A Modern Famous Home Scholar

Biography

Francis Collins

Francis Collins is best known for his leadership of the Human Genome Project, which completed a genetic map of the entire human genome in 2003. Collins grew up on a farm in rural Virginia, where he was home schooled until the sixth grade. An outspoken Evangelical Christian, Collins published The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief in 2006, arguing for the compatibility of science and Christian faith. In 2007 Collins formed the BioLogos Foundation to ”contribute to the public voice that represents the harmony of science and faith.” President Barack Obama nominated Collins to the position of Director of the National Institutes of Health in 2009. Collins accepted the nomination and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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A Modern Famous Home Scholar

Biography

                                             Margaret Atwood

Few contemporary writers are as well known or highly regarded as Margaret Atwood. What is not well known is that the Canadian novelist, poet, and literary critic was home schooled through the sixth grade. Atwood spent much of her childhood following her dad around the backwoods of Northern Quebec, where he worked as a forest entomologist, learning to be at home in nature and to learn naturally at home. A long-time environmental activist and vegetarian, no doubt the time in the woods with her father played a role in igniting Atwood’s love of animals and the environment. Atwood’s latest novel, The Year of the Flood (2009), envisions the future emergence of a new environmentally rooted science/religion hybrid in the wake of a massive ecological disaster caused by genetic engineering experiments. The book contains several religious hymns written by Atwood, who has indicated that her own religious beliefs are similar to those displayed in the book.

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A Modern Famous Home Scholar

Biography

 

                                               Julian Assange

Something of an international man of mystery, Julian Assange is an Australian journalist, activist and computer hacker best known for founding the notorious whistle-blower website, WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks was founded by Assange in 2006 and has repeatedly made headlines through its leaks of classified government and military documents to the public, including several damning reports of neglect, abuse, torture and misconduct by the United States in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Assange was home schooled for several years while traveling with his parent’s touring theater company. He continues to live a nomadic lifestyle as an adult, claiming to spend most of his time in airports. A U.S. criminal investigation, an arrest warrant from Interpol, and calls for his assassination certainly give Assange reason to stay on the move.

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