Edward O. Wilson, the biologist and Pulitzer Prize–winning author who was often compared to Charles Darwin, has died at 92, the New York Times reports.

Wilson was born in Alabama and raised there and near Washington, D.C. He joined the faculty at Harvard University after receiving a Ph.D. in biology from the school, and taught there for four decades.

In 1979, Wilson won a Pulitzer Prize for On Human Nature, an influential look at the field of sociobiology; he would win a second one in 1991 for The Ants, which he co-wrote with the entomologist Bert Hölldobler.

He published several books in the last three decades, including the memoir Naturalist, the essay collection In Search of Nature, and the novel Anthill. His most recent books were a graphic adaptation of Naturalist and a nonfiction book, Tales From the Ant World, which a critic for Kirkus said “contains many gems.”

In a 2019 interview with National Geographic, Wilson spoke of the importance of conservation efforts.

“I believe that we’re on the edge of a new era, in which value is extended to saving the rest of nature,” he said. “Knowing it, preserving it, studying it, understanding it, cherishing it, and holding on until we know what the hell we’re doing.”

Wilson was remembered by his admirers on social media. “He was an inspirational biologist, curator, mentor, writer and advocate for natural history [and] conservation,” biologist Hopi Hoekstra tweeted. “He will be greatly missed.”

And scientist Sheril R. Kirshenbaum wrote, “Devastated to learn we have lost EO Wilson. A giant in conservation biology, brilliant scientist, thoughtful speaker [and] a very kind human being.”

Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.