Templeton Prize 2010 won by former Dominican Spanish priest

( March 31,2010) Former Dominican priest, celebrated geneticist, wins Templeton Prize
A former Dominican priest from Spain, who is a celebrated scientist, is the winner of the 2010 Templeton Prize, an annual award considered religion's equivalent to the Nobel prizes. Britain’s Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will officially award the prize at a private Buckingham Palace ceremony on May 5. The John Templeton Foundation announced the winner March 25 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, US. It said that 76-year old Francisco Ayala, has won the award given to a person, who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery or practical works. Ayala is an evolutionary geneticist and molecular biologist, whose groundbreaking research into parasitic protozoa, may lead to cures for malaria and other diseases. He has vigorously opposed the entanglement of science and religion, while also calling for mutual respect between the two.
Born in Madrid in 1934, Ayala said his childhood interest in science was cultivated by the priests who taught him. He became a priest in 1960, but left the priesthood a short time later to attend Columbia University in New York, where he received his doctorate in 1964.
Ayala said that he feels highly honoured to be given this award although there is no doubt in his mind that there are other people who are more deserving. Presented annually since 1973 by the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton Prize has a value of 1.12 million British pounds, making it the world's largest annual monetary award to an individual. Ayala said he will be giving the prize money to charitable institutions for student scholarships and other worthy causes.
The late billionaire Sir John Marks Templeton established the prize in 1972. It is open to living individuals of any major world faith whose achievements have stirred others to deepen their relationship with God. The first Templeton Prize was awarded to Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1973, and during the last 37 years many Catholics have followed.