Royal Institute christmas lectures

[Ifailed]

Not sure what to think about these, I realise they are aimed at children so don't expect them to be too technical, but I've not been impressed with some of the presenters, Prof Van Tam in particular.
It looks like they just shoe-horned some 'famous' scientists on to the show because they've been on the telly, not because they are particularly engaging on the subject, especially towards an audience of children.

Personally I don't like how they have shoe-horned this topic into a festive institution, BBC propaganda at its best.

We always watch them. I thought this years was brilliant for children to understand why their lives have been messed up in the way that they have.

We have enjoyed them. Yes they are aimed at children not adults. Our DC have found them interesting so I’m going on that.

@JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue

Personally I don't like how they have shoe-horned this topic into a festive institution, BBC propaganda at its best.

Each year they cover a major area of scientific research - virology regularly comes up. What on Earth is your problem with that?

i thought they were good, what i saw of them, although one did go over my head a bit

We really enjoyed this year OK neither of us are children it had llamas! What's not to like!!

@Ifailed

Not sure what to think about these, I realise they are aimed at children so don't expect them to be too technical, but I've not been impressed with some of the presenters, Prof Van Tam in particular. It looks like they just shoe-horned some 'famous' scientists on to the show because they've been on the telly, not because they are particularly engaging on the subject, especially towards an audience of children.

I completely disagree.

My children (12,14 & 17) were engaged and enjoyed them, yes the JVT and the experts were uncomfortable but they got the information across and I rather have experts giving the information rather then some presenter who doesn't know their arse from the elbow on the which ever topic they are talking about.

@Clutterbugsmum, What I mean is that the experts (it seemed to me) struggled to present the information to a group of children, though I'm sure they'd be brilliant tutoring a PhD group.

Given that, it was an useful series that I hoped informed many, including young teens who have spent 2 years of their short life living under the effects of Covid-19.

It has always been the case with the Christmas Lectures that they are eminent scientists and some manage to present to children better than others.

From my childhood, I have never forgiven Richard Dawkins for the most boring series of Christmas Lectures ever given.

It's much better now they mix the presenters up as some are much more natural than others.

that age group is a tough crowd

I've only watched part 1 so far, and must watch on catch up soon.

Who were the experts in parts 2&3?

The Lectures began back in 1936, and have not always been in the BBC, so I dont think the channel carrying them in any particular year has input into who is giving the Lectures or what the subject is.

And it's way better for teens to learn a bit of virology from the experts, rather than from Facebook, isn't it?

My 8 year old DD found them absolutely fascinating - really interested in the fact that it was about COVID as obviously it has turned her life upside down (she also had it recently) and most of the science was accessible enough. She absolutely loved all the gross out stuff, animals etc and asked to watch them all (after I turned on the first one when she was around thinking it was for adults)

My 8 year old DD was riveted by them too, @NeurologicallySpeaking! And is now very keen to join the RI as a young member! She was distraught to see you have to be 11 to enter the lectures ticket ballot 🤣

I loved the lectures as a kid and actually remember enjoying the Dawkins ones a lot, in fact! though my favourites were the years with space and physics ones. There used to be more lectures in the series - around six? - and they’d screen them from Boxing Day onwards. But as I said upthread, they always rotated topics around major areas of scientific interest, so a series on virology would not be unusual even in pre-Covid times.