A new, entertaining and humorous DVD series of programs charting the life and times of some of the world’s most influential scientists. Each episode provides an engaging and accessible introduction to the complex theories and ideas of Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Darwin and Einstein. Writer and presenter Dr Allan Chapman uses a blend of archival material, animation and comedy dramatizations to illustrate the importance of each of these great scientists. Produced and directed by Stephan Kemp.




Aristotle
Called the Father of Science, Aristotle challenged commonly held and incorrect views of the world. His ideas were so important in the foundation of science that they remained unchallenged for nearly two thousand years. Dr Allan Chapman travels from his lecture theatre in Oxford to Greece to tell us about the man who discovered the four elements of earth, air, wind and fire and who first established the idea that there was a logical explanation for everything.


Galileo
The world’s first celebrity scientist, Galileo Galilei spent most of his life trying to disprove the work of Aristotle. In the beautiful city of Venice, Dr Chapman explains how Galileo made science experimental, moving away from the observational ideas of Aristotle. The Italian scientist invented tools and instruments to test his theories, becoming a well-known celebrity with the invention of the telescope.
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Newton
Born in the difficult and violent times of the 1600’s, Newton is one of Britain’s most influential scientists whose ideas and discoveries endure today. Through his key work ‘Principia Mathematica’ he gave us his theory on the Universal Laws of Motion – a work that introduces the terms ‘action’, ‘reaction’, ‘inertia’ and ‘force’. Key to it, his most well-known discovery – thanks to a windfall apple – the theory of gravity. Newton was also an inventor however, and Chapman discusses some of his other, lesser known creations such as the world’s first cat flap.
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Darwin
The life and times of Charles Darwin – a failed student from a rich family whose five year voyage round the world inspired ‘The Origin of Species’, a groundbreaking work outlining the theory of evolution. With witty dramatisations and humorous animation, presenter Dr Chapman explains how Darwin’s ideas caused outrage in polite society at the time.
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Einstein
Travelling to Switzerland, Dr Chapman explains how a simple clerk in a Swiss patent office became a Nobel prize winner and the most influential scientist of modern times. Albert Einstein gave us the atom, the world’s most famous equation E = mc²
and the theory of relativity – a work so complex that at the time only two other people could make sense of it. Using train sets and go-karts, Dr Chapman simplifies Einstein’s complex ideas with ingenious experiments and engaging explanations.
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