E.O. Wilson’s work crosses many disciplines. He has initiated research, controversy and debate with his theories of sociobiology, island biogeography and consilience. He helped coin the term biodiversity. Students in biology and psychology are influenced by his life’s work, whether they have read his theories and books or not, whether they are entomologists or not. In some fashion, he has played a mentoring role to all entomologists through his books. In his words, Dr. E. O. Wilson, “I've been an entomologist all my life, and will remain one until they pry my microscope from my cold dead fingers (to borrow a phrase from the National Rifle Association).” Ed Wilson is a myrmecologist and naturalist to his core. His enthusiasm and passion for insects is undeniable and his autobiographical accounts of this fascination with insects has in turn touched the lives of faculty, students and non-scientists. By sharing his wonder and awe for the diversity of life, he encourages us to appreciate what we have yet to discover. His current focus on conservation beckons the scientific disciplines to the call of mapping all life on Earth. His writings encourage us to venture out on basic explorations, wonder at newfound species, and work passionately to conserve them before they are lost. As all good mentors do, he exudes hope and potential, not just for his students but for the future of life as well.