Stephen Jay Gould Biography

Stephen Jay Gould was a preeminent American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist, renowned for his compelling popular science writing. His empirical research primarily focused on land snails, and he co-developed the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which posits evolutionary stability punctuated by rapid change. Gould opposed strict selectionism and sociobiology, advocating for science and religion as compatible, non-overlapping "magisteria." His essays and books made complex scientific ideas accessible and engaging to a broad audience.