Francisco Ayala Wins Templeton Prize

Francisco J. Ayala, an evolutionary geneticist and molecular biologist, has won the 2010 Templeton Prize. Ayala, the Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of California at Irvine, is known for research into parasitic protozoa, and his findings may lead to cures for malaria and other diseases. He has equated efforts to block religious intrusions into science with “the survival of rationality in this country.” The award "honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works."