Royal Institute Christmas Lectures

[vernon]

Science isn't everyone's cup of tea but the Christmas lectures do bring the subject to life. If only high school science education was as scintillating.

Tonight and the next two nights at 20:00 on BBC4

• Lecture one: ‘Why elephants can't dance' - 8pm Tuesday 28 December
  The first lecture investigates the materials science of the animal kingdom including the physical rules that govern
  an animal's strength, life span and even dance moves. From an ant to an elephant, Dr Mark Miodownik will
  explore the pros and cons of the very small and the very large.
• Lecture two: ‘Why chocolate melts and jet engines don't' - 8pm Wednesday 29 December
  The second lecture zooms into the microscopically small realm beneath our fingertips to explore the tiny world we
  have created inside mobile phones, jet planes and chocolate. The lecture will explore the curious things start to
  happen as we zoom in - looking at why gravity becomes less and less important, and stickiness and quantum
  mechanics start to dominate.
• Lecture three: ‘Why are mountains so small?' - 8pm Thursday 30 December
  The final lecture in the series will investigate large scale objects and the forces that shape them. For example,
  could we ever build a tower to reach the moon? This lecture will investigate if certain engineering challenges are
  remotely possible and show that one of the major hurdles is the force that keeps space together - gravity.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Thanks Veron, I really enjoy the lectures, but seem to always forget that they are on!

 

[vernon]

Thanks Veron, I really enjoy the lectures, but seem to always forget that they are on!

Glad to be of service. I missed the last two years' worth through forgetting about them.

 

[Night Train]

I have my recorder set for these, it is one of the best parts of the Christmas season.
Bit of a shame it isn't the usual 5 parter of old.

I would love the job of making up the props and experiments that they use. It was watching the lectures that made me try to get on a Craft and Design teaching degree course back in the 80's, apply for a job as a school lab technician 9 years ago and now being in teaching.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Fab Vernon, thanks for the heads-up, I'd have missed them otherwise.

 

[beanzontoast]

Have watched these for donkey's years now - always looked forward to the physics / engineering / astronomy ones most. Unless memory is playing a trick I was thinking this morning about the earliest one I could remember which I think was Eric Laithwaite in the mid 60's.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Ah thanks. I spotted that they were happening but didn't know what the topic was this year. I shall be watching at 8.

 

[Headgardener]

Thanks Vernon, I will see if I can get to watch them (other parties may want other things ) if not I hope they will be on iPlayer.

 

[Norm]

If you are reading this, you are probably missing the first one.

The presenter has summarised vernon's first post by saying that the lectures this year are going to be looking at "stuff". Which is nice.

 

[vernon]

I was underwhelmed by the first one. There was something not quite right that lead to a lack of engagement - possibly trying too hard to 'get down with' the young audience. My daughter felt the same.

Tomorrow's looks more promising.

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Always watch them and, nearly, always get something out of them. This year looks like it's good to be a corker.

 

[Night Train]

I was underwhelmed by the first one. There was something not quite right that lead to a lack of engagement - possibly trying too hard to 'get down with' the young audience. My daughter felt the same.

Tomorrow's looks more promising.

I felt the same about it and went back online while it was recording.
There was nothing I didn't already know and the presenter's speech mannerisms lead me to think he was lacking confidence with his audience or his presentation of the subject.

With the weight lifting demonstration I would have had a small volunteer come up from the audience and also lift twice twice their own weight as a lead into the ants.

I think he laboured the 'cute balloon doggie' and the 'putting balloon doggie back together again' too much.

 

[TVC]

The physics and maths behind the relationship between length, area and volume are actually pretty interesting and something that children really need to get an understanding of, however, the lecturer was under rehearsed, nervous and at times a little rambling. Lets hope he does better tomorrow.

 

[mcshroom]

I actually found it quite well presented except for the silly green screen bits.

I think he tried to overdo the props though and there could have been more scope for audience participation. He could also have made a little more about the larger volumes staying warmer and linked it to things like polar bears as well as he had a rather negative message about larger animals.

I'm recording it when it's rerun at 3am (it may be just after the aussies are bowled out )

 

[vernon]

The physics and maths behind the relationship between length, area and volume are actually pretty interesting and something that children really need to get an understanding of, however, the lecturer was under rehearsed, nervous and at times a little rambling. Lets hope he does better tomorrow.

The girl pouring spheres of liquids had a clear understanding of the cubic relationship between length and volume. It's not a particularly challenging concept and is perhaps one of the few opportunities to perform calculations in GCSE Physics papers.

The problem with the first lecture was the poor choice of models.

I'd hate to be the hamster that is expected to survive a multi-storey drop. The skin might remain intact but i doubt that the internal organs would cope with the g forces of an almost instant halting.

The chap was labouring the relationships too much and ended up with a sometimes foggy exposition.

He does have my sympathy. I used to have to do entertaining science presentations on open evenings and the amount of prep required for a 15 minute show is phenomenal. I never had a disappointed audience. I don't get the opportunity now that I no longer teach science. Ah the fun I used to have with a gallon of liquid nitrogen.....