Reith Lectures Archive: 1948-1975

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling asks who is accountable for the protection of the natural world in the final lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'Wilderness and Plenty'. He argues that population is almost certain to increase but pollution does not necessarily need to.

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling considers the art of preservation and protection of the environment in the fifth lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'Wilderness and Plenty'. He considers how technology and preservation of the world could work together, and argues that science can be an enlightener if only industries and politics allow it to work.

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling reflects on the problem of overpopulation in the fourth lecture from his Reith Lectures series 'Wilderness and Plenty'. entitled ‘Global Changes - Actual and Possible’. He ponders whether rises in prosperity and population might just signal the decline of the habitable world.

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling explores the ecological consequences of the industrial revolution in the third lecture of his Reith Lectures series 'Wilderness and Plenty'. He examines the ecological consequences of technology since the industrial evolution and reflects on the way the rapid guzzle of oil, coal and nuclear materials has affected the environment.

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling explores the impact of Man on his environment in the second lecture in his Reith Lectures series ‘Wilderness and Plenty’. Taking examples from prehistoric man, the industrial revolution and modern day technology, he considers whether the human race has taken all it can from the world to increase growth and development.

Ecologist and conservationist Sir Frank Fraser Darling argues for the conservation of humans in the first lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'Wilderness and Plenty'. He considers how humans have dominated the natural world by constantly challenging it and altering it to their advantage. However, bringing together economics and ecology, he discusses what circumstances might lead to the need to conserve the human race.

Canadian diplomat and historian Lester Pearson contemplates the concept of nationalism in an international world in the third lecture from his Reith Lectures series 'Peace in the Family of Man'.

Social anthropologist Professor Edmund Leach explores the importance of the interconnectedness of the universe in the final lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'A Runaway World'. He argues that everyone needs to understand where they fit in to the system, and provide a collective attitude of protection by communicating with each other. He suggests that educating and stimulating the young to enlarge their expectations in imaginative ways could lead to a better future.

Social anthropologist Professor Edmund Leach analyses the human fear of isolation and the limits to interaction we have with other people in the third lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'A Runaway World'. He asks where does our fear of the 'Other' come from, and why do we kill each other?

Keynesian economist J K Galbraith explores the power large corporations could have over the State in the fourth lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'The New Industrial State'. He argues that the state and private industry are moving closer together and warns there is a danger that the state could become too involved with industry, and consequently policies could be influenced by these corporations. Professor Galbraith looks at what the state should be providing for its citizens.

Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Robert Gardiner considers the problems of economic inequality and race relations in the fourth lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'World of Peoples'. He analyses how race can interfere with economic forces by looking at economies for countries where different races live together. He asks, is there race equality within economics?

Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Robert Gardiner explores the myths of race, from past history to current frustrations, in the third lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'World of Peoples'. He provides examples of misconceived ideas by both white and black people and asks how much of the colour conflict is due to fear? And if these fears were gone, would there be a chance of solving racial problems?

British industrialist Sir Leon Bagrit considers Britain’s global future in the automated age in the final lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'The Age of Automation'. He considers the possible improvements for daily life that could change Britain's status and keep it at the forefront of technology. This is vital, Sir Bagrit argues, in order to prove that The United Kingdom is still is a world leader.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex Dr Albert Sloman considers how to build a social environment within the university in the fourth lecture in his Reith Lectures series 'A University in the Making'.

Anthropologist and psychiatrist Professor George Carstairs considers why teenagers are drawn to sex and violence in the third lecture of his Reith Lectures series 'This Island Now'. Are adolescents more sexually promiscuous? Are teenagers more aggressive? To answer these questions he discusses his own field research in India to compare Hindu communities to British ones in order to consider how social class affects teenage behaviour.