Dawkins

Dawkins is a surname of English origin. It is borne by a number of notable individuals, among whom the best known is Richard Dawkins, a British evolutionary biologist and writer.

Richard Dawkins (born 1941 in Nairobi, Kenya) is an evolutionary biologist and author. He studied zoology at Balliol College, Oxford, and has held academic posts at Oxford, including the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science.

Dawkins is known for advocating the gene-centered view of evolution, popularized in The Selfish Gene (1976). He also criticized creationism and argued for natural explanations of complexity in The Blind Watchmaker (1986). He coined the term "meme" to describe units of cultural transmission.

He achieved wider prominence with The God Delusion (2006), a polemic arguing against religious faith. His work has sparked debates about science, religion, and secularism, drawing both praise for science communication and criticism for perceived militancy.

Other works include popular science and commentary, and he has written on topics related to science education, atheism, and public understanding of science.

Dawkins's influence extends beyond academia through television appearances, public lectures, and media engagement.