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[[File:Tyrannosaurus_AMNH_5027.jpg|Tyrannosaurus AMNH 5027|thumb]] [[Image:PunctuatedEquilibrium.png|PunctuatedEquilibrium|thumb|left]] [[File:Neoteny.svg|Neoteny|thumb|left]] [[Image:Kostel_Nejsvětější_Trojice_(Fulnek)_–_frs-002.jpg|Kostel Nejsvětější Trojice (Fulnek) – frs-002|thumb]] [[File:Cerion_watlingense_land_snail_shells_(modern%3B_northeastern_San_Salvador_Island,_eastern_Bahamas)_(15043406837).jpg|Cerion watlingense land snail shells (modern%3B northeastern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas) (15043406837)|thumb]] '''Stephen Jay Gould''' (September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002) was an influential [[American]] [[paleontologist]], [[evolutionary biologist]], and [[historian of science]]. He spent most of his career teaching at [[Harvard University]] and working at the [[American Museum of Natural History]] in New York. Gould was known for his contributions to the field of [[evolution]], his theory of [[punctuated equilibrium]], and for his ability to engage a wide audience through his popular science writings.

==Early Life and Education==
Stephen Jay Gould was born in [[Queens]], New York, to Leonard and Eleanor Gould, secular Jewish parents who encouraged his interest in the natural world. His early fascination with [[dinosaurs]] led him to pursue a career in paleontology. Gould graduated from [[Antioch College]] in 1963 and received his Ph.D. in paleontology from [[Columbia University]] in 1967, under the guidance of [[Norman Newell]].

==Career and Research==
Gould's research career was marked by his work on the theory of [[punctuated equilibrium]], which he developed with [[Niles Eldredge]] in 1972. This theory proposes that species remain relatively stable for long periods, punctuated by short, rapid periods of evolutionary change. This was a significant departure from the traditional view of gradual evolution and sparked considerable debate within the scientific community.

In addition to his scientific research, Gould was a prolific writer, contributing to both academic journals and popular science literature. He wrote a monthly column for ''[[Natural History]]'' magazine for 27 years, which made complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience. His essays were collected in books such as ''[[The Panda's Thumb]]'' and ''[[Wonderful Life]]'', which won the 1981 [[National Book Award]] for Science.

Gould's work extended beyond biology and paleontology to the history and philosophy of science. He was a vocal critic of [[sociobiology]] and [[biological determinism]], arguing that these fields often made unfounded assumptions about the nature of human behavior and society.

==Legacy==
Stephen Jay Gould's legacy is marked by his contributions to evolutionary theory, his skill as a science communicator, and his advocacy for a nuanced understanding of science and its role in society. He was awarded numerous honors during his lifetime, including the [[National Book Critics Circle Award]] and the [[MacArthur Fellowship]]. Gould's ability to engage with a broad audience has left a lasting impact on the public understanding of science.

Gould passed away in 2002 after a battle with [[mesothelioma]], a type of cancer often associated with asbestos exposure. Despite his death, his work continues to influence the fields of paleontology, evolutionary biology, and science communication.

==Selected Bibliography==
* ''[[Ever Since Darwin]]'' (1977)
* ''[[The Panda's Thumb]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes]]'' (1983)
* ''[[The Flamingo's Smile]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Mismeasure of Man]]'' (1981, revised 1996)

==See Also==
* [[Evolutionary biology]]
* [[History of science]]
* [[Punctuated equilibrium]]

[[Category:American paleontologists]]
[[Category:Evolutionary biologists]]
[[Category:Historians of science]]
[[Category:Harvard University faculty]]
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Stephen Jay Gould - Revision history

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