Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
Our website is currently down for maintenance while we transition to our new website. Please do not try to book any courses during this period. Thank you for your understanding.
Just over 15 years ago a new radio programme took to the airwaves for the first time in Cambridge. Unusually for commercial radio, it was a science show. Even more unusual was that it was produced and presented by a group of young PhD and medical students and supported by a small grant from a research council. That programme was the Naked Scientists, which has since grown to become one of the world's most popular science programmes with over 40 million programme downloads to date, eight national and international awards under its belt, its own slot on network radio in several countries, including on BBC 5 live in the UK, and a website that attracts more than a million visitors per month.
But what makes this project tick? How is it sustained? How are the five or six programmes published internationally each week put together? How do we uncover what's 'news' each week? And how is this helping to nurture the next generation of scientists to help us to keep the UK – and Cambridge University – at the forefront of science in the 21st century? I'll take you on a tour of the Naked Scientists story, show you how we make science fun, funny and informative; reveal how to turn a laser pointer into a mini-microscope to see things smaller than bacteria, and reveal how fat you'd need to be to stop a bullet with a beer-belly...
Chris Smith is a consultant virologist based in the University Department of Pathology and in the PHE (Public Health England) diagnostic microbiology laboratory at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He has made a major contribution to the public understanding of science in recent years through his multi-award-winning Naked Scientists project. Through weekly BBC radio programmes and other avenues, the Naked Scientists project reaches millions of people internationally. The ‘Naked Scientists’ also contribute to the Cambridge Science Festival and provide training in public engagement and broadcast skills for University staff and students.
The Madingley Lectures take place at Madingley Hall, home of the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). This lecture series, given by eminent speakers across a wide range of subjects, is an important part of ICE's commitment to public engagement.
© 2025 University of Cambridge