North-American biologist Edward O. Wilson, winner of the 19th edition of the 2007 Catalonia International Prize
The jury has awarded this year's prize, by majority vote, to Dr. Wilson, an eminent entomologist, the father of sociobiology and author of the term "biodiversity".
President Montilla will present this award during a speech in a ceremony to be held in the Palau de la Generalitat in November of this year
LThe Generalitat de Catalunya has awarded the 2007 Catalonia International Prize to the north-American biologist Edward O. Wilson. This scientist, of great international acclaim, is an eminent entomologist, specialised in the study of ants, and is also a researcher, theorist and naturalist, and a known environmental activist. He is the father of sociobiology and is the author that coined the term "biodiversity", and others such as social conduct, reproductive success and genetic parentage.
At a press conference this afternoon, the delegate president of the Catalonia International Prize, Xavier Rubert de Ventós, announced the winner of this 19th edition of the awards, which are presented annually by the Catalan government in acknowledgement of the contribution to the development of cultural, scientific or human values around the world.
Rubert de Ventós has stressed that the jury has appreciated the professional versatility of Dr. Edward O. Wilson and, above all, the courage and honesty he has shown when defending his theories "when it was and was not politically correct".
Edward O. Wilson (1929, Birmingham. Alabama) is currently honorary professor and curator of the Entomology department at the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology, in the United States. In 1975 he published Sociobiology. The New Synthesis, in which, under the name of "sociobiology", he proposed a theory consisting of the systematic study of the biological bases of all social conduct. He became the first evolutionist biologist to postulate the theory that sustains that the key to evolution is the preservation of the gene as opposed to the individual. This established sociobiology as a new field of science in itself.
The president of the Generalitat and president of the Catalonia International Prize, José Montilla, shall present the award to Dr. Wilson during a speech at a ceremony to be held in the Palau de la Generalitat in November of this year. This award consists of a monetary prize of 80,000 euros and a sculpture by Antonio Tàpies entitled "La clau i la lletra".
This year 235 candidatures were presented to the Awards, from 65 different countries, and 227 institutions have been involved, from 53 countries. The jury has chosen Edward O. Wilson unanimously.
- Minutes of the Jury (182 kb) (cat)