Evolutionary biologist collects EMBO communication award

The European Molecular Biology Organization has announced this year's winner of the EMBO Communication Award.

The 2008 award goes to Axel Meyer "in recognition of his continuous endeavour to convey complex scientific topics to the general public in an accessible and thought-provoking manner". Meyer, Professor of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Konstanz, collects €5000 and "a handcrafted medal".

The German scientists has written for Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Die Welt "and many others". He has also had his work written up by the likes of the New York Times and USA Today.

EMBO's announcement quotes him as saying “As an evolutionary biologist I feel it is my obligation as well as my personal desire to communicate with the public.” He is also keen to muck in on such topics as intelligent design and creationism which, he says, “demand a forceful and informed response from active scientists in the field of evolutionary biology”.