Imperial News

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: 'Science and your career'

by Barnaby Mollett

Dr Aderin-Pocock's lunchtime careers talk on 12 March will give you an insight into science and careers from one of Britain's most popular scientists.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE is a space scientist, Imperial alumnus and current presenter of ‘The Sky at Night’, and will be talking about science and your career, drawing on her own wide ranging experiences, as part of Focus on Science Communication and Policy week.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE

Graduating with a BSc Physics at Imperial in 1990, Maggie then completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1994. Her thesis was accepted in 1995, entitled "Interferometric Studies of Very Thin Lubricant Films in Concentrated Contacts". This project involved development of an ultra-thin film measurement system (using spectroscopy and interferometry to the 2.5 nm level).

Maggie has worked on a range of projects during her career, starting with work for the Ministry of Defence on missile warning systems and handheld instruments to detect landmines. In 1999, at Imperial with a fellowship from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, she worked on developing a high-resolution spectrograph for the Gemini telescope in Chile – providing analysis to help scientists what’s happening on stars billions of miles away. Maggie was also lead scientist at Astrium, where she managed observation instruments on a satellite, measuring wind speeds to help the investigation of climate change.

Maggie is currently a research fellow in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at UCL and since February 2014, she has presented the BBC’s astronomy TV programme ‘The Sky at Night’.

Date/Location

Date: Thursday 12 March
Time: 13.00 – 13.50
Location: G34, Sir Alexander Fleming Building

How do I attend?

Students can book to attend this Lunchtime Careers Talk - ‘Science and your career’ with Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock - via JobsLive.