The University of East Anglia will once again be hosting free Christmas lectures for children on campus, with this year’s theme inviting families to explore the magic and mystery of the brain.
This year’s event, Jingle All the Brain: Seeing is Believing?, takes place on Saturday 13 December and will be led by Prof Louis Renoult and Dr Martin Doherty from UEA’s School of Psychology. Across two sessions, at 10am and midday in Lecture Theatre 1, they will guide young audiences through an interactive exploration of how our brains interpret memories and illusions – all through a festive lens.
Recommended for children aged seven to 11 but open to all, the lectures promise hands-on demonstrations, puzzles and illusions designed to show how easily our minds can be tricked. Families will also find a pop-up shop from Norwich Children’s Book Centre and a special appearance from Father Christmas himself.
Tanner Barnes, UEA’s Public Events and Engagement Manager, says: “This annual event is a hallmark of the holiday season at UEA, a special opportunity to welcome families from the community to campus to experience a university lecture… with a festive twist.”
A tradition inspired by the Royal Institution
UEA’s Christmas lectures draw on the long and much-loved tradition established by the Royal Institution almost 200 years ago. Those original lectures, founded in 1825 by the scientist and communicator Michael Faraday, were designed to bring cutting-edge science to a young audience in a way that was lively, entertaining and rooted in real discovery. Faraday himself delivered many of the early talks, establishing the trademark blend of experiments, stories and demonstrations that still define the format today.
Broadcast on television since the 1930s, the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures have inspired generations of scientists, engineers and curious children. Their influence now extends well beyond London, as universities across the country create their own December events in the same spirit: free, fun, and accessible introductions to big scientific ideas. UEA’s version has quickly become a staple of Norwich’s festive calendar, offering families a rare chance to see university-level research presented with sparkle and humour.
From illusions to festive film magic
This year’s focus on the brain follows a variety of themes explored in previous UEA lectures. Last year’s event, Ho ho how do they do it?, offered children a peek behind the scenes of their favourite Christmas films, examining how special effects have evolved from the 1930s to the present.
Dr Tony Blake, who led that event, told the BBC it makes the films “even more magical” when you understand the science behind them. He said there was “nothing like the feeling that you get from a Christmas movie”, and hoped the talks would “inspire people to think about the science behind” the festive stories they see on screen. His lecture explored everything from how to make convincing snow to the physics required for a certain someone who “travels fast once a year”.
This year’s exploration of the brain takes that same approach – combining scientific insight with a sense of wonder – but shifts the focus inward. Why do our memories feel so vivid yet remain unreliable? How do illusions fool us so easily? What makes the brain such a powerful pattern-making machine? Renoult and Doherty aim to give children the tools to understand not only what they’re seeing, but why their minds respond to it in the way they do.
Two chances to join in
“There’s a reason why Santa makes a list and checks it twice!” says Tanner Barnes. “Join two jolly academics from UEA’s School of Psychology to explore how your brain interprets memory, illusions and puzzles through a festive Christmas lens. Put on your thinking cap (or your Santa hat if you’re merry), and crack open the brain’s best secrets.”
Families can choose between two identical 75-minute sessions:
- 10am–11.15am
- 12pm–1.15pm
Both take place in Lecture Theatre 1 on the UEA campus. While the event is free, booking is essential – and tickets are known to go quickly, so early reservations are strongly advised.
Booking information
To book tickets, visit Eventbrite and search for “UEA”, or go directly to the event page. For Facebook users, you can learn more about the lecture from Prof Renoult and Dr Doherty.
With its blend of showmanship, science and seasonal cheer, UEA’s Christmas lecture series continues a proud national tradition. Like the Royal Institution events that inspired them, they offer something simple and powerful: the chance for young people to discover that learning can be joyful, surprising and full of wonder. And at a time of year built on imagination, there is no better place to start than the human brain itself.
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