Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
Himself - Presenter
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1966)
1991: Growing Up in the Universe
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are a series of lectures on a single topic, which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825. The lectures present scientific subjects to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner. Michael Faraday initiated the first Christmas Lecture series in 1825. This came at a time when organised education for young people was scarce. Faraday presented a total of nineteen series in all.
Released Jan. 4, 1966
Episode 60 min
None+
Genres: Documentary
Keywords: imdb.christmas-in-title, imdb.holiday-in-title, imdb.five-word-title, imdb.christmas
Network: Channel 4
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S26E1 - Waking Up in the Universe
Dawkins discusses the amazing capabilities of the human body and contrasts these with the limited capabilities of computers and other man-made machines. He uses a small totem pole (which is used in ancestor worship) to illustrate the importance of studying our ancestors to understand how we've evolved.
Dec. 27, 1991, midnight
S26E2 - Designed and Designoid Objects
Dawkins' second lecture of the series examines the problem of design. He presents the audience with a number of simple objects, such as rocks and crystals, and notes that these objects have been formed by simple laws of physics and are therefore not designed. He then examines some designed objects - including a microscope, an electronic calculator, a pocket watch, and a clay pot - and notes that none of these objects could have possibly come about by sheer luck.
Dec. 28, 1991, midnight
S26E3 - Climbing Mount Improbable
Dawkins starts the lecture coming in with a stick insect on his hand. He describes with how much details such a being imitates its environment, its almost like a key that fits a lock. He then shows another insect, namely a Leaf Insect, which basically looks exactly like a dead leaf.
Dec. 29, 1991, midnight
S26E4 - The Ultraviolet Garden
Dawkins begins by relating the story of asking a little girl "what she thought flowers were 'for'." Her response is anthropocentric, that flowers are there for our benefit. Dawkins points out that many people throughout history have thought that the natural world existed for our benefit, with examples from Genesis and other literature.
Dec. 30, 1991, midnight
S26E5 - The Genesis of Purpose
Dawkins opens by talking how organisms “grow up” to understand the universe around them, which requires certain apparatus, such as a brain. But before brains can become large enough to model the universe they must develop from intermediate forms.
Dec. 31, 1991, midnight
Channel 4
60 min/ep
7272 min
Jan. 4, 1966
Dec. 30, 2025, midnight
Returning Series
NR
Action
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