For teaching resources, please visit: GrowingUpInTheUniverse.com

Oxford professor Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic.

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children were founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, with himself as the inaugural lecturer. The 1991 lecturer was Richard Dawkins whose five one-hour lectures, originally televised by the BBC, are now available free online, courtesy of The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. The entire 5-hour program is also available on a 2-DVD set through our online store.

Read a transcript of 'Growing Up in the Universe' here

Full 5 episode playlist

Episode 1: Waking Up in the Universe | HQ | Normal
Download Quicktime version of Episode 1 (101 MB)


Episode 2: Designed and Designoid Objects | HQ | Normal
Download Quicktime version of Episode 2 (95 MB)


Episode 3 Climbing Mount Improbable | HQ | Normal
Download Quicktime version of Episode 3 (132 MB)


Episode 4: The Ultraviolet Garden | HQ | Normal (featuring Douglas Adams!)
Download Quicktime version of Episode 4 (88 MB)


Episode 5: The Genesis of Purpose | HQ | Normal
Download Quicktime version of Episode 5 (109 MB)


Oxford professor Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic.

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children were founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, with himself as the inaugural lecturer. The 1991 lecturer was Richard Dawkins whose five one-hour lectures, originally televised by the BBC, are now available free online, courtesy of The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. The entire 5-hour program is also available on a 2-DVD set through our online store. http://richarddawkins.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5

The DVD includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French and Polish.

Read the transcript: http://richarddawkins.net/GUITUtranscript

If you enjoy these free videos, please consider purchasing the DVD and/or making a donation to The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to help us continue our work. Donate here: http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/donate.php

Praise for 'Growing Up in the Universe':

"Science as epiphany! An instinctive teacher, Richard Dawkins increases our understanding of the universe and provokes our wonder at it in equal measure." - The Most Reverend Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Church of Scotland.

"Richard Dawkins is smart, compassionate, and true like ice, like fire."
- Penn & Teller.

"Dawkins's capacity for clear explanation, assisted by excellent and often beautiful illustrations, is formidable."
- Quentin de la Bédoyère, Catholic Herald.