Quick Facts
Biography
Carl Zimmer (born 1966) is a popular science writer and blogger who has specialized in the topics of evolution and parasites. He has authored many books and contributes science essays to publications such as The New York Times, Discover, and National Geographic. He is a fellow at Yale University's Morse College.
Zimmer describes his journalistic beat as "life" or "what it means to be alive." He is also the only science writer to have a species of tapeworm (Cestoda) named for him.
Career
Besides his popular science writing, Zimmer also gives frequent lectures, and has appeared on many radio shows, including National Public Radio's Radiolab, Fresh Air and This American Life. He has won many awards, including the 2007 National Academies Communication Award, a prize for science communication from the United States National Academy of Sciences, for his wide-ranging coverage of biology and evolution in newspapers, magazines and his blog. In 2009 and 2010 he was host of the periodic audio podcast Meet the Scientistof the American Society for Microbiology (replacing Merry Buckley).
Zimmer received his B.A. in English from Yale University in 1987. In 1989, Zimmer started at Discover magazine, first as a copy editor and fact checker, eventually becoming a contributing editor.
Awards
- American Association for the Advancement of Science's Science Journalism Award 2004, 2009, and 2012
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2007 Science Communication Award newspaper/magazine/internet
- The Pan American Health Organization's Award for Excellence in International Health Reporting
- American Institute of Biological Sciences Media Award 1997
- Everett Clark Award for Science Writing
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship
- United States National Academy of Sciences Communication Award
- Member of the USA Science & Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty, a collection of the most influential scientists and engineers in the United States that are dedicated to reinvigorating the interest of young people in science and engineering.
