On Saturday August 30, 1975, the ABC launched the Science Show nationally with host Robyn Williams (pictured) interviewing Lord Ritchie-Calder, then the head of energy policy at the UK House of Lords, who shared alarming figures about greenhouse gases being emitted from fossil fuels and the likely disastrous effect on the world’s climate.

Last week Robyn Williams celebrated 50 years of continuous service to the same show and reflected on that very first interview:

“This was extraordinary. A truly significant authority exclaiming that a concern they had 12 years before was still not being acted upon effectively. 

“Now make that gap 62 years!”

The show also aired a special selection of highlights over the decades including he exposure of scientific fraud and government backed environmental destruction, warnings of the danger of asbestos, and that the clitoris was larger and more sensitive than first thought.

The program also convinced some young listeners that science would be where they would take their careers, like David Lindenmayer who was listening to an episode about the logging of ancient forests and decided on the spot to take forestry as his degree. He is now Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University, and author of The Forest Wars about native forest logging.

Then there were the people who joined Robyn on the Science Show team like Norman Swan. Norman exposed the scientific fraud of the then highly respected William McBride, the obstetrician who was credited with linking thalidomide to birth defects. It won him the Australian Writers’ Guild Award for best documentary and a Gold Walkley.

Amid the heavy topics there was always room for John Clarke’s character Fred Dagg, the New Zealand sheep farmer who helped Robyn and his audience with the big questions: what is it all about and why are we here? A documentary on that wonderful NZ talent is also out now, called But Also John Clarke.

You can catch up on the 50th anniversary episodes, plus Robyn Williams chat with David Marr ahead of the milestone via this link: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/scienceshow/the-science-show-celebrates-50-years/105658842