Ford waving at camera The Xavierite
On Oct. 29, actor and conservationist Harrison Ford received the lifetime achievement award from the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation at Chicago’s Field Museum.
Partnered with the Field Museum, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation celebrated Half-Earth Day, a day championing biodiversity protection and raising awareness of conservation for over thirty years. Hundreds of scientists, conservationists, arts and cultural leaders attended, witnessing Ford accept the award.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of the work that is so critically important,” Ford said as he accepted the award.
The E.O. Wilson Legacy Award honors individuals whose work has made a significant impact on conservation leadership. In Ford’s case, he has been a massive donor to the cause of conservation and a friend of the organization since the 1990’s. In 2002, Wilson himself named a newly-found species of ant “Pheidole harrisonfordi” in honor of Ford’s contributions.
Recently, Ford took part in a short film produced by the foundation. He worked alongside doctors and Pulitzer-Prize winning writers to express that Earth’s fate should not be left to the next generation.
All of these contributions led to being awarded. Ford took the stage and immediately spoke about his introduction to agriculture and preservation.
Ford mentioned his time as a member of the Boy Scouts of America. “I was the assistant director of the nature department, which meant I could collect snakes and turtles and frogs and make a whole terrarium,” said Ford.
When asked what motivated him to further research biodiversity, Ford answered simply by expressing his love for the Lincoln Park Zoo.
“I was allowed to go to the zoo every weekend with my dad, and (zoologist) Marlon Perkins would often show me around the zoo himself.”
Ford however had not donated to any sort of foundation until the release of “Star Wars: A New Hope” in 1977. “Star Wars made me embarrassingly rich,” he admitted.
“There was a certain, almost instantaneous freedom from poverty, and I felt guilt,” Ford recalled. “I felt potential utility. I met a bunch of people including (conservationist) Peter Seligmann, who was working to help preserve nature.”
“When I showed an interest in the work they (Conservation International) were doing, they welcomed me and somehow accepted me as one of their donors. I was happy as a donor for a while and then I was asked if I would join the board. This is the only board I ever joined and the only one I ever will,” Ford bluntly stated.
It was through opportunities such as this that Ford met and befriended biologist E.O. Wilson, whom he kept in touch with for over thirty years. After Wilson’s passing in 2021, Ford stepped up and took part in more than just the board.
In early 2025, Ford provided his voice to the foundation’s project, “Listening to the Quiet.” It was a video, in which Ford shared how he hopes that the current generations do not destroy the Earth’s treasures, so that future generations are able to live things as simple as running around in grass fields.
As Ford took the stage to accept the award, he shed a few tears in remembrance of his friend and colleague, E.O. Wilson. However, he covered it up with comedy.
“I’m very grateful, deeply humbled, and not at all surprised.” Ford turned his acceptance speech into a call for action. “We as mentors have failed the next generation,” he expressed. He continued by speaking about how if young people are not educated on how to save the environment, the Earth and its resources will diminish.
“Sharing our passion, sharing our understanding, with young people is critical. Giving them options to involve themselves means they have to commit to their culture, and the culture does not support them in the way it really should. The process of protecting nature comes out of love.”To learn more about the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, visit their website.