Richard Dawkins
Born 1941 · Age 84
British evolutionary biologist, ethologist, and popular-science author known for popularising the gene-centred view of evolution, coining the term 'meme', and advocating secularism and scientific scepticism.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Nairobi, British Kenya
Clinton Richard Dawkins born in Nairobi to Jean Mary Vyvyan and Clinton John Dawkins.
Family returned to England
Dawkins returned to England with his family when his father came back from service in Africa.
Enrolled at Chafyn Grove School (Wiltshire)
On arrival in England Dawkins joined Chafyn Grove School; he later reported being molested by a teacher while at the school.
Began at Oundle School
Attended Oundle School (Laundimer House) from 1954 to 1959; encountered Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian while there.
Entered Balliol College, Oxford
Matriculated at Balliol College to study zoology; tutored by Nobel-winning ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen.
Graduated BA in Zoology (Oxford)
Completed undergraduate studies in zoology at Balliol College; obtained a second-class degree.
Awarded Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) under Nikolaas Tinbergen
Completed doctoral research on animal behaviour / selective pecking; stayed on as a research assistant for a further year.
Research assistant to Nikolaas Tinbergen
Remained as Tinbergen's research assistant after completing his DPhil.
Appointed assistant professor at UC Berkeley
Served as assistant professor of zoology at the University of California, Berkeley (1967–1969); participated in anti-Vietnam War activities on campus.
Left UC Berkeley
Concluded assistant professorship at UC Berkeley and returned to the UK.
Returned to University of Oxford as lecturer
Became a lecturer at Oxford and a fellow of New College (fellowship from 1970 onward).
Published The Selfish Gene
Released The Selfish Gene, popularising the gene-centred view of evolution and coining the term 'meme'.
Introduced the meme concept to wider audience
Following The Selfish Gene, the concept 'meme' began to circulate in academic and popular discourse (memetics later developed by others).
Published The Extended Phenotype
Published The Extended Phenotype, elaborating gene-centred selection and extending phenotypic effects beyond the organism.
Published The Blind Watchmaker
Released The Blind Watchmaker, arguing against design analogies and for unguided natural selection as a 'blind watchmaker'.
Debated creationists at Oxford Union
Participated with John Maynard Smith in an Oxford Union debate against Young Earth creationists A. E. Wilder-Smith and Edgar Andrews.
Royal Society of Literature award & LA Times Literary Prize
Received literary awards (Royal Society of Literature award, Los Angeles Times Literary Prize) for The Blind Watchmaker.
Sci. Tech TV Prize for Horizon episode
Won Sci. Tech Prize for Best Television Documentary Science Programme of the Year for BBC Horizon episode 'The Blind Watchmaker'.
Received ZSL Silver Medal; Henry Sidgwick Lecture
Awarded the Zoological Society of London Silver Medal; delivered the Henry Sidgwick Memorial Lecture.
Reader in Zoology; Michael Faraday Prize
Promoted to Reader in Zoology at Oxford and awarded the Michael Faraday Prize (and gave the first Erasmus Darwin Memorial Lecture that year).
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Delivered the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children titled 'Growing Up in the Universe'.
T. H. Huxley Memorial Lecture
Delivered the T. H. Huxley Memorial Lecture.
Appointed Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science
Became the first Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford (1995–2008).
Published River Out of Eden
Released River Out of Eden, further explaining gene-centred evolution for a general audience.
Honorary degree (Australian National University) & Humanist of the Year
Received an honorary doctorate (HonLittD) from the Australian National University and was named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association (award later withdrawn in 2021).
Published Climbing Mount Improbable; Break the Science Barrier documentary
Released Climbing Mount Improbable and fronted the documentary Break the Science Barrier (1996).
International Cosmos Prize & FRSL elected
Awarded the International Cosmos Prize and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of contributions to evolutionary biology and public understanding of science.
TED Talk: 'Militant atheism'
Gave a TED talk urging atheists to be open about their unbelief and to oppose the encroachment of religion in public life.
Delivered Tanner Lectures
Delivered the Tanner Lectures (prestigious lecture series on human values).
Published The Ancestor's Tale; Tinbergen Lecture; Balliol Dawkins Prize instituted
Released The Ancestor's Tale; delivered the Tinbergen Lecture; Balliol College established the Dawkins Prize for ecology/behaviour research.
Published The God Delusion
Released The God Delusion, a polemical critique of religion that became an international bestseller and a cornerstone of New Atheism.
Television: Root of All Evil?
Presented Root of All Evil?, a television documentary critiquing religion and its social effects.
Founded Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
Established the Richard Dawkins Foundation (RDFRS) to promote secularism, science education, and research on belief.
Television: The Enemies of Reason
Presented The Enemies of Reason, a Channel 4 series critiquing pseudoscience and superstition.
Launched the Out Campaign
Launched the 'Out Campaign' encouraging atheists to openly declare their nonbelief (campaign launched 2007).
Recorded 'The Four Horsemen' discussion
Met with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett for a private recorded discussion about religion at Hitchens's residence (recorded 30 Sep 2007).
Genius of Charles Darwin documentary; Retirement announced from Simonyi chair
Fronted The Genius of Charles Darwin on BBC; announced retirement from the Simonyi Professorship (retired Sept 2008) to focus on writing.
Published The Greatest Show on Earth; Nierenberg Prize
Published The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution and received the Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest.
Published The Magic of Reality; Joined New College of the Humanities
Released The Magic of Reality (book for young readers) and joined the faculty/professoriate of the New College of the Humanities (joined 2011; college opened 2012).
Broadcast Sex, Death, and the Meaning of Life
Presented documentary/TV material exploring implications of living without religious faith.
Published memoir: An Appetite for Wonder
Released first volume of memoirs, An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist (covers up to The Selfish Gene).
Joined Asteroid Day as 100x signatory
Became a signatory/affiliate of the global awareness movement Asteroid Day (joined 2014 as a '100x Signatory').
The God Delusion sales milestone
By 2015, The God Delusion had sold more than three million copies and been translated into 30+ languages.
Published memoir: Brief Candle in the Dark
Released second volume of memoirs, Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science, covering later career episodes.
Divorced Lalla Ward
Finalisation of divorce from actress Lalla Ward (married 1992, separated/divorced 2016).
RDFRS merger announced with Center for Inquiry
January 2016 announcement that the Richard Dawkins Foundation would merge with the Center for Inquiry; Dawkins joined the new organisation's board of directors.
Public engagements & collaborations (music video work)
Continued public-facing collaborations, e.g., with musician Jayce Lewis at Dawkins' home while working on a track (documented 2018).
Published Outgrowing God: A Beginner's Guide
Released Outgrowing God, a book aimed at younger readers on atheism and religion.
Published Books Do Furnish a Life
Released Books Do Furnish a Life: Reading and Writing Science (collection, 2021).
Married Jana Lenzová
Dawkins married Jana Lenzová in 2021.
Co-authored Boston Globe op-ed on 'sex assigned at birth'
Co-authored an op-ed with Alan Sokal criticising 'sex assigned at birth' terminology and warning against social constructionism in medical language (2024).
Announced final speaking tour (autumn 2024)
Announced that his final speaking tour would take place in the autumn of 2024.
Featured on Britannica / ongoing profile updates
Britannica updated profile and references to his latest publications and public appearances (Britannica entry last updated 17 Jul 2025).
Key Achievement Ages
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