Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins is one of the most prominent biologists of our age. His contributions to the fields of ethology and evolutionary biology have earned him numerous honorary doctorates and awards. In addition, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society for his writing. He puts the gene at the centre of evolution, and in his first book, The Selfish Gene, he proposes that a gene's phenotypic effects may extend beyond the organism itself. This idea led Dawson to introduce the term "meme," referring to behaviour or ideas that spread virally within a culture: think cute animal videos, odd catchphrases, and more. The fact that the meme is now a staple concept speaks to his enduring influence on popular science and culture. Richard Dawkins is an outspoken advocate of atheism and critic of creationism; he argues that science gives us just as rich, complex, and beautiful a picture of our universe than does any religion. He has developed his thoughts about these concepts in several books, including his 1986 work, The Blind Watchmaker, and the 2006 bestseller, The God Delusion. This book has been translated into over 30 languages, and the English-language version has sold over two million copies. Readers interested in Dawkins' views, whether on biological evolution or the issue of religion, will find his books articulate, thoughtful, and inspiring. He has made several radio and television appearances, and Richard Dawkins fans can learn more with the TV documentary "The Enemies of Reason," and the 2013 film The Unbelievers, which follows Dawkins and fellow scientist Lawrence Krauss as they proselytise reason over religion. Deepen your appreciation for science and this particular scientist with his memoir, An Appetite for Wonder.