Richard A. Levins

Richard Levins (1930-2016) was an ecologist, biomathematician, and philosopher of science who served as the John Rock Professor of Population Sciences at Harvard School of Public Health for nearly forty years. An ex-tropical farmer, he made significant contributions to population genetics, community ecology, and agroecology, while also applying dialectical materialism to biology and engaging in political activism. He was known for his ability to synthesize complex systems across disciplines including evolutionary biology, economics, agriculture, and health.