Jerrold Meinwald is considered a father of the field of chemical ecology, the science that deals with the varied and ingenious ways in which animals, plants, and microorganisms communicate chemically with one another. All organisms emit and receive chemical signals and understanding these signals is central to our understanding of nature. Chemical ecology is the practice of “eavesdropping” on the chemical interactions of organisms. It is a field of enormous potential for changing the future of agriculture and medicine, and promoting understanding of the environment. Meinwald demonstrated how chemicals, acting as repellents and enticing agents, factor into the evolutionary interactions of insects and plants. He has shown how specific chemicals protect plants, and how insects have evolved countermeasures to circumvent such defenses. By focusing on the chemical value of species, Meinwald's work has had a tangible impact on conservation.