The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2018: Evolutionary Biology & Genetics (Alice Roberts & Aoife McLysaght)

[Aragorn]

I want to give a special shout-out to these three lectures by Alice Roberts and Aoife McLysaght because of the format of their presentations. These very scientific lectures were specifically intended for an audience of children and teenagers, and the way Alice and Aoife present the material ─ with the help of guests, volunteers, games, artists, lots of humor, and meticulous preparation ─ is unlike anything I've ever seen.

Tap into your inner child and explore the wonders of science. :)







Alice Roberts is the 2018 Christmas Lecturer, a biological anthropologist, author and broadcaster. She is Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham.


Aoife McLysaght is the Genetics Society Guest Lecturer for the 2018 Christmas Lectures and Head of the Genetics Department at Trinity College Dublin, where she has led a research group focusing on Molecular Evolution since 2003.








Where do I come from?

In the first lecture of the 2018 Christmas Lectures Alice Roberts and Aoife McLysaght explore the tree of life and see where humans come from.

(Duration: 1 hour)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBgnqVLQm5s






What makes me human?

In the second lecture of the 2018 Christmas Lectures Alice Roberts and Aoife McLysaght explore human evolution.

(Duration: 1 hour)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3xNlReJPvE







What makes me, me?

What makes humans human? And what makes every person an individual?

(Duration: 57 minutes)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U51GKNMAwrA

[Dreamtimer]

These two look like a lot of fun. Had I pursued my science studies and ended up teaching, I would want to be like these two. (At least that's what I think, this is first reaction to seeing the post and their images, I still need to actually view:rolleyes:)

[Aragorn]

These two look like a lot of fun. Had I pursued my science studies and ended up teaching, I would want to be like these two. (At least that's what I think, this is first reaction to seeing the post and their images, I still need to actually view:rolleyes:)

Oh, I was under the impression that you had actually been a teacher. :confused: But yes, these two women cover in one hour (or less) what most teachers struggle to cover in an entire semester, and they're doing it in a very fun way too. They know how to captivate their audience, and they explain things really well. :like:

These three videos are well worth the watch. I was already impressed by their presentation style after watching the first of the three lectures they did, but now that the Royal Institution has uploaded the two other lectures ─ and after watching them ─ I felt that I needed to share them here. (And especially so now that we're being hit with some fanatic pseudoscience again. :rolleyes:)

[Dreamtimer]

I meant teaching science. I never taught science. I was a long-term substitute for beginning French language studies and did fill-in substitute work for varied subjects. I also did some tutoring which touched on various topics but was mostly focused on study skills and time management.

And I worked with three-year-olds who are just precious.

My son has done some outdoor education and has a knack for teaching. I'm not sure if he'll become one. He majored in biology and may continue studying science at the grad level.

[tarka the duck]

The Royal Institution Christmas lectures were compulsory viewing in our house when I was growing up.
Wonderful stuff :rock: