wˈɛlzᵻz kənsˈɜːn fɚðɪ ɛnvˈaɪɹənmənt wʌz ˈɛvɪdənst ɪn hɪz tˈiːtʃɪŋ ænd wˈɜːk æz ðə hˈɛd ʌv nˈɔːɹθ kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə stˈeɪt kˈɑːlɪdʒᵻz lˈeɪɾɚ nˈɔːɹθ kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə stˈeɪt jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi bˈɑːtəni dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt, hɪz ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ, ænd hɪz pˈɜːsənəl ɪnvˈɑːlvmənt ɪn bətˈænɪkəl ænd ɛnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃənz.
Wells's concern for the environment was evidenced in his teaching and work as the head of North Carolina State College's (later North Carolina State University) Botany Department, his writing, and his personal involvement in botanical and environmental associations.