José María Bermúdez de Castro

José María Bermúdez de Castro is a renowned paleoanthropologist, best known for his work on human evolution. He was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias Prize for Scientific and Technical Research in 1997. He is currently newsworthy for winning the XXXII International Jovellanos Essay Prize for his work, "Hijos de África. La cuna primigenia de la humanidad" ("Children of Africa. The Primordial Cradle of Humanity"). This essay defines racism as a social construct lacking scientific basis. The award highlights Bermúdez de Castro's continued contributions to understanding human origins and his engagement with contemporary social issues. His work remains relevant in ongoing discussions about human evolution, the history of racism, and the scientific understanding of human diversity.