Maggie Aderin-Pocock

British space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a popular figure within the science arena. Maggie has worked on a variety of projects, in industrial, academic and government sectors. A graduate of Imperial College London, Maggie obtained a degree in Physics and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering whilst there. In her first job, Maggie worked at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, which is a branch of the UK Ministry of Defence. Here she acted as a systems scientist, specialising in aircraft missile warning systems. Later she was promoted to managing projects to develop hand-held instruments that would detect landmines.

Later, Maggie joined University College London, where she managed the build of a high-resolution optical spectrograph for the Gemini telescope in Chile. Maggie then became the lead optical scientist at EADS Defence and Space. Here she managed the build of a satellite, Aeolus, that measures wind speed in the Earth's atmosphere. This is designed to help with our understanding of climate change. She also worked on the James Webb Space Telescope, the world's largest space telescope, which was launched on Christmas day last year.

Inspiring people about the wonders and importance of space and science is a long-standing passion of Maggie's, so she founded her own company, Science Innovation Ltd. To date Maggie has spoken to over 350,000 people across the world, encouraging the next generation to follow in her footsteps to work in STEM ( Science Technology Engineering and Maths). Maggie regularly visits schools talking about how and why she became a scientist, dispelling myths surrounding scientific careers and gender.

Maggie is the current President of the British Science Association and sits on the boards of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Advisory Board of the Science Museum and Unboxed - A celebration of creativity across the UK. She is well known as TV presenter of BBC Sky at Night, CBeebies Stargazing and Jimmy Carr's I Literally Just Told You. She makes other appearances on programs such as The Wheel, Richard Osman's House of Games and Morning Live.

Maggie is also an author, with 3 published books including The Sky at Night Book of the Moon, and Dr Maggie's Grand Tour of the Universe. She has two more books coming out later this year.

Maggie was honoured in 2009 with an MBE in recognition for her commitment to science and science education for young people.