Bill Mollison
Early Life
Bill Mollison was born in 1928 in Stanley, Tasmania, Australia. He spent his early years in a small village in the Bass Strait, where he developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. He attended school in Stanley, where he excelled in his studies, particularly in the sciences.
Career
Mollison began his career as a field biologist and naturalist. In the 1950s, he worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia, where he conducted research on various aspects of ecology and natural systems. During this time, he developed a keen interest in the interrelationships between different species and their environments.
In the 1960s, Mollison transitioned into academia, taking up a position as a lecturer at the University of Tasmania. It was during this time that he began to formulate the ideas that would eventually lead to the development of permaculture.
Permaculture
In the late 1970s, Mollison, along with his student David Holmgren, developed the concept of permaculture, a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. The term permaculture is a portmanteau of "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture".
Permaculture principles extend from the position that "The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children" (Mollison, 1990). The design principles, which are explained in Mollison's book Permaculture: A Designers' Manual, are applicable to urban and rural settings, all climatic conditions, and all scales of design, from home gardens to broad-scale farms and even entire cities.
Publications
Mollison was a prolific writer, publishing numerous books and articles on permaculture and related topics. His most notable works include Permaculture One (1978), co-authored with David Holmgren, and Permaculture: A Designers' Manual (1988), which is considered the definitive text on permaculture design.
Legacy
Mollison's work has had a profound impact on the fields of agriculture, ecology, and sustainable design. His ideas have been implemented in numerous projects around the world, from small-scale home gardens to large-scale agricultural systems. His influence extends beyond the field of permaculture, influencing the broader fields of sustainable agriculture, ecological design, and environmental ethics.