Time: 12:00PM–1:30PM

"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing", Archilocus, c. 680-645 BC

Ecological science became increasingly fashionable in the latter half of the twentieth century as environmental concerns entered the political arena. Some of this history will be discussed, as will some developments in theoretical ecology. Many of those who rode the theoretical wave made major university careers, won large government research grants, and acted as science advisors (often replacing physicists) to governments and major institutions worldwide. How and why did this happen?

I have just begun to work on this topic and so my talk will be introductory.