Francisco Jose Ayala

Awarded the National Medal of Science in 2001 and the 2010 Templeton Prize. From 1994 to 2001, was a member of the U.S. President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. Was President and Chairman of the Board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993-1996), and  President of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of the U.S. (2003-2006). A member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and numerous foreign academies; has received numerous prizes and 24 honorary degrees from universities in 10 different countries. Has published more than 1,000 articles and is author or editor of 50 books. His scientific research focuses on population and evolutionary genetics, including the origin of species, genetic diversity of populations, the origin of malaria, the population structure of parasitic protozoa, and the molecular clock of evolution. Also writes about the interface between religion and science, and on philosophical issues concerning epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of biology.