Edmund Wade Davis, born in 1953, is a Canadian anthropologist, ethnobotanist, photographer, and writer. He gained significant recognition for his 1985 book, 'The Serpent and the Rainbow,' which explored the phenomenon of zombies in Haiti. Davis holds degrees in anthropology and biology, with a Ph.D. in ethnobotany from Harvard University. His extensive fieldwork has taken him to the Amazon and Andes, where he lived among indigenous groups and collected botanical specimens, as well as to northern Canada and Haiti. He has also worked as a park ranger and forestry engineer, and is a licensed river guide. Davis is a prolific writer, photographer, and filmmaker, with his works translated into numerous languages and published in major international journals.

Beyond his academic and exploratory pursuits, Davis has contributed to documentaries and exhibitions. His research into Haitian folk practices led to his books 'Passage of Darkness' and 'The Serpent and the Rainbow,' the latter inspiring a film adaptation. His writing also encompasses the history of Everest expeditions, as seen in his award-winning book 'Into the Silence.' Davis's photography has been exhibited internationally and featured in prominent publications. He has held positions such as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honorary degrees.

Wade Davis dedicated three years to exploring the Amazon and Andes, living with fifteen indigenous communities across eight Latin American countries. During this time, he amassed a significant collection of approximately 6,000 botanical specimens. His ethnographic research also extended to indigenous societies in northern Canada. A pivotal part of his career involved investigating folk traditions in Haiti related to the creation of zombies. This research resulted in his publications 'Passage of Darkness' (1988) and the best-selling 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' (1986). The latter book served as a loose inspiration for Wes Craven's 1988 horror film of the same name. Davis's broader body of work explores diverse subjects including Haitian Vodou, Amazonian mythology and religion, and the traditional use of psychotropic substances.

Beyond his scientific endeavors, Davis is a prolific author and photographer. His literary output includes titles such as 'Penan: Voice for the Borneo Rain Forest' (1990), 'Nomads of the Dawn' (1995), and 'One River' (1996), which was nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award. His book 'Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest' earned him the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction. Davis's photographs have been featured in over 80 magazines and journals, including National Geographic and Time, and have been exhibited internationally. He also served as Explorer-in-Residence for the National Geographic Society from 2000 to 2013.

Davis's research into Haitian zombies, particularly his hypothesis that tetrodotoxin poisoning could explain the phenomenon, has faced significant scientific criticism. Critics questioned the ability of practitioners to maintain individuals in a prolonged trance state and challenged the chemical analysis of 'zombie powder,' with some studies finding only insignificant traces of tetrodotoxin. Concerns were also raised regarding the ethics of his research methods, including the exhumation of a child's body as part of his investigation. While Davis's work suggested the powder was used for the initial 'death and resurrection' to convince victims and others of zombification, the physiological basis and the extent of tetrodotoxin's role remain subjects of debate.