DYSON WINS TEMPLETON PRIZE
This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Science Report.
An American scientist who has written about religion has been named the winner of one of the world’s largest prizes. Freeman Dyson won the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.
The Templeton Prize is worth more than 940,000 dollars. It is named for British businessman John Templeton. Mr. Templeton established the award in 1972 to honor people for their work in religion. Earlier winners have included Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Roman Catholic religious worker Mother Teresa.
Freeman Dyson is a former professor of physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He has written books about how life was first created and the rightful use of scientific technology. He also has examined issues such as genetic engineering. And he has expressed concern about the growing differences between rich and poor people in the world.
Mr. Dyson was born in England in 1923. He later became an American citizen. He became well-known during the 1940s for his study of competing theories about quantum electrodynamics. In 1948, he joined the Princeton Institute to work with J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the project that created the atomic bomb.
Mr. Dyson worked on nuclear projects in medicine and space travel. He became an opponent of nuclear weapons. He served as an advisor to the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
Freeman Dyson has written 11 books. One of his recent books is called The Sun, the Genome and the Internet. The book asks scientists to join with religious leaders to make sure technology is used to help all people of the world.
Mr. Dyson has said he believes religion is a way of life -- not a collection of beliefs. He said religious groups are important as organizations that build community spirit and help people.
Mr. Dyson has talked about the connection between science and religion. He described them as two windows that people look through, trying to understand the questions of existence. And, he believes science and religion should work together to help end the inequalities between rich and poor people in the world.
This VOA Special English Science Report was written by George Grow. This is Bill White.
Source: Voice of America, 4/5/2000
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