Internet Resource: Biology Encyclopedia of Life Project

The Encyclopedia of Life Project is an ambitious effort to build an online reference source and database for the world’s 1.8 million named and known species, and to facilitate the discovery of those yet unknown.

Concieved by Edward O. Wilson, the project is backed by a robust amalgam of organizations, including The MacArthur Foundation, The Field Museum, Harvard University, The Marine Biological Laboratory, The Smithsonian, and The Biodiversity Heritage Library.


Watch the videos below. The first is a an entertaining montage explaining and demonstrating the concept, the second is a link to Edward O. Wilson’s TED Prize acceptance speech where he shares his wish for this project.





Edward O. Wilson acceptance speech.