Letters To A Young Scientist - Edward O.Wilson

I came to know about Edward O.Wilson in a book fair two years ago. A book name "Naturalist" got my attention and i bought it. Started reading when we are expecting our first child and finished after the birth. "Naturalist" is a autobiography of Edward O.Wilson. I loved the way he narrated his earlier days and his field work. I started searching about him in internet and what i found was interesting. He is a leading biologist in the world and an world renown authority of ants. From then on wards i read whatever i found in internet and National Geographic articles by him. The documentary "Lord of the Ants" showed me genius of Edward O Wilson.

Put Passion ahead of training . Feel out in any way you can what you most want to do in science, or technology, or some other science related profession. Obey that passion as long as it lasts . Feed it with the knowledge the minds needs to grow.

I was very eager to read this book and once i got the book i read in two sittings. A gem of  book with pearls of wisdom for not only young and aspiring scientist .  The book is divided into five parts and each parts has its own chapters. I'm not a scientist but i still enjoyed the anecdotes of ants used by the author. The author spent lots time explaining his research which makes the book, sometimes, too technical in this case biological.

I always think our educational system is not matured enough to appreciate the nature and encourage the young minds to pursue their passion . For schools and colleges marks are more important , even parents are not interested in what their children interested.For parents , job opportunities comes first  and the kids also falls into it.Later in life when someone engage in their own passion , these kids feel bad about their job and life.  I have never came across anyone who studied entomology or any specific branch of biology in my schools and colleges. Whenever i talk to students i ask them why they chose that particular subject,almost 98% replied me with "my parents liked it".


I think the author tries to pushes the young minds for a greater understanding of science and scientific community.

The principles given by Edward O Wilson :

Principle No:1 Its easier far easier for scientists to acquire needed collaboration from mathematicians and statistician  than its for mathematicians and statistician to find scientist able to make use of their equations.

Principle No:2 For every scientist, whether researcher , technologist, teacher , of whatever competence in mathematics , there exists a displine in science for which that level of mathematical competence is enough to achieve excellence.

Principle No:3 March away from the sounds of guns. Observe the fray from a distance , and while you are at it , consider making your own fray.

Principle No:4 In the search for scientific discoveries , every problem is an opportunity. The more difficult the problem, the greater the likely importance of its solution.

Principle No:5 For every problem in a given discipline of science , there exists a speices or other entity or phenomenon ideal of its solution. Conversely , for every species or other entity or phenomenon , there exist important problems for the solution of which it is ideally suited .