Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Contact Maggie Aderin-Pocock, speaker and space scientist via a Specialist Speakers agent on 01455 633289 for both in-person and virtual engagements.

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Dame Margaret Ebunoluwa Aderin-Pocock DBE is one of Britain’s best known space scientists and is the co-presenter of BBC Television’s The Sky At Night. Maggie is a prolific inventor and tinkerer, creating numerous bespoke scientific tools and instruments, including a hand-held landmine detector and optical work on the James Webb space telescope and the Gemini Observatory. She has worked for the UK MoD and for EADS [Airbus] Defence and Space leading the optical instrumentation group.

In 2020 she was awarded the Insitute of Physics William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal for work in her public engagement in physics. She is the first black woman to win a gold medal in the Physics News Award and she served as President of the British Science Association from 2021 to 2022.

Maggie’s path to success is an inspiring story in itself. Coming from a working class background and brought up on council estates, she was diagnosed as dyslexic as a child and placed in the remedial class, bouncing between fourteen different schools. She went on to attain four A-levels, earned a BSc in Physics at UCL and a doctorate in mechanical engineering.

Beyond a career that has led her from the Ministry of Defence to the BBC Maggie has enjoyed two driving forces behind her work – bringing the science of space to audiences, and, inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock’s enthusiasm and sheer depth of knowledge have made her a hit with children and adults alike. Her company Science Innovation Ltd works to engage and share her passion for space and for science with people across the world.

In 2023, as part of International Women’s Day, Mattel created a Barbie doll of Maggie as part of their Role Models series.

Maggie says that she would like to retire to Mars. But not yet.