Richard Dawkins — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Emeritus Fellow at New College, Oxford
First Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science (1995-2008)
Authored 'The Selfish Gene' (1976), introducing the gene-centred view of evolution and coining the term 'meme'
Authored 'The Blind Watchmaker' (1986), explaining natural selection
Authored 'The God Delusion' (2006), making the case for atheism
Founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (2006)
Recipient of the 2005 Shakespeare Prize and 2006 Lewis Thomas Prize

Biography

Richard Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist, zoologist, science communicator, and author. He serves as an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the inaugural Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science from 1995 to 2008. Dawkins is recognized for his contributions to evolutionary biology and his efforts in science communication, for which he has received awards such as the 2005 Shakespeare Prize and the 2006 Lewis Thomas Prize.