science

BBC Two releases new spring/summer schedule

BBC Two's Channel Editor Patrick Holland expressed his vision for BBC Two, which will focus on themes of reasserting the role of authorship, engaging with and becoming more relevant to the audience, and embracing all the specialisms on the channel from science, history and arts to current affairs, history, documentaries.

The new titles include a series of new documentary titles including an exploration of families living on the poverty line, a behind the headlines look at the sequence of events that caused Brexit, and the story of the horrific murder of Jo Cox MP.

Sir Paul Nurse: "Scientific evidence must be listened to with respect"

Sir Paul Nurse

Sir Paul Nurse delighted his large audience with a passionate defence of science as a revolutionary force that can transform our lives, when he delivered this year’s Royal Television Society and Institution of Engineering and Technology Joint Public Lecture at the British Museum.

In a wide-ranging speech, the Nobel Prize-winning geneticist discussed the approach to science in the media, government and education. And – in advance of the EU referendum – gave strong backing from the scientific community for staying in Europe.

Sir Paul Nurse: Event Report

Sir Paul Nurse

The Nobel Prize-winning geneticist, who was delivering this year’s Royal Television Society/Institution of Engineering and Technology public lecture, argued that the mass media, including television, has to be “highly responsible” in its reporting.

“The [media] needs to avoid sensationalism, to be careful about so-called balance when certain opinions have little evidential support or are potentially highly flawed, to avoid mystification and properly explain what can be difficult topics,” he said.