Although I'm doing my PhD in vertebrate palaeontology there's no doubt programmes such as Cosmos were a massive influence on me as a boy (I am a mature student, age-wise at least), and Sagan was superb at communicating the wonder, awe and pure joy that science helps us to experience as the process of discovery continues.

Well said. And he did it so well amid all the clunkiness and relative crudeness of the production. I didn't say in spite of. Look what happens when you dress stuff up to give it a bit of modern gloss. You get Brian Cox.



(I like him a lot, actually, but.)