Catch the opening keynote from the Compassionate Action Conference! David Sloan Wilson is an influential evolutionary thinker, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University, and the President of ProSocial World. His organization’s mission is “to consciously evolve a world that works for all”.

His foundational contributions to evolutionary science expand the field beyond biological living systems to include human cultural living systems. Wilson has consistently championed the idea that human evolution thrives not just through competition, but more importantly, through collaboration and our collective capacity to care for one another.

Key elements of his work include:

* ProSocial Framework ProSocial is a global initiative that integrates evolutionary theory, behavioral science, and Elinor Ostrom’s principles for managing shared resources. It serves as a practical, science-based framework for strengthening groups, cultivating collective well-being, enhancing cooperation, and aligning actions with shared values. He views compassion as a powerful evolutionary strategy for creating resilient, adaptive societies, not just a “soft ideal”.

* Publications His books include This View of Life and Darwin’s Cathedral. He also wrote the novel Atlas Hugged as a counterpoint to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, grounded in relational wisdom, interdependence, and mutual responsibility.

* Media and Collaborations His 2020 conversation with H.H. Dalai Lama was featured in the Mind & Life Institute documentary, “The Evolution of the Heart”.

At the Compassionate Action Conference, David Sloan Wilson is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on May 13, 2026, at 12 PM, titled “Evolving a Living Framework for Compassionate Action”.

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