PIONEER: bringing science to life

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Space Innovation Ltd

Alongside her day job as a space scientist, 41-year-old Maggie Aderin-Pocock is passionate about bringing science to life for schoolchildren. ‘I go out and tell kids what fun you can have with a science career,’ she says of the talks that have wowed more than 50,000 children, mainly in inner-city schools. ‘It’s important to impart a sense of wonder. I start with why I became a scientist and “what is a scientist?” I tell them I was a dyslexic black kid who hated school. Now I’m a rocket scientist who gets to meet the Queen.’

And it’s all thanks to the Clangers. ‘My inspiration came from watching them on TV, and hearing about people landing on the moon,’ says Aderin-Pocock. ‘I take the little ones on a tour of the universe. We do a countdown from five – so there’s lots of shouting in the classroom, which they love. Then, thanks to computer technology, we take off and look through the window of a spaceship and see the earth. We zoom off to the moon and visit Mars, my favourite place. I tell them it’s where I want to retire.’ science-innovation.com

What the judges said:
Sarah Brown: ‘Maggie stood out as she came from a challenging background and had to assert herself. She communicates her love of science with great energy and enthusiasm.’

Amanda Ross: ‘I wish I’d met someone like Maggie at school. I might not have been too scared to take science O- and A-levels.’