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Mysteries Of The Universe - Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution (Dewsbury)

About the event

Join us as we become an official livestream venue for this year’s world-famous Christmas Lectures® from the Royal Institution! Bring the whole family and experience the excitement as the Lectures unfold live from the Ri Theatre in London.

Watch Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock reveal the mysteries of the Universe, take part in hands-on activities, and witness real-time science come to life. Perfect for young people (11+) and adults with curious minds! Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and immersed in the wonder of discovery!

All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Recommended age 11+

Schedule:
Doors open - 5:15pm
(browse our space book collection)
Lecture Livestream starts -6:00pm
Lecture concludes - 8pm

Details:
(Subject to change)
Lecture 1 - Thursday 11th Dec
We begin by exploring the technology that’s allowed us to look out and discover that there are other worlds beyond our own. While advanced telescopes put paid to some of the early theories about life on our nearest neighbours, they’ve also opened up a host of other places we could look for it.

We’ll leave the Earth and look back at our planet from orbit to find out what life looks like from space, how we think it might have emerged here, and how we might identify another ‘habitable planet’… if it’s out there. We’ll meet the astronauts who can tell us more about what it takes to send human life out into space, share the latest news on the Artemis mission to the Moon, and demonstrate how future human settlements could use lunar resources to survive. With creative experiments and citizen science projects, is series Lecture one brings space exploration to life for audiences of all ages.


Lecture 3 - Tuesday 16th Dec
Dame Maggie’s final lecture ventures into the vast Universe in search of life beyond our Solar System. With the help of the groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope, our audience will discover stunning new images of distant stars, galaxies, and planets. Dame Maggie then explains how scientists are identifying potential signs of life on exoplanets—worlds orbiting stars beyond our own—using state-of-the-art tools to search for ‘biosignatures’ and ‘techno signatures’ that could hint at life or advanced civilizations, and we’ll discusses whether we should attempt to contact alien lifeforms, and what we might say to them.

Finally, we’ll delve into the mysterious world of black holes, dark matter and dark energy. With such a vast Universe, 95% of which is invisible to our telescopes, there is still so much out there for us to discover. By connecting ancient questions with modern technology, Dame Maggie closes the series with a sense of wonder and a call to the next generation of explorers.

Please click on the link under Further Information for more details and online booking.

Dates and venues

  • Thursday 11 December 2025 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Doors open - 5:15pm (browse our space book collection); Lecture Livestream starts -6:00pm, Lecture concludes - 8pm
  • Tuesday 16 December 2025 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Doors open - 5:15pm (browse our space book collection); Lecture Livestream starts -6:00pm, Lecture concludes - 8pm

Further information

Themes

Learning, interest and advice Events related to advice, education and careers, as well as learning for fun. Also, talks, guided walks, and events of historical or other interest.