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Was there anything before the Big Bang?
Are there other universes?
Why is science education under attack?

DURING HIS U.S. TOUR in 2008, Biologist and bestselling author Richard Dawkins met with some of the world's leading scientists to discuss topics such as Quantum Physics, Biology, Evolutionary Psychology, Science education, religion, atheism and more. This video brings you the fascinating unedited discussions between Richard Dawkins and Nobel Prize-winning Physicist Steven Weinberg, Physicist Lawrence Krauss, Biologist and blogger PZ Myers, and Evolutionary Psychologist David Buss.

From a public conversation at Stanford University to private conversations in Austin and Minneapolis, this collection offers a rare and inspirational opportunity to observe some of today's top scientists as they discuss some of the big issues without interruption.

ORDER THE DVD NOW! All proceeds from the sale of this DVD will go to the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Security Trust (Info on the trust here).



On the 30th of September 2007, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens sat down for a first-of-its-kind, unmoderated 2-hour discussion, convened by RDFRS and filmed by Josh Timonen.

All four authors have recently received a large amount of media attention for their writings against religion - some positive, and some negative. In this conversation the group trades stories of the public's reaction to their recent books, their unexpected successes, criticisms and common misrepresentations. They discuss the tough questions about religion that face the world today, and propose new strategies for going forward.

Watch a high-quality clip of the video here

WATCH THE VIDEO FREE ONLINE (lower quality):
Hour 1

Google Video | Quicktime (78.7 MB) | Torrent | Audio Only (mp3, 26.6 MB)

Hour 2

Google Video | Quicktime (73.6 MB) | Torrent | Audio Only (mp3, 27.1 MB)

Read the transcript here

* We are looking for people to help transcribe and translate this other video's. We need people with the right software that can put subtitles into the Videos. If you are interested in this, please contact our volunteer coordinator Richard Prins through our volunteers page.

Sept 20, 2007 - The US branch of RDFRS is officially deemed to have come into existence on 20th April 2006, which is the date it came into existence as a company, and long before it was approved as a charity. This means that any US taxpayer who has ever donated money to RDFRS is entitled to apply to the IRS for a tax refund.

Here is an extract from our lawyer's letter on the subject:

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (the 'Foundation') is classified as a Private Operating Foundation for United States Federal income tax purposes. The Foundation is exempt from United States Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the 'Code'), as amended. Contributions to the Foundation are deductible by the donor under Section 170 of the Code. The Foundation is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequest, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.

Please note that the effective date of the of exemption is 20 April 2006, the date that the Certificate of Incorporation was filed in Delaware. Contributions to the Foundation subsequent to this date should be deductible by the donors. A contribution is generally deductible only in the year of payment. Written records are required to substantiate the deductions. In general, an individual making a contribution of money less than $250 must keep a cancelled check or a receipt, letter or other written communication from the Foundation, indicating the Foundation's name and the date and amount of the contribution. Contributions of $250 or more must be substantiated by a contemporaneous written acknowledgement. Of course, the Foundation must keep a record of the contributions too.

Sept 14, 2007 - After more than a year of expensive negotiation, we are delighted to announce that both the US and the UK versions of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science have been granted charitable, tax-exempt status in their respective countries.

The US Foundation is "exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the Code. You are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code."

The British Foundation is registered as Charity Number 1119952. Click here to download the Gift Aid Declaration form (UK).

Click here to read our Mission Statement, which is a modified version of the one that was taken down a few months ago while our two applications were still pending.

Letter to the Editor, The Independent, 30th June 2007

Sir: Andy McSmith asks: "Why do wealthy Americans donate so much to charity and rich Britons so little?" (The Big Question, 27 June). Think about the psychology of giving. For most philanthropists, generosity is a competitive business, and even anonymous donors obtain a private glow of satisfaction.

Both feelgood factors are rewarded more by American tax law than British. An American philanthropist feels good twice over, once when he makes out a nice ostentatious cheque for, say, 50,000 to charity, and again when he gets a nice big tax refund. His British colleague who wants to give 50,000 writes a measly cheque for 39,000, the charity claims back 22 per cent of the tax, making up the 50,000, and the donor reclaims the remaining 18 per cent of higher rate tax (8560.98).

Both benefactors have truly donated 50,000, but 39,000 makes the British donor feel and sound meaner, and he never has the satisfaction of seeing the tax-refund cheque, which goes straight to the charity. The British system is a mess, complicated to calculate (I may even have got the details wrong) and unrewarding to the donor. Maybe if we imitated American tax law our rich people would imitate American generosity.

RICHARD DAWKINS

OXFORD

Richard Dawkins gave this lecture on Neo-Darwinism during a recent trip to the Galapagos. Q&A session is sort of blended into the second half of the lecture. A higher-resolution QuickTime version is available for download here. If you're curious, Richard's shirt says "Evolution: The greatest show on earth, the only game in town."

Click here to play video (1:12:27)


Download the QuickTime version (Higher Quality, 144.15 MB)

Richard Dawkins gives an overview of sex ratio theory and sexual selection using examples found in the Galapagos. Q&A is mixed-in near the end.

This lecture was given on a recent trip to the Galapagos with the Center for Inquiry.

Click here to play video (31:15)


Download QuickTime version (108 MB)

On the deck of the Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands, Richard Dawkins takes a minute to talk about Darwin and his historic visit to the Galapagos Islands. This video was filmed on a cruise with the Center For Inquiry.

Click here to play video (5:18)


Download the QuickTime version here (13.2 MB)

Oxford professor Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic.

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children were founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, with himself as the inaugural lecturer. The 1991 lecturer was Richard Dawkins whose five one-hour lectures, originally televised by the BBC, are now available for the first time on DVD, courtesy of RDF.

Click here to play video

Bishop Harries and Richard Dawkins have collaborated on several occasions to promote the proper teaching of science in UK classrooms. This is the full unedited interview, which was originally filmed by IWC for the Channel Four documentary 'Root or All Evil?'

The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science will soon be providing DVDs of this uncut interview along with several others filmed for the documentary, including some never before seen outside the cutting room.

Providing millions of pounds to schools to teach creationism is dangerous, say atheist Richard Dawkins and Richard Harries, the Bishop of Oxford

The car dealer Sir Peter Vardy is a rich man, with a desire to use his money to promote education. He seems to have become embroiled with a clique of evangelical, American- inspired creationists who teach that the entire universe is less than 10,000 years old (which dates it some time after the middle Stone Age). Vardy has set up the Vardy Foundation, an educational charity with a strong Christian ethos. It is campaigning to take over “failing”schools in the north of England. While teaching the national curriculum, the schools will almost certainly be pushing a bizarrely anti-scientific version of cosmology and biology.

Click here to continue this article

A tribute to William Luke Ashton, who died on Christmas day 2006 at the age of 17.

Dr. David Ashton BSc MD PhD
Consultant Physician

6th February 2007

Dear Professor Dawkins,

You will recall our recent e-mail communication regarding the sudden death of my youngest son, Luke on Christmas Day.

As you know, I suggested that instead of flowers, people may wish to make a contribution to the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. I believe that some may have done this directly through the website, but I have also received a number of cheques and other cash donations which I am pleased to enclose. One donation came from a local pub in the village of Laxey where Luke lived. They organized a collection which came to £604.12! The total comes to £2004.12, though there may be some more to come.

It was very kind of you to respond to my original enquiry and I am grateful that you suggested a reading from "Unweaving the Rainbow". As you can see from the enclosed Order of Service, I read an extract from the section you suggested. It's just the sort of thing my son would have loved and many people commented on it afterwards. I am also enclosing our most recent picture of Luke.

Luke and I talked a lot about evolution and I remember showing him an article in the Independent last November, announcing the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. He thought it was a wonderful idea - as do I. It is ironic that I should now be writing to you with donations to the foundation in his memory.

I greatly enjoyed "The God Delusion" - I thought it was a tremendously brave and inspiring book. I also enjoyed your quite superb introduction to Niall Shanks book "God, The Devil and Darwin", which I think provides a coherent and utterly convincing argument against intelligent design (though the ultimate destructive attack on the design argument is surely Hume's masterpiece, "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion").

I would very much like to become involved in some way in supporting the Foundation, the aims and objectives of which seem to me to be of the utmost importance. Precisely where my efforts would be best directed is another matter, but I will certainly give it some thought.

I deeply appreciate your courageous stand on behalf of those of us who, against fashion and fads, are on the side of Enlightenment values. You are not alone - and Hume would have been proud of you.

With kind regards,
David Ashton

Order of Service

Prelude
Ellan Vannin (a Manx lament)
Richard Barks (piper)

Introduction

Eulogy

Special Music
All Along the Watchtower
Jimmy Hendrix

Tributes
Mr Gwyn Davies
Mr Barry Arstall

Reading
by Dr David Ashton

Fern Hill (extract)
Dylan Thomas

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.

And as I was green and carefree, famous among the barns
About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,
In the sun that is young once only,
Time let me play and be
Golden in the mercy of his means,
And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves
Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold,
And the sabbath rang slowly,
In the pebbles of the holy streams.

And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house
Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long,
In the sun born over and over,
I ran my heedless ways,
My wishes raced through the house high lay
And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows
In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs
Before the children green and golden
Follow him out of grace,

Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me
Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand,
In the moon that is always rising,
Nor that riding to sleep
I should hear him fly with the high fields
And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land.
Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means,
Time held me green and dying
Though I sang in my chains like the sea.

The Committal
Accompanying music from the film Braveheart

The Epilogue
Read by Dr David Ashton

From "Unweaving the Rainbow" Richard Dawkins

"We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Sahara. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively outnumbers the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here.

...we didn't arrive by spaceship, we arrived by being born, and we didn't burst conscious into the world but accumulated awareness gradually through babyhood. The fact that we gradually apprehend our world, rather than sudddenly discovering it, should not subtract from its wonder."

The Leaving
Closing remarks and music
Farruca (A. Castellón-Escudero)
Paco Peña

"I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything..."

Richard Feynman (Theoretical Physicist)

"To be clear-headed rather than confused; lucid rather than obscure; rational rather than otherwise; and to be neither more, nor less, sure of things than is justifiable by argument or evidence. That is worth trying for."

Sir Geoffrey Warmock

UPDATE: As suggest by Bornabaptist in the comments (after making a $200 donation), if you would like to make a donation to RDF in memory of Luke, please add a note here in the comment space after making your donation HERE. We can then keep a tally and send an email with the total donation amount from our community and note of our support to Dr David Ashton and Luke's family.