Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist, author and co-presenter of The Sky at Night who shares the wonders of astronomy through television, books and school visits.
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Latest
Maggie’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
BBC Four
Buster Books
Royal Institution
BBC BooksOverview
- Also published as
- Dame Maggie Aderin
- From
- London, England
- Work
- Space scientist, science communicator, broadcaster and author
- Education
- Physics degree and mechanical engineering PhD, Imperial College London
- TV milestone
- Joined The Sky at Night in February 2014
- Outreach
- Founded Science Innovation Ltd in 2004
Mini bio
How it started.
Growing up in London, Maggie was drawn to the Moon, The Clangers and Star Trek. Her parents let her stay up late to watch The Sky at Night. At 15 she joined a telescope-making class and began building a six-inch Cassegrain telescope.
Building the instruments.
She studied physics and mechanical engineering at Imperial College London, turning her interest in telescope optics into a career. Her work has included a spectrograph for Gemini South in Chile, instruments for the Aeolus wind-measuring satellite and a contribution to the James Webb Space Telescope.
Becoming a familiar face.
Her BBC Two documentary Do We Really Need the Moon? earned her a Women in Film and TV new talent award in 2011. She joined The Sky at Night in February 2014, returning as a presenter to a programme she had loved as a child.
Sharing the view.
Maggie founded Science Innovation Ltd in 2004 to bring science to young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Books, school visits and television have carried that work forward, including her award-winning Am I Made of Stardust?, the 2025 Christmas Lectures and her 2026 memoir Starchild. Her recent publisher and management pages use the name Maggie Aderin.
Creditschronological, newest first
Television
- 2025Is There Life Beyond Earth? · Royal Institution Christmas LecturesPresenter
- 2014 onwardThe Sky at NightCo-presenter
- 2012In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our WorldPresenter
- 2011Do We Really Need the Moon?Presenter
Books
- 2026Starchild: My Life Under the Night SkyAuthor
- 2025Dr Maggie’s Astronaut Adventure Activity BookAuthor; illustrations by Chelen Écija
- 2022Am I Made of Stardust?Author; illustrations by Chelen Écija
Awards
- Royal Society David Attenborough Award and Lecture2026 · For sustained public engagement with science and widening participation.
- Royal Academy of Engineering Honorary Fellowship2025 · Elected an Honorary Fellow.
- Distinguished Alumni Award2025 · Imperial College London.
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire2024 New Year Honours · For services to science education and diversity.
- Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2023Announced March 2024 · Winner for Am I Made of Stardust?, illustrated by Chelen Écija.
- William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize2020 · Institute of Physics award for science education and physics communication.
- Women in Film and TV New Talent Award2011 · For Do We Really Need the Moon?
Quotes
I have dyslexia, which has made it hard for me to take myself seriously as an authorMaggie Aderin-Pocock, Royal Society
Responding to her Young People’s Book Prize win, announced on 19 March 2024.
Trivia
- She originally wanted to go into space to meet the Clangers.
- At 15 she was the youngest person in her telescope-making class.
- Her first-year physics project involved a tracking system for her own telescope.
- Mattel has made a Barbie doll in her likeness.
Find Maggie
Find her official biography and representation.
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