continued from page 20

organisms work to create a comfortable environ-
ment when evolution is based on the principle of
‘survival of the fittest’? The thought of planetary
altruism does seem a little too extreme, but
according to Lovelock, Gaia is not altruistic.
Lovelock counters by saying purpose and fore-
sight were néver claimed. His theory is testable
mathematically and therefore capable of making
‘risky predictions’. In order to prove that Gaia
works (as series of feedback loops), Lovelock
developed a computer simulation called the
Daisyworld. The simulation shows that two species
can work to balance an environment and still com-
pete, maintaining the fundamental principle of evo-

© “ater press

lution. The Daisyworld model became so popular
that Maxis Software bought the idea and devel-
oped the program into a marketable computer
game, SimEarth, where participants are able to
create, modify, and ultimately attempt to balance
entire planetary ecosystems.

The real break for Doctor Lovelock came in the
1990s. His research had spanned the energy crisis
of the 70s, the resource wars of the 80s, and found
acceptance in the environmental battles of the late
twentieth century. Science of this past decade
seem more prepared to look at the elements of
Lovelock’s work more closely.

For Lovelock this acceptance means more

>>> FEATURES

resources and funding to continue his work. It also
means additional awards and merits for the mantle,
which he is not short of. He received the Volvo
Environment Prize in 1996, and Japan’s Blue
Planet Prize in 1997. He has no fewer than eight
honorary degrees, and as | write this | find myself
asking why he has not been nominated for a Nobel
Peace Prize.

The work of this man, his efforts have contributed
immensely to human understanding of how our
planet functions. And perhaps, in the future, will be
credited, at least in part, with how humanity views
its participation on this planet.

James Ephraim Lovelock—Dr. Planet, | presume.