Throughout history, scientists and writers have sought to communicate with one another, despite barriers of language and process. The Rockefeller University Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science honors the rare individual who bridges both worlds — whose voice and vision can tell us about science’s aesthetic and philosophical dimensions, providing not merely new information but cause for reflection, even revelation. The Lewis Thomas Prize was established in 1993 by the trustees of The Rockefeller University and presented to Lewis Thomas, its first recipient, that year.

Richard Dawkins, British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer, is best known for promoting the gene-centered view of evolution with his 1976 bestselling book The Selfish Gene. His other books, including The Extended Phenotype and The Blind Watchmaker, also bestsellers, have been translated into several languages and have garnered prestigious international awards. Dr. Dawkins has lectured all around the world. His numerous awards include the International Cosmos Prize, the Michael Faraday Prize from the Royal Society, the Kistler Prize from the Foundation for the Future and the Nakayama Prize for Achievement in Human Science. He holds honorary doctorates in both literature and science and is a fellow of both the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Literature. Dr. Dawkins is the Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford.

Admission is free. Advance reservations are not accepted.
Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The auditorium will open at 4:45 p.m.

For more information, please call the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at (212) 327-8967.