The Conservation Medal & the Hollywood Heavyweight

About six months after Earth Day, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation convenes on Half-Earth Day each year. The 2025 event featured inspiring talks, panel discussions, and performances at the Field Museum in Chicago on October 29. While the topic of environmental conservation and climate change can easily veer into doom and gloom, the event maintained a decidedly hopeful tone. Centered around the theme “From Wisdom to Action: Mentorship as a Force for Biodiversity,” the gathering highlighted legacy, leadership, and—most importantly—tangible progress.

Hollywood Legend

That hopeful tone culminated in a standing ovation as the legendary Harrison Ford took the stage to accept the first annual E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership. While many recognize him as an actor, fewer know he has spent more than 30 years supporting conservation. He has spoken out on climate issues and elevated the work of scientists on the front lines. E.O. Wilson held Harrison Ford in such high regard during their time together on the board of Conservation International that he named an ant species after him—the Central American Pheidole harrisonfordi. Wilson once joked he did so after discovering so many new ant species that he was starting to run out of names.

The medal’s namesake was an influential Harvard biologist born in Alabama who passed away in 2021 at 92 years old.

Creating the Medal

My involvement in creating the medal that Ford received came in the best way possible; a recommendation from a sculptor I deeply admire, Gary Staab. I worked directly with Paula Ehrlich, president and CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, as we shaped the concept, tone, and format of the medal. I also collaborated closely with Raymond Farrow, the foundation’s senior director of development, throughout the approval process.

The medal’s namesake was an influential Harvard biologist born in Alabama who passed away in 2021 at 92 years old. Wilson is widely known for his book, Half-Earth, a call to protect half of Earth’s land and seas to reverse the extinction crisis and maintain long-term planetary health. Wilson was a prolific author, winning two Pulitzer Prizes for his books On Human Nature and The Ants. I knew from the outset that Harrison Ford would be the first honoree, so both men’s legacies were on my mind throughout the project.

Symbolism in Design

This award is given only once a year. So, it made sense to create it as a cast medal rather than a minted one. Casting allows for a larger diameter, unlimited sculptural depth, and lower production costs because it doesn’t require cutting dies for a minting press. Of course, combining these ideas into one cohesive design was a tall order.

I started by considering how to represent the Half-Earth concept. I wanted to depict the human half in a way that felt universal—independent of race, age, gender, or nationality. A fingerprint became the perfect symbol—entirely unique to each person yet shared by everyone, symbolizing the unmistakable mark we leave on the planet. I also wanted to pay homage to Wilson’s beloved leaf-cutter ants. I had never thought of ants as artistic subjects. However, when I took a closer look, I found their forms surprisingly sculptural. They became the smallest, most detailed part of the design. Viewers might need a magnifying glass—just as Wilson himself once used—to see these insects clearly.

For the nature half of the design, I proposed several animals, from which Paula chose the Great Blue Heron. Abundant in Wilson’s home state of Alabama, it is a bird he likely observed as a young naturalist. In my depiction, the heron’s pose conveys resilience and quiet wisdom.

In my depiction, the heron’s pose conveys resilience and quiet wisdom.

From Studio to Stage

I approach medal design much like I do large-scale monuments; it must be bold enough to catch a viewer’s eye from afar, yet rich with detail up close. Mary Lannin, chair of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee during my time there, famously called this the “Tabletop Test”—if a dozen coins are scattered across a table, which one makes you want to pick it up? Her words came back to me later, during the award ceremony, when I realized the medal had passed an even tougher test: the stage test. As Harrison Ford held it up for the cameras and its image appeared on large screens, it was visible even from the back rows.

After finalizing the design, I sculpted the model at the actual size—4 inches in diameter. I then cast a plaster negative to carve the lettering. The refined details are set in a positive plaster cast. Next, I cast a wax version, which I sent to the Brodin Foundry for bronzing. Harrison Ford’s name was engraved on the back, and I personally applied the patina. The foundation presented the medal in a custom cherry wood box.

Conclusion

This award will be presented annually on Half-Earth Day to honor individuals who exemplify E.O. Wilson’s inspirational legacy in conservation science, passion for biodiversity, and commitment to action.

If you’re unfamiliar with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, I encourage you to learn about the remarkable progress they’re making. Don’t we all need some good news right now?