Richard Dawkins (born 26 March 1941) is an English evolutionary biologist and prominent writer on science and secularism. He is widely known for popularising a gene-centred view of evolution, for coining the term "meme" to describe cultural transmission, and for engaging in public debates about religion and science. Dawkins built a reputation as both a scholarly researcher and a public intellectual through his books, lectures, television programmes and campaigning for secular humanism. He holds academic honours such as DSc and is often associated with his place of birth, Nairobi, where he spent his early childhood.

Academic background and career

Dawkins trained and worked at the University of Oxford, where he served as the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008 and later became an emeritus fellow of New College. His connection with the university is often referenced through links to the college and the wider Oxford community. During his scientific career he published research and reviews that reinforced the explanatory power of natural selection and helped make evolutionary theory accessible to non-specialists.

Major ideas and books

Dawkins rose to public prominence with books that combined rigorous argument and clear prose. The Selfish Gene popularised the idea that genes can be understood as units of selection and introduced the concept of the meme as a unit of cultural evolution; the book is frequently cited and remains central to his reputation (see The Selfish Gene). Other influential works include The Blind Watchmaker, which explains how natural selection can produce complex adaptations without design, and The Extended Phenotype, which extended gene-centred thinking into new domains. Dawkins' long-standing intellectual debt to evolutionary theorists such as W.D. Hamilton appears throughout his writing and public commentary.

Public engagement, secularism and controversy

Outside purely scientific debates, Dawkins became a leading voice in modern atheism and secular humanism. He has campaigned against creationism and intelligent design (creationism, intelligent design) and has described religious belief as deserving of critical scrutiny. His 2006 book The God Delusion argued that supernatural explanations are unnecessary and that religious faith can be harmful; the book sold widely and provoked extensive public discussion. Dawkins has been associated with organisations that promote humanist values and scientific literacy, and he frequently contributes opinion pieces and essays to media outlets.

Reception and lasting influence

Dawkins' combination of scientific argument, rhetorical clarity and polemical style has secured him a large audience but also made him a polarising figure. Supporters praise his role in explaining evolution, popularising biology, and defending secularism. Critics have challenged aspects of his public rhetoric or disagree with his approach to religion and politics. Regardless of stance, his books and broadcasts have shaped popular understanding of evolution and inspired debate across science, philosophy and culture.

Selected works and further reading

For more about Dawkins' life, scientific contributions and public activities see institutional profiles and collections of his essays and broadcasts; many such resources are available through academic and public outlets (honours, college pages, New College, Oxford) and through interviews and media appearances (biographical, colleague reflections, debates, controversies). Additional discussions of cultural transmission and the meme concept can be found in online and print analyses (theory, key works).

Dawkins remains a central figure in late 20th and early 21st century science communication: his work exemplifies the intersection of evolutionary biology, popular writing and public advocacy for secular and scientific perspectives.