This View of Life The Science of Imagined Worlds: Evolution and Ecology for World Builders - A conversation between Carlo Maley, Vaughn Aktipis-Maley & David Sloan Wilson
Aug 22, 2025
In a fascinating discussion, Carlo Maley, a world expert on cancer through an evolutionary lens, and his son Vaughn Aktipis-Maley delve into blending evolutionary science with fantasy storytelling. They explore how real-world biology can shape believable creatures and societies in role-playing games. The conversation highlights the importance of cooperation in fictional worlds, innovative tools for addressing social issues, and the role of interdisciplinary approaches in fostering empathy and collaborative futures through compelling narratives.
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Build Full Food Webs Not Chains
- Include parasites and realistic predator–prey pyramids when crafting ecosystems.
- Rebalance monster abundance and add decomposers and parasites for ecological plausibility.
Teaching Life History With Tolkien
- Carlo used Tolkien species to teach life history theory to undergraduates and tested learning outcomes.
- Students found the fictional version more engaging though exam scores were unchanged.
Support Big Predators With Societies
- Account for resource needs of apex monsters by creating supporting social economies.
- Make dragons cultivate livestock or dominate societies to plausibly meet metabolic demands.
