Will Wilson Associate Professor Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708-0325 wgw@duke.edu Phone: (919) 660-7346 Fax: (919) 660-7293 Office: 033 Biological Sciences

General Research Overview:

Former research studies: After my graduate training in theoretical physics, I turned my attention to theoretical ecology and evolution, focusing on population dynamics and trait evolution. Scaling interactions between entities at a microscopic level up to a macroscopic scale fascinates me, and both areas have challenging problems. As for techniques, I use a variety of simulation and mathematical methods to study these ecological problems.

Death of Research Program: Nevertheless, I've not been able to find external funding for my interests. Although theory is cheap, it isn't free. Programs that might fund my research sit primarily within the National Science Foundation, but funding rates in these programs hover around six to eight percent. I've had no funding since 2001, and after a dozen or so proposal rejections over the last decade (as well as publishing some 30+ scientific papers and a book), I've finally accepted the notion that these research interests have no funding potential. Such are disciplinary and federal funding priorities. Furthermore, universities now concentrate their internal funds on commercially focused, patent-producing research, seeing their funds as money-producing investments for their endowments rather than knowledge-producing investments for the greater good. [ALERT: My views do not necessarily represent those of my employer.] Yes, it might sound like sour grapes, but I've tired of wasting the remainder of my scientific career writing grant proposals simply to be rejected for nonexistent research funds. With no hope for funding, and being unable to sustain an original research program on the $1000/year available to me, I'm suspending my theoretical ecology and evolution studies.

New Academic Focus:I'm moving on. A tenured faculty position, with its academic freedom, represents a wonderful opportunity to change directions and study new things. Over the last few years, my service on the Durham City/County Open Space and Trails Commission (follow the link) posed interesting questions concerning urban ecology. I'm following those interests academically, and I've placed here information and links to literature from an "ecosystem services" seminar I led. Over the last year I drafted a book, "What good are urban trees?", and I hope it informs others on issues related to urban open space. The University of Chicago Press accepted it for publication, tentatively scheduled to come out in 2009. I'll use a draft for my Fall 2008 "Cities and Trees" nonmajors course, and at some point I'll design some web pages with more information. Of course, I still have no funding, but I'm doing what I can without it.

6/25/2008