Richard Dawkins is an English ethologist and biologist who has made significant contributions to the field of evolutionary biology. He emphasized on the role of the gene in evolution and developed the new discipline of genetic ethology. His interest in ethology—the scientific and objective study of animal behaviour—stemmed from his childhood experiences as he had grown up in Kenya, observing the wildlife around him. Animal behaviour fascinated him greatly and it developed into a life-long interest which shaped his future career. He was brought up in a religious atmosphere though he later renounced religion and became an atheist when he realized that the theory of evolution provided better answers to life’s complexities as compared to religion. After studying zoology at Oxford he became a professor and also edited a number of journals. An ardent Darwinist, he is best known for his gene-centred reformulation of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. He is a prominent critic of religion and believes that religion is both a source of conflict and a justification for belief without evidence. He has authored several books and has also produced numerous television documentaries. Dawkins founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS), a non-profit organization to finance scientific educational programs and research on the psychology of belief and religion.