BBC radio science: challenges and opportunities

Redfern, Martin

doi:10.22323/2.03040305

BBC radio science: challenges and opportunities

Martin Redfern

Historical background The BBC Radio Science Unit has its roots in two radio networks, going back more than 40 years. In the late 1950s, BBC External Services (now World Service), appointed a science correspondent and began a weekly science magazine programme. Initially called $S c i e n c e and I n d u s t r y', i t c h a n \geq d i t s n a m e \in a b o u t 1964 \to$ $Science and Industry', it changed its name in about 1964 to$ Science in Action'. It is still running today, after more than 2000 editions, probably making it the longest running science show on radio.