What scientist is considered the leader in evolutionary studies?

Answer 1

It probably varies between scientists to whom the leader (or most influential) in this area is. Although the answer you will hear more often than most is Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection, which he worked on after an expedition to the Galapagos Islands. With only his notepad, drawings and samples that he took of the creatures he encountered on the Islands, he noted that creatures, those that were the same species, differed depending what Island they were on. For example the Mockingbirds he discovered on different Islands had different sized beaks which suggested they had adapted to a change and evolved. My knowledge is limited on the subject but in my mind he produced the theories which have helped us understand evolution much better, and he did it with a notepad and samples....very limited technology compared to what we have today.

Like I said, I'm no expert I just love anything to do with science and watch a lot of documentaries.