Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE is a space scientist and award-winning broadcaster, inspiring curiosity and breaking down barriers in science through her engaging work in education and media.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist, broadcaster and passionate science communicator, renowned for making the wonders of the universe accessible to everyone – and proving that you don’t need to be a genius to enjoy, understand and explore science.

Best known for presenting The Sky at Night on BBC Four, Maggie has become a familiar face on our screens – from Do We Really Need the Moon? and Do We Really Need Satellites? on BBC Two, to regular appearances on The One Show, CBeebies Stargazing, and Ducks Quack Don’t Echo. Her natural enthusiasm, warmth and storytelling skills have earned her awards and recognition, including the Talkback Thames New Talent Award at the Women in Film and TV Awards.

Maggie’s journey into science is as inspiring as the subjects she presents. Diagnosed with dyslexia and shuffled through 13 schools, the odds were against her. But a fascination with The Clangers, a love of Star Trek, and unshakable determination saw her go on to study physics at Imperial College and earn a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Her message is clear: anyone can reach for the stars.

Her work spans both academia and industry, including developing bespoke optical instruments for satellites and telescopes – from landmine detectors to critical components of the James Webb Space Telescope. She currently leads the optical instrumentation group at Astrium, working on systems to monitor our planet’s atmosphere under the European Space Agency’s Living Planet Programme – contributing to our understanding of climate change.

As a Science in Society Fellow at UCL and founder of Science Innovation Ltd, Maggie’s mission is to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation. She’s given her “Tours of the Universe” to over half a million people worldwide – including more than 350,000 UK schoolchildren – helping them see science as something exciting, creative and full of possibility. Her work has reached classrooms, festivals and even her own educational film, Space in the UK.

Alongside her broadcasting and scientific achievements, Maggie was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to science education and has been celebrated for breaking down barriers in STEM. Her story is a powerful reminder that with curiosity, courage and a little bit of rocket fuel, anyone can shoot for the stars.