Scientific Mythmaking and Race

Join Marcus du Sautoy and Angela Saini for this year's Charles Simonyi Lecture.

Science promises us verifiable truths about the world. But what happens when scientists get things wrong? Race science is one of the clearest examples we have of how politics and prejudice can lead even the most rational, objective people down a path of mythmaking – sometimes for hundreds of years. Racial categories may feel tangible, but we know from history and genetics that they’re no more rooted in biology than class categories are.

Award-winning science journalist Angela Saini explains the story of race science and eugenics, draws on case studies and data to show what race really means, and asks if it’s possible to build a more accurate portrait of human difference.