Dr. Simon Levin is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. He is interested in understanding how macroscopic patterns and processes are maintained at the ecosystem and biosphere levels, in terms of ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. He is a former President of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Mathematical Biology. He has received numerous awards, such as a U.S. National Medal of Science, the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences, the Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences, the Margalef Prize for Ecology, and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, and a Foreign Member of the Istituto Veneto and the Istituto Lombardo.
iFAST Theoretical Ecology Series
To celebrate Dr. Simon Levin’s 80th Anniversary and honor his outstanding contributions to theoretical ecology
Event description
iFAST-Theoretical Ecology is celebrating Dr. Simon Levin’s 80th birthday by honoring his outstanding contributions to theoretical ecology. This special symposium will be spread among three days, July 26-29 2021, 2.5 hours each day (2:00-4:30pm UTC/GMT). It will cover three of Simon’s major research themes with the following sessions: (i) epidemiology, (ii) biodiversity and conservation, and (iii) cross-disciplinary science.
The structure of the symposium emphasizes the legacy of Simon’s accomplishments in these topics as well as highlights the newest research directions that stem from that legacy. Each session will feature (a) a keynote speaker who is a Levin Lab alumni and will speak to both Simon’s legacy on the session topic and their own recent research directions, (b) research talks from junior scientists (e.g. recent or current Levin lab students or “academic descendants”, i.e. students and postdocs of Levin lab alumni) to showcase individual projects that represent the ongoing legacy and latest directions of Simon’s mentorship, and (c) a panel of experts among Levin lab alumni to provide a discussion of the broader context of that legacy. The symposium will conclude with reflections from Simon.
| Date | Topics | Time |
| July 26, 2021, Monday | Epidemiology | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm US EDT 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm UTC/GMT 10:00 pm – 12:30 am Beijing |
| July 27, 2021, Tuesday | Biodiversity and conservation | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm US EDT 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm UTC/GMT 10:00 pm – 12:30 am Beijing |
| July 28, 2021, Wednesday | Cross disciplinary science | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm US EDT 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm UTC/GMT 10:00 pm – 12:00 am Beijing |
Organizing committee
This special symposium is organized by Simon’s former students and postdocs:
Alan Hastings (Chair)
Fred Adler
Marissa Baskett
Yoh Iwasa
Carla Staver
