Monday, April 2, 2007 | Science : In the News | print version

Growing Up in the Universe: 2-Disc DVD Set

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

BUY THE DVD NOW (All proceeds go to RDF)

Review from DVDoutsider.co.uk
"You can only buy this DVD from one source. Buy two. One for you and your family and one for your school. Trust me, they are superb... £12.99 for five hours of lucid wisdom and inspiring your children (and you). Please, I urge you to buy this."

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Richard Dawkins, author of the New York Times bestseller The God Delusion, and now the Galaxy British Book Awards AUTHOR OF THE YEAR -- brings you the first DVD from The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science: Growing Up in the Universe.

Order the Growing Up in the Universe 2-Disc DVD Set Now!

All proceeds from the sale of this DVD are donated to The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.

Official release date: Monday April 30th, 2007

About 'Growing Up in the Universe':
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 for the first time on DVD, courtesy of RDF.

DVDs are Region-Free, NTSC.

Download trailer in QuickTime: Small | Large

Download the preview clip (featuring Douglas Adams): Small

MAKE A DONATION to send copies of this DVD set to schools and libraries.

SUGGEST a school or library that should receive a donated copy of this DVD set.

BUY THE DVD through our online store (All proceeds go to RDF)

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 Episcopal 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.

Click here to see a large image of the jacket design
growing up jacket

BUY THE DVD NOW (All proceeds go to RDF)

Review from Focus Magazine
review

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1. Comment #29165 by AntonyR on April 2, 2007 at 1:05 am

In the email from Richard Dawkins (if you are on the mailing list) there are 2 links related to dontaing a copy to a school or library or suggesting a school or library that should receive a copy. However, these links did not work.

It seems to me there is another opportunity to do another pledge to get these DVDs into as many libraries and schools as possible. Also, if we donate to a library maybe we should ask them to put an A4 poster on their notice board so that people know it is available to loan out.

Obviously if we buy these through Burning Shed, not only do we help children through the DVDs availability, but we also provide additional funds to the RFD.....cool or what!

So many questions...so little time....

Antony

Other Comments by AntonyR

2. Comment #29166 by doodinthemood on April 2, 2007 at 1:05 am

I never saw the initial broadcasting of lectures on the BBC, but am slightly confused by your marketing for this. Is it for children or for all ages? How insightful would I find it, as a teenager who knows a reasonable amount about evolution and science?

Other Comments by doodinthemood

3. Comment #29171 by Gibman on April 2, 2007 at 1:39 am

I'm really looking forward to watching "Growing Up In The Universe". I live in Sweden my six year old daughter understands english but prefers swedish, will the discs have the options for swedish subtitles?

Michael

Other Comments by Gibman

4. Comment #29174 by admin on April 2, 2007 at 1:46 am

I'm sorry, the DVDs do not have subtitles. I will keep that in mind for future releases though, thank you. Perhaps we could consider it for reprints of these discs.

Other Comments by admin

5. Comment #29178 by Mrs Trellis on April 2, 2007 at 2:02 am

Oh my god I'm so excited, I haven't seen these lectures for 15 years, since I was 12!

"Growing up in the Universe" was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I mean that quite seriously. Worth the price of a television, you might say.

I simply could not believe that nobody - not my parents, nor my teachers - had thought to tell me about ToE before, it was immediately obvious that there was nothing more important to understand, and nothing that I have learned since has so affected my perspective on so many different subjects. I think it was at the end of the first episode that I decided to become a biologist.

Life-changing stuff, it should be compulsory viewing for keystage 3.

Other Comments by Mrs Trellis

6. Comment #29180 by BillySands on April 2, 2007 at 2:25 am

Nice one Richard! Cant wait to hear what those who want their kids to grow up believing in a blood thirsty, tyrannical, homophobic, baby killing god have to say about this

Other Comments by BillySands

7. Comment #29184 by Ian on April 2, 2007 at 2:36 am

I have just ordered my copy.

I have not seen these excellent lectures since I discarded my TV and video many years ago.

I cannot say how much these lectures helped me establish myself and how much they helped me find my voice.

Thank you for arranging their release and for doing so at such a reasonable price.

Now there's a month's anticipation to endure. ;-)

Other Comments by Ian

8. Comment #29186 by scottishgeologist on April 2, 2007 at 2:40 am

Just one small correction needed - in the reviews above, Richard Holloway is described as Primus of the Church of Scotland - he was actually Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland. Minor niggle I know, but if we value reason, truth and integrity then we are duty bound to be as accurate as possible

Regarding Richard Holloway, he did a very good honest review of "A Devils Chaplain". The URL is:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/scienceandnature/0,6121,894941,00.html

His final words are very refreshing for a churchman:

"This is the best book of sermons I have read for years. So please go on preaching to us, Reverend Dawkins, and don't mind the things they throw at you. After all, prophets always get stoned"

Holloway is of course reviled by the fundies for his liberalism. He wrote the book "Godless Morality"

http://www.amazon.com/Godless-Morality-Keeping-Religion-Ethics/dp/0862419093

The thing about Holloway is that he doesnt go for this absolutist "inerrant bible" BS. He has the guts to stand up and say that there are problems and that a bit of intellectual honesty is needed.

Other Comments by scottishgeologist

9. Comment #29189 by oeditor on April 2, 2007 at 2:51 am

I see the discs are NTSC. How likely are UK schools to be able to play them on their PAL (I assume) equipment?
Brian

Other Comments by oeditor

10. Comment #29190 by admin on April 2, 2007 at 2:59 am

Supposedly most new PAL players can play NTSC DVDs, but not the other way around. Also, most computer DVD players can play both formats.

Other Comments by admin

11. Comment #29192 by BicycleRepairMan on April 2, 2007 at 3:00 am

Subtitles are HIGHLY needed, schools in non-english countries will probably have major gripes teaching science in a foreign language! So just one more vote for that, ok?

Other Comments by BicycleRepairMan

12. Comment #29194 by BicycleRepairMan on April 2, 2007 at 3:08 am

Is it for children or for all ages?

Absolutely ALL AGES, There are some clips on Youtube I'd recommend, for some reason they are titled "Waking up in the universe" I'm not sure they are legal, but they certainly got me to order this DVD, And I'm 26, and I dont have kids.. :)

Other Comments by BicycleRepairMan

13. Comment #29198 by Vadjong on April 2, 2007 at 3:52 am

Great,
I remember watching this, but missing one or two episodes.
I'll order my copy now, and wait for the subtitled issue to buy for friends and family. (Wish I could make these myself, because most subtitles on television here are utterly clueless.)

7. Comment #29184 by Ian :
What exactly are you going to do with your copy if you don't own a TV-set ? ;-)

Other Comments by Vadjong

14. Comment #29199 by Zaphod on April 2, 2007 at 3:52 am

The quote from the theist lol. Great.

Other Comments by Zaphod

15. Comment #29218 by macronencer on April 2, 2007 at 5:54 am

YES YES YES YES YES!!

I've been waiting for this moment ever since RDF came online. I LOVED these lectures. Thank you for releasing them. Consider them ordered as soon as I return home tonight.

Very very happy... :D

Other Comments by macronencer

16. Comment #29222 by toomanytribbles on April 2, 2007 at 6:12 am

another vote for subtitles. please. don't forget greek.

Other Comments by toomanytribbles

17. Comment #29234 by uzi on April 2, 2007 at 7:04 am

Great! Order submitted.

Other Comments by uzi

18. Comment #29256 by HL on April 2, 2007 at 8:58 am

PayPal please.

RDF takes PayPal.

Other Comments by HL

19. Comment #29259 by Ohnhai on April 2, 2007 at 9:12 am

Long have I waited for this. I was 21 when I saw these lectures (the Christmas lectures being a habit of mine for years) And number three (Climbing mount improbable) is what finally rid me of any theistic urges.

What use is half an eyeball? in the evolutionary time frame THERE NEVER WAS HALF AN EYEBALL! What a revelation that simple understanding can usher in.

These lectures SHOULD be in every school and every library and every home. Get the pledge going. I will donate to a distribution fund to make these available to schools and libraries. They should be in every High-street DVD shop.

Other Comments by Ohnhai

20. Comment #29267 by thelivingbrian on April 2, 2007 at 11:28 am

are these on actual DVD's or are they on DVD-R discs?

Other Comments by thelivingbrian

21. Comment #29268 by admin on April 2, 2007 at 11:31 am

They are professionally manufactured DVDs. DVD-9 (dual-layer) if you're curious. Not burned discs.

Josh

Other Comments by admin

22. Comment #29269 by Yorker on April 2, 2007 at 11:32 am

The only time I ever missed the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures was when I lived in the USA.

They're always worth watching no matter what the viewer's age! I recall Prof. Dawkins saying he was negotiating with the BBC some time ago to get these - glad he was successful.

Other Comments by Yorker

23. Comment #29271 by Burning Shed on April 2, 2007 at 11:43 am

HL,

Just to let you know that the RD online store can accept payment by PayPal.

If you write an email to orders@burningshed.com outlining what you'd like and where you are, we can place your order.

We're hoping to have PayPal as a payment option on the RD online store page shortly.

Other Comments by Burning Shed

24. Comment #29274 by James Carroll on April 2, 2007 at 12:06 pm

YouTube has this entire DVD, it is called "Waking Up In the Universe", so we should get them to take it down or something. It can't be legal.

Moving past that however, the lectures are amazing. I've seen all of them and it enhanced my understanding of evolution ten-fold.

We should start a campaign to get these sent to every member of Congress.

Anyone willing?

Other Comments by James Carroll

25. Comment #29339 by Skeptyk on April 2, 2007 at 3:32 pm

No CC?

Damn. That leaves out my son, who is Hard of Hearing. Keep in mind for future projects, and future press runs, that CC is nice for lots of folks; kids who are still learning readers, multilingual folks, people who like to watch with the sound low, as well as Deaf and HOH folks. Oh, yeah, also a lot of us boomers who listened to much and loud music.

Is a transcript available that could be packaged with, or electronically sent? Transcript is nice, but it is very much NOT a substitute for Closed Captioning.

I will be ordering one, perhaps, for me, but I cannot donate one to the school without CC, alas.

Other Comments by Skeptyk

26. Comment #29368 by Michael_Svien on April 2, 2007 at 4:43 pm

Are these anything like Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" series from the 1980's? I think watching that series as a kid put me on the road to the freethinker and skeptic I am today.

Other Comments by Michael_Svien

27. Comment #29392 by CarolHaynes on April 2, 2007 at 6:28 pm

All I can say is WWWWWWWOWWWWWWWW ... finally (and about time)

I have been pestering the RI and the BBC for years and just kept hitting my head against the brick wall.

These may have been "Children's" Lectures when they were produced but they were made at a time when the RI Xmas Lectures were not dumbed down at all and were often quite challenging to adults. This is one of those series of lectures - RD in full flow and taking no prisoners.

Can't wait to see it again.

For anyone interested the last two year's lectures are available direct from the RI website. I wouldn't recommend the 2005 lectures (the audience was rowdy in the extreme and the presentation to much like 'kids TV' style for my taste) but the recent ones (Dec 2006) were truly excellent if you like mathematics. Marcus de Sautoy gave a masterly set of lectures - squarely aimed at children but nevertheless inspiring.

Other Comments by CarolHaynes

28. Comment #29445 by RichardPrins on April 3, 2007 at 1:11 am

Excellent! Great job!

Other Comments by RichardPrins

29. Comment #29470 by ridelo on April 3, 2007 at 2:54 am

If I've noted well there will be no subtitles for other languages (like Dutch). I'm dying to buy this DVD for my grandchildren but no Dutch, no go.
If it's necessary I volunteer for the translation.

Other Comments by ridelo

30. Comment #29503 by Ian on April 3, 2007 at 6:48 am

Vadjong:

7. Comment #29184 by Ian :
What exactly are you going to do with your copy if you don't own a TV-set ? ;-)

:-D Hold it up to the window, while rubbing the jack plug from a set of headphones across top. It works quite well...

or I can play them on the same computer I typing this on. ;-)

Other Comments by Ian

31. Comment #29608 by diamat1 on April 3, 2007 at 2:56 pm

I will ask our local library to order this. However, NTSC could be a problem. They turned down a previous request of mine for a VHS tape because it was NTSC. (NZ is PAL).
A bit stupid as these days DVD players here can handle both PAL and NTSC. However, most older TVs and VHS players are only PAL.
May also be a problem with some schools who are always having to get by with old equipment because of under-resourcing.

Other Comments by diamat1

32. Comment #29657 by Roy_H on April 3, 2007 at 10:34 pm

I love the The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, I have ordered these and I am very much looking forward to watching them.

Other Comments by Roy_H

33. Comment #29670 by scottishgeologist on April 4, 2007 at 2:20 am

Further to my comment 8 above, I notice that the reference to Richard Holloway as "Primus of the Church of Scotland" actually appears on the DVD sleeve.

This is simply wrong.

Holloway was "Primus of the EPISCOPAL Church of Scotland" ie Anglican, not Presbyterian. The Sleeve notes need to be changed. The C of S doesnt have a Primus per se. The head of the S of S is actually Jesus Christ.

For info about Richard Holloway:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Holloway

I know it is a wikipedia entry, but AFAICS, it looks completely accurate.

I know it all sounds a bit pedantic to labour this point, but we can never be too accurate. Besides, Holloway himself would probably object to being called C of S!!!

Actually Holloway is a pretty relaxed, cool sort of guy - I actually have a lot of respect for him - he does a very good Books program on Radio Scotland and is heavily involved in the Arts.

Other Comments by scottishgeologist

34. Comment #29765 by Yorker on April 4, 2007 at 3:30 pm

24. Comment #29274 by James Carroll

Yes they are on YouTube and I think they should be left there. The more people that see these, the better; I can't think of a better reason for breaking a law! People can easily download the YouTube videos, burn them to DVD and spread them around if they want to. This would mean a possible revenue loss for the RDF, but again, the main purpose is served.

Other Comments by Yorker

35. Comment #29768 by Yorker on April 4, 2007 at 3:35 pm

I just had another thought. It would mean a bit of work, but those with a need for subtitles could suck the downloaded video into Windows Movie Maker (or Apple equiv.), superimpose their own titles and burn their own special version DVD's.

Other Comments by Yorker

36. Comment #30049 by simplemind on April 6, 2007 at 11:49 am

i seem to be having trouble with credit card payment? I dare not try it to many times as i have visions of the feds kicking my door down for suspected credit card fraud and then being questianed for terrorism!!! Seriously though is anybody eles having difficulties or am i just the lucky one??

Other Comments by simplemind

37. Comment #30060 by Burning Shed on April 6, 2007 at 3:20 pm

Hi Simplemind,

There have been no reported difficulties so far regarding credit card transactions for Growing Up In The Universe.

Please contact either orders@burningshed.com or peter.chilvers@burningshed.com and they should be able to sort your credit card problems out.

The same goes for anyone else having difficulties with the site.

Regards,

info
@
www.burningshed.com

Other Comments by Burning Shed

38. Comment #30062 by clivedurdle on April 6, 2007 at 3:47 pm

I am the Director of a Disability Association and your not having the DVD available with subtitles and possibly BSL and other formats may be against the law about reasonable adjustments!

Instead of changing this release of the DVD might alternate formats (and other languages?) be available on your web site?

Other Comments by clivedurdle

39. Comment #30079 by tuibguy on April 6, 2007 at 11:41 pm

I was linking to the YouTube snippets on my blog; merely because I thought that the presentations are invaluable so I am glad that they will be available. Since Richard has been so much associated with Atheism, people need to know that he makes extraordinary presentations on science which illustrate concepts clearly.

I will remove the posts if they don't constitute fair use, and if I think that they will interfere with sales (although my blog only gets 500 hits a day and shouldn't be too much of a barrier to people who want to order the DVD set.)

Other Comments by tuibguy

40. Comment #30300 by Severus Snape on April 7, 2007 at 1:01 pm

My son prefers to have closed captioning on, so we will wait for the next release (assuming CC is indeed in the works). What about Blu-ray or HD-DVD, or is that overkill for these lectures? I don't know as I've never seen the program.

Other Comments by Severus Snape

41. Comment #30365 by Peter Hearty on April 7, 2007 at 9:16 pm

> These may have been "Children's" Lectures when
> they were produced but they were made at a time
> when the RI Xmas Lectures were not dumbed down
> at all and were often quite challenging to adults.

You can say that again. One that I've always wanted to get my hands on was Christopher Zeeman's lecture where he proved the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra (that all polynomials have complex roots) using a pinboard and some bits of string. Stunning stuff.

Richard Dawkins' RI lectures are easily in the same class. I'm immensely looking forward to seeing them again.

Other Comments by Peter Hearty

42. Comment #30614 by will young on April 9, 2007 at 3:15 am

I don't think these have ever aired here in the US - PBS - so I'm truly anxious to get my copy.

My Father just turned 81 and has curiously started to 'believe' in evolution over the past couple of years. This after a lifetime of believing science would eventually concede to biblical teaching. Having been raised a sharecropper's son in Oklahoma during the depression, he didn't get beyond a tenth grade education. This series of lectures sound perfect for him and I know I am going to enjoy watching them with him.

And I now know what to give for a gifts this year!

Other Comments by will young

43. Comment #30886 by MihaiC on April 10, 2007 at 8:30 am

I agree with Yorker in that the recordings on youtube (even if they have the same content as the DVDs here) should not be 'pressed down', but we should provide links to them. The resolution I suppose is much lower, but they still are available especially to those who can't order, don't afford or simply wouldn't be bothered with ordering DVDs, but would spare a few minutes - then hours, as their curiosity is nourished - in front of an on-line video, in an accessible format.

I can't say whether I needed them or not but I stumbled across them on youtube last month and they were indeed impressive.

Let me be an evildoer and post the links here, for whoever might need them:

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlQcMRq0oug
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9SsxUX_NQc
Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfW4kA_dOU
Part Four: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMfc3J1wX2U
Part Five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmUJak3cYdI

Other Comments by MihaiC

44. Comment #31661 by DavidJGrossman on April 13, 2007 at 5:31 pm

"YouTube has this entire DVD, it is called "Waking Up In the Universe", so we should get them to take it down or something. It can't be legal."

The version on YouTube is not from the DVD but from someone's VHS copy. There are two complete versions up there, as far as I know. There's one where each lecture is split into 6 to 8 parts and there's another one which has each lecture in one video. The quality of the complete lecture version is pretty bad. The one that is in parts is okay but not terrific.

These videos are linked at my Dawkins site:
http://www.unpronounceable.com/dawkins/
where I've also included a prominant link to the purchase site. I think I'll change that link to point here though.

I'm sure that those who are interested are aware of the existence of these videos and would request that they be removed if they wanted them removed. (my site gets a lot of traffic and is linked at at richarddawkinst.net) It seems to me that having them there is a good thing and will help promote Richard Dawkins more than not having them there. The end result hopefully being that even more people buy the DVD.

Note that the first lecture is called "Waking up in the universe" which may have caused some confusion here.

- Dave

Other Comments by DavidJGrossman

45. Comment #31694 by Roy_H on April 13, 2007 at 10:30 pm

I had an e mail last night to say may copy is on it's way.Oh goody!

Other Comments by Roy_H

46. Comment #31706 by BicycleRepairMan on April 14, 2007 at 12:07 am

"I had an e mail last night to say may copy is on it's way.Oh goody!"

Great..for you..

Seriously, they have started sending them out? I ordered as soon as it was available, yet no email here :( oh, well, it would be a nice suprise if it came early :)

Other Comments by BicycleRepairMan

47. Comment #31855 by Ohnhai on April 14, 2007 at 4:29 pm

That's a $100AUD in the school donation fund .

Would be nice to have a count of copies that either have been donated or are available (ie funded) for donation.

Other Comments by Ohnhai

48. Comment #32649 by LDmiller on April 17, 2007 at 10:06 pm

I got my copy yesterday (California, USA). By this afternoon I had watched all 300 minutes.

Great lectures.

I find it interesting that material targeted at kids in the UK end up being bought mostly by adults in the US.

The same thing happened with James Burke's "Connections" and "The Day The Universe Changed".

When Mr. Burke came to put in an appearance he was dumbounded that his programs intended for 8th-graders were mostly watched by adults in the US. He also was amazed that he was treated as some sort of Mr. Science, and kept insisting that he was a journalist.

Anyway, Great stuff! Dr Dawkins has put on a few miles since 1991-- haven't we all? (I am same age as RD.)

Other Comments by LDmiller

49. Comment #32715 by CarolHaynes on April 18, 2007 at 4:56 am

Well here is a UK adult who is also a happy bunny - DVDs arrive this morning ... started watching them already (actually again as I saw the orginal broadcast)!

Other Comments by CarolHaynes

50. Comment #32847 by Mark R on April 18, 2007 at 1:05 pm