BBC4 cash earmarked for science and ethics.

The 6 x 60-minute science series, working-titled Making Ancient History, will mix geology and ancient history with travelogue as geologist Iain Stewart visits Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal to see how the natural world affected civilisations.The series, which is being made by the in-house BBC science department, is a co-commission between BBC2 and BBC4 and will premiere on the digital channel later this year.The 4 x 60-minute Light Story, to be produced in-house by Anne Laking, will see Cambridge University's Dr Simon Schaffer explain the theory of light while Atheism: a Rough History of Disbelief will feature an investigation by Dr Jonathan Miller.The 3 x 60-minute series, due to air later in the year, will be produced/directed by Richard Dention for Manchester-based 116 Films and executive produced by Ruth Pitt in the religion and ethics department.A major new series on theatre is also expected later in the year.See Interview, pages 16-17 Keating - who was given a £10m budget increase last month - has said he wants to create more landmark series in which to build seasons around and create more regular slots in the schedule.