E.O. Wilson, at DePauw November 8, Interviewed by New Scientist and NPR Affiliate
October 11, 2006
October 11, 2006, Greencastle, Ind. - "Often cited as Darwin's true heir, E.O. Wilson has an audacious strategy for saving the planet: encourage evangelical Christians and scientific secularists to unite in caring for the ecosystems and biodiversity that he calls the Creation in his latest book," notes the introduction to an interview in New Scientist magazine. In the piece, titled "Can E.O. Wilson really save the world?," Ivan Semeniuk talks with the noted evolutionary biologist and Harvard University professor emeritus, who will present a lecture at DePauw November 8.
Dr. Wilson's new book, The Creation: A Meeting of Science and Religion, seeks "to ally religion and science -- 'the two most powerful forces in the world today' -- in an ethic of 'honorable' self-restraint toward the natural world," notes a New York Times review by Matthew Scully. He declares, "The Creation is the wise and lovely work of a truly learned man, filled with a spirit that readers of every stripe
will recognize as reverence."
Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, tells New Scientist that in his new book, "I offer the hand of friendship and I am presumptuous enough to do so on behalf of scientists -- secular scientists. I feel that the time has come to put aside the culture wars, declare a truce and see if we can't meet on common ground."
The story and a corresponding podcast can be accessed at the magazine's Web site (a subscription is required to access the complete text).
Boston's National Public Radio affiliate, WBUR, offers audio of "A Walk in Walden Woods" with Professor Wilson.
Access it here.
The Times review of The Creation notes, "More out of habit than considered judgment, Wilson believes, many religious people and especially conservative Christians tend to brush off environmental causes as liberal alarmism, vaguely subversive, and in any case no concern of theirs. Wilson's book is a polite but firm challenge to this mind-set, seeking to ally religion and science -- 'the two most powerful forces in the world today' -- in an ethic of 'honorable' self-restraint toward the natural world." Read the complete article by clicking here.
Learn more about E.O. Wilson's Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture at DePauw in this previous story. The talk will be co-sponsored by the Blair A. and Teresa Reith Fund in support of the Science Research Fellows program, the department of biology's Hickman Lecture Series, and the Commons Project.
The Ubben Lecture Series also welcomes author Mitch Albom five days later on November 13.
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