Richard William Nelson

Biography

Richard W NelsonRichard William Nelson (pictured left), who holds degrees in basic and applied sciences, is a science writer, speaker, media producer, and the author of Darwin, Then and Now. The book traces the history of the rise and fall of the theory of evolution, beginning with Greek philosophers and into the twenty-first century.


As a third-generation native, Nelson has lived the California lifestyle of surfing, sailing, and skiing. Alongside the California Department of Education’s presentation of evolution as nature’s unifying principle, our National Geographic subscription complemented the classroom explanations. Although seeming to conflict with biblical accounts at the time, evolution must be valid since it was “a scientific fact,” apparently.

Undergraduate Education

Nelson’s early professional interests in high school included surfing, playing guitar, drawing, and a little history. When asked by his Dad, an engineer and director of research at a global control manufacturing company, “What do you plan to study in college?” after replying “Art,” he only replied, “That should be interesting.” It was for a while.

As an art student, an interest in evolution flew well below his radar. However, in the first semester of college, after developing an interest in the sciences, especially algebra, calculus, and chemistry, Nelson became fascinated with understanding how nature works.

The following year, Nelson changed to a science major – and looked forward to experiencing more intriguing and practical professional opportunities.

At the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Nelson developed a keen interest in biochemistry while studying biology and chemistry, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

Graduate Education

Following graduation from UCI, Nelson began studies in the pharmaceutical sciences and was awarded a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California (USC) to pursue his interests in biochemistry further.

 

Post-Doctoral Clinical Fellowship Training

Following graduation from USC and receipt of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Nelson completed a one-year postgraduate clinical residency and a one-year research fellowship in clinical pharmacokinetics at USC.

Professional Practice

Completing his training programs at USC, Nelson entered professional practice in the healthcare delivery system at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He later practiced at Eisenhower Health (EH) in Rancho Mirage, California.

Nelson designed, implemented, and operated safe and effective medication systems throughout the organization for over 30 years. EH is one of our nation’s top 10% performing healthcare organizations. Nelson published numerous papers on clinical topics in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Chemistry and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Scientist, Writer, Media Producer, and Speaker

For more than a decade, Nelson has been writing and speaking nationally and internationally on the scientific challenges of biological evolution to audiences in community groups, schools, and universities.

 

Darwin Then and Now Logo

 

Darwin Then and Now is an educational resource on the intersection of evolution and science, highlighting the ongoing challenges to the theory of evolution.

 

 Move On

Explore how to understand twenty-first-century concepts of evolution further using the following links –

    • The Understanding Evolution category showcases how varying historical study approaches to evolution have led to varying conclusions. Subcategories include –
    • The Biography of Charles Darwin category showcases relevant aspects of his life.
    • The Glossary defines terms used in studying the theory of biological evolution.

 

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