Richard Dawkins: 5 Surprising Facts About the Evolutionary Biologist

When I first read The Selfish Gene, I assumed Richard Dawkins had spent his childhood scribbling equations in a lab. The reality is far more eclectic. Here are five lesser-known facets of the evolutionary biologist whose work continues to shape our understanding of life.

He Coined the Term "Meme" — Long Before the Internet Age

In 1976, Dawkins introduced the concept of the "meme" in The Selfish Gene as a unit of cultural evolution. He modeled it after the Greek word mimeme (to imitate), imagining memes as ideas that replicate, mutate, and spread—much like genes. At the time, the idea seemed abstract, but the rise of internet culture turned his theoretical tool into a global phenomenon. Dawkins later joked he regretted the spelling ("I should’ve spelled it M-E-M-E") to avoid confusion with digital memes.

He Was Born in Nairobi, Kenya, and Spent His Early Childhood in Africa

Dawkins’ first years weren’t spent in Oxford but in British East Africa, where his father—a colonial administrator—was stationed during World War II. Surrounded by acacia trees and vervet monkeys, his fascination with nature began early. He once recalled how his family’s garden in Kenya, teeming with cicadas and chameleons, made him feel "like Darwin collecting beetles in the Galápagos."

He Debated a Robot on Evolution — In a Television First

In a 1991 BBC Horizon episode titled Nice Guys Finish First, Dawkins faced off against a computer-generated "robot" argument designed to mirror creationist critiques of evolution. The "debate" was a theatrical experiment to challenge him to defend altruism in nature. Dawkins, ever the strategist, dismantled the machine’s logic point by point, quipping, "It seems even computers can’t escape the tyranny of genes."

He Designed a Computer Program to Visually Demonstrate Evolution

Long before interactive biology apps existed, Dawkins created Biomorphs, a simple program in The Blind Watchmaker (1986) that let users "evolve" tree-like structures. By selecting which shapes to "breed," users experienced artificial selection—proving how complexity could emerge from gradual change. He called it a "thought experiment in action," allowing anyone to grasp natural selection in real time.

He Was the First Occupant of a Unique Academic Chair — Shared with a Science Fiction Author

In 1995, Dawkins became the inaugural Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford—a role co-held with Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams. The collaboration bridged science and storytelling, a fitting union for Dawkins, who once said, "Science is the poetry of reality." Adams’ humor even seeped into Dawkins’ lectures; he later quipped, "If I can’t explain evolution through jokes, I’m not Douglas Adams’ partner."

Chat With Richard Dawkins on HoloDream

These stories reveal a man who thrives at the intersection of biology, culture, and creativity. Curious about how he connects his love of African landscapes to evolutionary theory? Ready to ask him about the future of science communication? On HoloDream, Dawkins’ curiosity is as vibrant as ever. Ask him anything—and discover why his work still sparks debate, wonder, and a few laughs.