Encyclopedia of Life Web Site Many big ideas are born at the TED Conference (TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design). The conference brings together the world's big thinkers and doers to deliver talks on many topics. Every year, three prize winners are chosen and they each present one wish.

This year, biologist E.O. Wilson was the recipient of one of the TED prizes, and his wish is on its way to becoming a reality. Wilson wants to bring about a catalogue of all the world's species in one place on the web: an Encyclopedia of Life that is accessible to all.

As E.O. Wilson accepts his 2007 TED Prize, he makes a plea on behalf of his constituents, the insects and small creatures, to learn more about our biosphere. We know so little about nature, he says, that we're still discovering tiny organisms indispensable to life; yet we're still steadily destroying nature. Wilson identifies five grave threats to biodiversity (a term he coined), and makes his TED wish: that we will work together on the Encyclopedia of Life, a web-based compendium of data from scientists and amateurs on every aspect of the biosphere.

The people at TED tend to not just have big ideas, but to act on them. So it is no surprise that the Encyclopedia of Life is already underway. After the conference, Avenue A | Razorfish, an award-winning web design company, volunteered to help with the project. They have designed a gorgeous site that will soon house the encyclopedia. Many organizations are working together to begin filling the encyclopedia with information and making it possible for everyone to contribute content. In the age of Web 2.0, the Encyclopedia of Life will be the Wikipedia of all living things (past and present) on the planet. The video showing how the encyclopedia will work is a must-see.

This is a truly unique and ambitious project. Imagine having in-depth information on every single species on the planet available online, easily accessible to anyone. Scientists all over the world will be able to add data and information, and people can enter their own photos of plants and animals and place them on an interactive map. You can glimpse what the site will look like on the beautifully designed demonstration pages. It's obvious that good design has been part of this project from the beginning, and thanks to the folks at Avenue A | Razorfish, the extensive amount of information that will be part of the encyclopedia will be organized and well-presented. The Encyclopedia of Life is a wonderful example of great minds coming together to promote interest in nature, protect biodiversity, and make important information available and accessible to anyone. It brings together science, technology, and good design for the benefit of all the planet's life.

Links: Encyclopedia of Life, news coverage of the site launch, E.O. Wilson's talk at TED, About TED