As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to go into space and find out as much about it as I could.
Advertisement
Explain what you do in one easy paragraph.
For many years, I worked as a space scientist. I also do lots of science communication. This year, I have worked on a project involving Stonehenge, helped set up the science behind a TV drama and I am working on a new children鈥檚 TV programme.
What do you love most about what you do? And what鈥檚 the worst part?
I love applying scientific knowledge to different situations, and I have set up my own company so I work for myself, which I really enjoy. The flip side is there is lots of paperwork. As a dyslexic, I find this quite hard work, but definitely worth it.
Sum up your life in a one-sentence elevator pitch鈥�
A space scientist who likes to bring the excitement of the amazing things in the universe to the general public, releasing the inner scientist in everyone.
鈥淎s I got older I found some of the benefits of dyslexia, such as good 3D spatial awareness鈥�
What鈥檚 the most exciting thing you鈥檙e working on right now?
I was inspired by the programme The Clangers as a child, and this helped me become a space scientist. Now I am part of a team developing a new TV show, which is cosmology for tots.
What achievement or discovery are you most proud of?
I visit schools where I try to reach the children who are disillusioned, to see if I can excite them with the wonders of space. To date, I have met around 350,000 kids around the world.
How has your field of study changed in the time you have been working in it?
Astronomy has changed so much since I was a child. We have bigger telescopes than I would have ever thought possible and are discovering planets travelling around distant stars. The detection of gravitational waves gives us a whole new way of doing astronomy and investigating objects such as black holes and neutron stars.
Were you good at science at school?
Not at first because the dyslexia got in the way, but then I found the benefits of dyslexia, such as good 3D spatial awareness and a strong logical sense, which were ideal for a career as a space scientist.
What scientific development do you hope to see in your lifetime?
Space travel for everyone, fusion to solve the energy crises and medication based on our genes.
Which discovery do you wish you鈥檇 made yourself?
Cheap and accessible space travel. I truly believe our destiny is out there.
If you could have a long conversation with any scientist, living or dead, who would it be?
Albert Einstein. He was so ahead of his time. I loved the way he did thought experiments, and as he was dyslexic, we would have lots to talk about.
What鈥檚 the best thing you鈥檝e read or seen in the past 12 months?
The film Armstrong stood out as it made me see Neil Armstrong as a different person from what I had assumed 鈥� a lot quieter and more reflective.
How useful will your skills be after the apocalypse?
My good general science knowledge could be useful. Also, I am quite hands-on.
OK, one last thing: tell us something that will blow our minds鈥�
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, has around 300 billion stars, many with planets orbiting them. There are around 100 billion galaxies, so a lot of planets for life to potentially exist on. But using our fastest space tech, it would take around 76,000 years to get to the nearest solar system, Proxima Centauri. The universe is mind-bogglingly big.
Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist, author and broadcaster. Her latest book is out now
