Bill Durham in the Galápagos Islands

William Durham, ’71, is an innovative teacher and administrator whose primary interests are the relationships between genetic and cultural change in human populations; the evolution and conservation of biodiversity in the tropics, especially in the Galápagos and the Amazon; and the relationships between human health and ecosystem health and degradation. His recent series of academic papers focuses on evaluating ecotourism in local communities as a means of combating poverty as well as promoting biodiversity conservation.

In 1992, Professor Durham worked with Stanford Travel/Study to create a series of programs providing experiential learning for students in the Sophomore College together with Stanford alumni. He travels to the Galápagos Islands almost every year with students and alumni, and has conducted fieldwork throughout Central and South America and Africa. He believes that educational travel is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. Professor Durham is author of the book, Exuberant Life: An Evolutionary Approach to Conservation in Galápagos, published in 2021.

• Senior Fellow and Co-director of the Osa & Golfito Sustainability Initiative in Costa Rica, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford

• Former Director, Program in Human Biology, and former Chair, Department of Anthropological Sciences

• Fellowships: Yang and Yamazaki University Fellow, MacArthur Prize, Harry Frank Guggenheim, California Academy of Sciences, Danforth Foundation and National Science Foundation

• Teaching awards: Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel, Walter J. Gores, ASSU, Rhodes, Bing Fellow, and Richard W. Lyman

• BS, Biological Sciences, 1971, Stanford University

• MS, Zoology, 1973, and PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1977, University of Michigan