CHRISTMAS LECTURES

Professor Dame Sue Black revealed the secrets of forensic science in the 2022 CHRISTMAS LECTURES.

Sue Black, a white woman with curly hair, stands in front of the Ri Theatre
Image credit: Paul Wilkinson

The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are the world's leading science lectures for young people and have been inspiring children and adults alike since 1825, stopping only for World War II. In our 2022 lecture, Professor Dame Sue Black revealed the secrets of forensic science.

Watch the 2022 CHRISTMAS LECTURES

History of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES

Initiated by Michael Faraday when organised education for children was scarce, the CHRISTMAS LECTURES established an exciting new way of presenting science to young people. World-famous scientists have given the Lectures, including Nobel Prize winners William and Lawrence Bragg, Sir David Attenborough, Carl Sagan and Dame Nancy Rothwell.

First broadcast in 1936, the CHRISTMAS LECTURES is the oldest science television series. They have been broadcast every year since 1966 on the BBC and in later years on Channel Five, Channel Four and more4. In 2010, the Lectures returned to BBC Four, and this year were shown on the 26th, 27th and 28th of December. You can watch the 2022 lectures on iPlayer here.

You can watch past CHRISTMAS LECTURES here.

Find out more about the 2022 CHRISTMAS LECTURES

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Support the CHRISTMAS LECTURES in 2023

Help us inspire young people to think more deeply about science and its place in our lives though our world-famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES.

Watch the 2021 CHRISTMAS LECTURES

the Royal Institution theatre during the filming of the 2015 Christmas Lectures with Kevin Fong
the Royal Institution theatre during the filming of the 2015 Christmas Lectures with Kevin Fong