Biography

Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was a Russian-born American author and biochemist, renowned for his science fiction and popular science writing. Emigrating to the U.S. at age 3, Asimov grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he taught himself to read at five. He earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University and later taught at Boston University. Asimov wrote or edited over 500 books and thousands of essays on subjects ranging from science to history. He is best known for his Foundation and Robot series, which introduced the Three Laws of Robotics. His popular science books made complex topics accessible. A strong advocate for reason and secular humanism, Asimov received numerous honors throughout his career. He passed away in 1992 due to complications from HIV but remains a major figure in science fiction and science communication.