Science, delusion and the appetite for wonder.

Richard Dawkins (Prof. of the Public Understanding of Science, University of Oxford) takes issue with those who misrepresent, misunderstand, or ignore science. He criticises journalists who write flippant columns dismissing science as dull or incomprehensible, academics and students who boast of their ignorance of basic science, and television shows which trade in the thrill of mystery, consistently promoting belief in the paranormal and supernatural. Prof. Dawkins argues that scientific investigation of the marvels of nature, far from being a reductionist pursuit, actually enhances their beauty and increases our sense of wonder. He appeals for a broader-minded approach to science. Those who cannot or do not wish to practise it can gain much from studying the history of science and taking the trouble to understand such basic systems as the circulation of the blood. Prof. Dawkins' lecture refrains from touching upon theology. It is an impassioned attack on scientific ignorance and an enthusiastic defence of science as a field of study which no-one can afford to ignore and from which everyone can benefit.