Edward osborne wilson born june 10, 1929, usually cited as e. Wilson s life on earth, a free ibooks textbook series designed to excite and instruct high school biology. Genius and effort have transformed the environment to the benefit of human life. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants, on which he has been called the worlds leading expert. Wilsons life on earth has been completely redesigned as an immersive, interactive textbook series that is now available. The half earth project is tracking progress towards half earth as a goal we can reach together.
A biogeographic scan of earths principal habitats shows that a full representation of its ecosystems and the vast majority of its species can be saved within half the planets surface. An appeal to life on earth would have received a 5 star rating except for sloppy proofing. Croteau introduces the themes of the diversity of life forms on earth and how theyre all united by several characteristics of life. At onehalf and above, life on earth enters the safe zone. Wilson simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Todays biology students will be tomorrows biochemists, explorers, environmental policy makers, park rangers, and informed citizens. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. In order to be able to find life outside our earth, we have to understand life in our own planet. Wilson presents diversity of life lecture to the nicholas school of the environment on feb. Prior to this momentous event that heralds an evolutionary transformation in the life. Wilson on saving half the earth uc berkeley college of. Wilson visited the grist offices touting his new book the meaning of human existence, we took the opportunity to ask him.
Wilson sees the 21st century as the century of the environment, a time when humans will celebrate and. An introduction to the series of digital biology more. We have turned a wild and inhospitable world into a garden. If biology is destiny, as freud once told us, what becomes of free will. Download file pdf the diversity of life edward o wilson the diversity of life edward o wilson edward o. Wilsons life on earth was created to prepare them for their work. Wilson, in full edward osborne wilson, born june 10, 1929, birmingham, alabama, u. The author of more than twenty books, including the creation, the social conquest of earth, and letters to a young scientist, wilson is a professor emeritus at harvard university. One key to wilson s argument is how little we know of life on earth, only two million species identified out of a total probably closer to 10 million, even as species go extinct at.
The author of more than twenty books, including consilience, the diversity of life, the social conquest of earth, the meaning of human existence, an. There is a sense of urgency about wilson s book, because half of the worlds species may be extinct by the. Foundation gives the gift of knowledge through philanthropy durham, nc june 30, 2014 the. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Wilson is widely recognized as one of the worlds preeminent biologists and naturalists. Wilsons life on earth released as a free ebook and. By substituting a vivid, interactive, and highly adaptable online format for todays outmoded, inflexible, and expensive standard textbook, we will ignite interest in biology at a time when stimulating an understanding of what we know and dont yet. Wilson biodiversity foundation the halfearth project. Wilsons life on earth, a free ibooks textbook series designed to excite and instruct high school biology.
Edward o wilson is one of the worlds most revered, reviled and referenced conservation biologists. The life on earth project represents a revolutionary strategy to deliver life science education. Wilson is exploring the future of life on earth on planet earth. Wilson biodiversity foundations ibooks textbook, e. Yet wilson said that the half earth goal would include. How to download life on earth by eo wilson youtube. Wilson s life work, academic excellence, and social contributions set our standard as we began creating the e. The famed naturalists newest book, written from a retirement home, is a provocative and urgent call to save the planet, and its species. Wilson, is an american biologist, naturalist, and writer. Wilsons life on earth ibooks textbook into a practical, instructional framework for teachers and learners worldwide.
The text discusses a previously unknown species of carpenter ant collected by e. Wilson, life on earth can be downloaded in 7 units on itunes. Created under the direction of pulitzer prizewinning author and harvard naturalist edward o. Wilson biodiversity foundation today announced the official release of e. Click here to buy it biological warfare flares up again between eo wilson and richard dawkins. O wilsons life on earth unit 1 chapter 1 flashcards. Wilson s recent book, the social conquest of earth, launches a new missile in the purported warfare between science and religion.
Wilson wants us to leave half of the earth aloneheres why. Wilson s life on earth has been completely redesigned as an immersive, interactive textbook series that is now available. Life on earth will give students at all educational levels and all learning styles, everywhere in the world, a customizable and. Wilson s life on earth was released as a free ibook on itunes. In this final unit, we explore the various biological communities that coexist on earth. Wilson accepts his 2007 ted prize, he makes a plea on behalf of all creatures that we learn more about our biosphere and build a networked encyclopedia of all the worlds knowledge about life.
Earth, 114 million years ago, one morning just after sunrise. If we conserve half the land and sea, we can still safeguard the bulk of our planets biodiversity. He is letting us explore the origin of various life forms and their life span he analyses the changing environmental conditions and the threat to environment caused by human actions. It features stateoftheart digital media animations, video, and interactive modules in a comprehensive 41chapter text covering standardsbased biology curriculum. The first flower ever to appear on the planet opens up to receive the rays of the sun. In his new book and aeon essay halfearth, he comes out with all guns blazing, proclaiming the terrible fate of biodiversity, the need for radical conservation, and humanitys centrality in both. Foundation gives the gift of knowledge through philanthropy durham, nc june 30, 2014 the e. Chapter 1 to the ends of earth the totality of life, known as the biosphere to scientists and cre ation to theologians, is a membrane of organisms wrapped around earth so thin it cannot be seen edgewise from a space shuttle, yet so internally complex that most species composing it remain undiscovered. The chemistry of life and the different processes during the formation and evolution of the earth have played a crucial role. It features stateoftheart digital media animations, video, and interactive modules in a comprehensive 41chapter text covering standardsbased.
The course plus the free ibooks textbook series provides a full high school biology curriculum. Thank you for taking this step and joining us in our work to save half the earth for the rest of life. Wilson biophilia center at nokuse plantation and developing its educational programs. Life on earth is an ibooks textbook consisting of 41 chapters in 7 separate units and can be downloaded for free from the ibooks store. Wilsons life on earth released as a free ebook and free. Wilson calls for a grand retreat to save biodiversity, we need to set aside about half the earths surface as a natural reserve.
Unless humanity learns a great deal more about global biodiversity and moves quickly to protect it, we will soon lose most of the species composing life on earth. While looking into the updates to itunes u, i noticed a spotlight for a series of books i recall reading when i was in school. On page 57 if i am remembering correctly about 23 down is the quote from the origin of species by charles darwin 1859 that omits 3 key words by the creator. Wilson mean by a social conquest of the earth carl zimmer asks the evolutionary biologist about the theories in his highprofile new book. He was also the foremost proponent of sociobiology, the study of the genetic basis of the. By supporting the half earth project, you are helping save the very fabric of life on earth and helping raise conservation efforts to a new l. As species go extinct at 1,000 times the normal rate thanks to human interference.
Wilsons life on earth is being created to prepare them for their work. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. We discussed the longterm odds for earths biodiversity including the rather selfabsorbed human species that happens to depend on the rest of life, as well as his work helping to restore mozambiques gorongosa national park. There is a sense of urgency about wilsons book, because half of the worlds species may be extinct by the. Wilsons life on earth is a multimedia biology textbook being developed by the e. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Jun 15, 2016 as of today, the only place in the universe where we are certain life exists is on our little home, the third planet from the sun. The harmful perturbations we have caused can be moderated and reversed as we go along. Unless we move quickly to protect global biodiversity, we will soon lose most of the species composing life on earth. It is tempting to think that deep within the brain lives a soul, a free agent that takes account of the bodys experience.
Wilsons life on earth series by gael mcgill goodreads. Why e o wilson is wrong about how to save the earth aeon. Wilson has spent his life studying animals and fighting for their conservation. Wilson in gorongosa national park during a textbook development expedition to mozambique in the summer of 2011. If we protect half our planet, we can safeguard the bulk of all species on earth, including ourselves. Setting aside half the world for the rest of life with e. Our planets fight for life is published by liveright. The diversity of life diversity and unity of life mr. Wilson presented a lecture at usao in chickasha, ok in march 2009. Life on earth course on itunes u brings the groundbreaking innovation of e. The ones marked may be different from the article in the profile.
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