Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

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.

Seasons

Specials

Episodes: 1

1966

Episodes: 0

1967

Episodes: 0

1968

Episodes: 0

1969

Episodes: 0

1970

Episodes: 0

1971

Episodes: 0

1972

Episodes: 0

1973: The Languages of Animals

Episodes: 6

1974

Episodes: 0

1975

Episodes: 0

1976

Episodes: 0

1977

Episodes: 6

1978: Mathematics into Pictures

Episodes: 6

1979

Episodes: 0

1980

Episodes: 0

1981

Episodes: 0

1982

Episodes: 0

1983

Episodes: 0

1984

Episodes: 0

1985: Communicating

Episodes: 0

1986

Episodes: 0

1987: Crystals and Lasers

Episodes: 0

1988

Episodes: 0

1989

Episodes: 0

1990

Episodes: 0

1991: Growing Up in the Universe

Episodes: 5

1992

Episodes: 0

1993: The Cosmic Onion

Episodes: 5

1994

Episodes: 0

1995: Planet Earth, An Explorer's Guide

Episodes: 5

1996: The History in our Bones

Episodes: 5

1997: The Magical Maze

Episodes: 0

1998: Staying Alive: The Body in Balance

Episodes: 5

1999: Arrow of Time

Episodes: 0

2000: Rise of the Robots

Episodes: 0

2001: The Secrets of Life

Episodes: 0

2002: Smart Stuff

Episodes: 0

2003: Voyage in Space and Time

Episodes: 6

2004: To the Ends of the Earth: Surviving Antarctic Extremes

Episodes: 3

2005: The Truth About Food

Episodes: 5

2006: The Num8er My5teries

Episodes: 5

2007: Back from the Brink, the Science of Survival

Episodes: 5

2008: Hi-tech Trek

Episodes: 5

2009: The 300-Million-Year War

Episodes: 5

2010: Size Matters

Episodes: 3

2011: Meet Your Brain

Episodes: 3

2012: The Modern Alchemist

Episodes: 3

2013: Life Fantastic

Episodes: 3

2014: Sparks Will Fly - How to Hack your Home

Episodes: 3

2015: How to Survive in Space

Episodes: 3

2016: Supercharged - Fuelling the Future

Episodes: 3

2017: The Language of Life

Episodes: 3

2018: Who Am I?

Episodes: 3

2019: Secrets & Lies - The Hidden Power of Maths

Episodes: 3

2020: Planet Earth: A User’s Guide

Episodes: 3

2021: Going Viral: How Covid Changed Science Forever

Episodes: 3

2022: Secrets of Forensic Science

Episodes: 3

2023: The Truth about AI

Episodes: 3

2024: The Truth About Food

Episodes: 3

2025: Is There Life Beyond Earth?

Episodes: 3