Popular Science - Richard Dawkins

Home Authors Books Subjects Events Software Features Links Newsletter Gifts Blog Write Review What's New

Richard Dawkins (1941-)

Richard Dawkins is probably the best known publicist for neo-Darwinism - the new, self-confident strand of biology that emerged from the discovery that at last biology could be a real science, rather than a descriptive art thanks to evolutionary theory. Born in Nairobi, Dawkins return to England with his family at the age of nine and was sent off to boarding school. His education continued at Oxford University where he has spent most of his working life, apart from a brief sojourn at the University of California at Berkeley.

Although technically a zoologist he is best known for his books popularizing evolutionary theory and genetics. He also devised the concept of the meme, an attempt to map the structure of ideas onto a Darwinian mechanism, which has had a mixed reception. Like many scientists, Dawkins dismisses concepts like God and survival after death, but he can be particularly ruthless when dealing with the paranormal, for which he exhibits considerable contempt.

Married to Lalla Ward, the actress who was previously married to Tom Baker, and accompanied Baker as his assistant (Romana) on the TV show Dr Who.

Holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair of Public Understanding of Science.

Read more about:

DISCLAIMERS

This site has no connection with Popular Science magazine or other sites and publications with a similar name.

Much of the content of this site is written by popular science writers or friends of popular science writers. Inevitably many of the reviews in such a small community are written by or about someone we know. We always aim to be impartial in our reviews, but there is a connection which we need make clear, as there is no intention to deceive. The content of any review or article is solely the opinion of the author and should not be read or understood on any other basis. The site exists to promote popular science writing and popular science authors and for this reason should be considered promotional material, just as the editorial reviews in an online bookshop or the blurb on the back of a book should be considered promotional.

The website should not be eaten or used where it can come into contact with water.

Disagree with our review? Want to comment on a feature? Contact us at info@ popularscience.co.uk - have your say!

Part of the site