We’re delighted to learn that our regular columnist, Kevin Fong, has been selected to deliver the Royal Institution’s 2015 Christmas lectures.

It is that Dr Fong will present the demonstration-packed three-part series with the help of British astronaut Tim Peake, and his fellow International Space Station crew members, as he starts his six month mission shortly before Dr Fong delivers the talks.

“I hope these lectures help to show that science is the ultimate team effort,” Dr Fong said. “To send a human into space requires the combined imagination and creativity of thousands upon thousands of people, from a huge range of scientific and engineering disciplines, all working together.

“No one person can ever see all the moving parts, but every person is vital in the process. I hope that these lectures demonstrate that the international currency of science is ideas and taking part in the journey of exploration is an incredible experience that is open to everyone.”

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To mark the announcement, here are five of our favourite columns, written by Dr Fong for THE in the past year:

State control to Major Tim
The key motivation for Tim Peake’s forthcoming flight may be political, but his journey will inspire a generation.

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Doctor Who and the portfolio career
Academics should scale the silo walls occasionally to regenerate their careers.

The trials of moving house
Finding a little order among the chaos.

Face time with students in the digital age
Ways to satisfy the contact time cravings of today’s Young Ones.

The past and the presents
Christmas nostalgia can help us buy the right gifts today (well, it is the Christmas lectures series after all).

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