met his match, a large Cottonmouth watersnake was slithering near the surface of the water. Wilson was in shock, as the snake was the biggest he had ever seen. Without thinking Wilson jumped on it and tried to pry open the mouth of the cottonmouth. The large snake struggled violently and turned its head to bite down on Wilsons forearm. The snake was thrown into the brushes and Wilson scampered away. Edward was not deterred by the experience and if anything was more enthusiastic about snakes there afterwards.
E.O Wilson had a childhood full of nature and was poised to become an ecologist; however, a formal education was needed for Wilson to achieve that dream. In 1946 he attended the University of Alabama for under seven hundred dollars. He quickly prospered in science classes and decided to to pronounce his ambition to become an entomologist to head of the biology department, professor Henry Walker. Professor Walker had a phone call so after a few minutes of small talk led E.O Wilson to Bert Williams a new professor. Williams quickly realized the Edward had potential, so he gave Wilson a small area of his lab to do his work. From that moment Wilson launched a career as an entomologist which would bring him to such heights as to be called the worldwide authority on ants, and bring him awards including a Hubbard Medal, and an International prize for biology.
I choose Edward Osborne Wilson for my essay because he is a living example of what I would like to become: someone who is respected for his work in science. I also chose Wilson because, like him I am in awe of the natural world around me. Finally the largest reason I chose Wilson is because I respect his humility and graciousness, and that he is fair and respectful to all species of life. I feel a responsibility to follow in the footsteps of Edward and treasure biodiversity. I will probably not study ants, but I am sure I will be studying some type of biology. In conclusion I will state, that if I can live a life with anywhere near the amount excitement, kindness, and accomplishment of E.O Wilson then I will have lived a life which I can be proud of.
Perry, a man who owned a gold fish hatchery, because they both shared a similar love for nature. Sometimes Wilson would venture down streams, untrodden on by anybody else, looking for snakes. He held a profound interest for them and captured lots of them. One day Wilson met his match, a large Cottonmouth watersnake was slithering near the surface of the water. Wilson was in shock, as the snake was the biggest he had ever seen. Without thinking Wilson jumped on it and tried to pry open the mouth of the cottonmouth. The large snake struggled violently and turned its head to bite down on Wilsons forearm. The snake was thrown into the brushes and Wilson scampered away. Edward was not deterred by the experience and if anything was more enthusiastic about snakes there afterwards.
E.O Wilson had a childhood full of nature and was poised to become an ecologist; however, a formal education was needed for Wilson to achieve that dream. In 1946 he attended the University of Alabama for under seven hundred dollars. He quickly prospered in science classes and decided to to pronounce his ambition to become an entomologist to head of the biology department, professor Henry Walker. Professor Walker had a phone call so after a few minutes of small talk led E.O Wilson to Bert Williams a new professor. Williams quickly realized the Edward had potential, so he gave Wilson a small area of his lab to do his work. From that moment Wilson launched a career as an entomologist which would bring him to such heights as to be called the worldwide authority on ants, and bring him awards including a Hubbard Medal, and an International prize for biology. - P.S