Olivia Judson
Encyclopedia
Doctor Olivia P. Judson is an evolutionary biologist and science writer.
,
was a pupil of W.D. Hamilton.
She graduated from Stanford University
and gained a doctorate from Oxford
. Beginning in 1995 she worked for two years as a science writer for The Economist
. In 1997, she wrote an Economist article named "Sex Is War!" which was awarded the Glaxo Wellcome Prize by the British Science Writers Association. She later joined Imperial College, London, where she is now an honorary research fellow
.
Her first book, Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation
(2002), grew out of that article. Written in the style of a sex-advice column to animals, the book details the variety of sexual practices in the natural world and provides the reader with an overview of the evolutionary biology of sex. The book was praised by critics as being witty and engaging, without compromising its scientific integrity. It became an international best-seller and was nominated for the Samuel Johnson Prize
for Non-Fiction in 2003.
Judson has also worked as a television presenter. In 2004 she played Dr Tatiana in an adaptation of her book; the series was produced by Wag TV and EPI Productions for Channel 4
and Discovery Canada. In 2007 she co-presented Animal Pharm with Giles Coren
; the series, which explored genetic modification and pharming
, was produced by Lion Television for Channel 4.
In January 2008, Judson began writing a weekly blog on evolutionary biology, titled "The Wild Side", for The New York Times
website. For the first half of 2009, guest bloggers filled in for Judson while she worked on a new book, Dinosaur Eggs for Breakfast, and she has been on a year-long "sabbatical" from blogging since June 29 2010.
In 2009, she appeared in an episode of PBS's Nova
called "What Darwin Never Knew" which discussed DNA connections to evolution.
Judson has supported a possible future campaign to completely wipe out a species of mosquito
which carries dengue fever
.
Career
Judson, who is the daughter of science historian Horace Freeland JudsonHorace Freeland Judson
Horace Freeland Judson was a historian of molecular biology and the author of several books, including The Eighth Day of Creation, a history of molecular biology, and The Great Betrayal: Fraud In Science, an examination of the deliberate manipulation of scientific data.-Life and career:The Eighth...
,
was a pupil of W.D. Hamilton.
She graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and gained a doctorate from Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Beginning in 1995 she worked for two years as a science writer for The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
. In 1997, she wrote an Economist article named "Sex Is War!" which was awarded the Glaxo Wellcome Prize by the British Science Writers Association. She later joined Imperial College, London, where she is now an honorary research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
.
Her first book, Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation
Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation
Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex is a 2002 popular science book by the British evolutionary biologist Olivia Judson written in the role of her alter ego, agony aunt Dr Tatiana....
(2002), grew out of that article. Written in the style of a sex-advice column to animals, the book details the variety of sexual practices in the natural world and provides the reader with an overview of the evolutionary biology of sex. The book was praised by critics as being witty and engaging, without compromising its scientific integrity. It became an international best-seller and was nominated for the Samuel Johnson Prize
Samuel Johnson Prize
The Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction is one of the most prestigious prizes for non-fiction writing. It was founded in 1999 following the demise of the NCR Book Award and based on an anonymous donation. The prize is named after Samuel Johnson...
for Non-Fiction in 2003.
Judson has also worked as a television presenter. In 2004 she played Dr Tatiana in an adaptation of her book; the series was produced by Wag TV and EPI Productions for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and Discovery Canada. In 2007 she co-presented Animal Pharm with Giles Coren
Giles Coren
Giles Coren is a British food critic, television presenter and novelist. He is known for expressing controversial opinions, and for his television appearances with the comedian Sue Perkins.-Personal:...
; the series, which explored genetic modification and pharming
Pharming (genetics)
Pharming is a portmanteau of farming and "pharmaceutical" and refers to the use of genetic engineering to insert genes that code for useful pharmaceuticals into host animals or plants that would otherwise not express those genes. As a consequence, the host animals or plants then make the...
, was produced by Lion Television for Channel 4.
In January 2008, Judson began writing a weekly blog on evolutionary biology, titled "The Wild Side", for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
website. For the first half of 2009, guest bloggers filled in for Judson while she worked on a new book, Dinosaur Eggs for Breakfast, and she has been on a year-long "sabbatical" from blogging since June 29 2010.
In 2009, she appeared in an episode of PBS's Nova
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
called "What Darwin Never Knew" which discussed DNA connections to evolution.
Judson has supported a possible future campaign to completely wipe out a species of mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
which carries dengue fever
Dengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
.
Publications
- Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex (2002), Henry Holt, ISBN 0-8050-6331-5
- Dinosaur Eggs for Breakfast, forthcoming, John MurrayJohn Murray (publisher)John Murray is an English publisher, renowned for the authors it has published in its history, including Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lord Byron, Charles Lyell, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Herman Melville, and Charles Darwin...
, ISBN 0719521807
External links
- The Wild Side Judson's New York Times blog on Evolutionary Biology
- Website for "Dr Tatiana" book and 2005 TV show
- Review of Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation from The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
- Judson's page in Current Biography Illustrated