Maggie Aderin-Pocock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Ph.D., (Hon) D.Sc., MBE
Born 1968 (age 44–45)
London, England
Nationality British
Fields Space Science,
Science Communication,
Institutions University College London
Alma mater Imperial College London (B.Sc.), (Ph.D.)
Known for television personality, science educator
Notable awards MBE

Margaret (Maggie) Ebuoluwa Aderin-Pocock, MBE (born 1968) is an English space scientist. She is a research fellow in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies[1] and an Honorary Research Associate in UCL Department of Physics and Astronomy.[2]

Contents

Personal life and education [edit]

Aderin-Pocock was born in London, England to Nigerian parents. She attended La Sainte Union Convent School in North London. She has dyslexia and, as a child, when she told a teacher she wanted to be an astronaut, it was suggested she try nursing, "as that was science too".[3] However, she gained four A-Levels in maths, physics, chemistry and biology.

She attended Imperial College London, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1990 and a Doctorate 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). This doctoral research involved improving the optical performance and the mechanical design of the system, as well as development of control and image processing software. Other techniques at the time could only operate to the micron level with much poorer resolution. This development work resulted in the instrument being sold by an Imperial College spin-off company.

She discussed her biography on BBC's Desert Island Discs in March 2010,[4] and has been the subject of numerous biographical articles on women in science.[5]

Career [edit]

Aderin-Pocock has worked on many projects, from private industry to government contracts to academic research. She began in the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency on missile warning systems. She then worked on hand-held instruments to detect landmines. Aderin-Pocock moved back to Imperial College London in 1999 with a Fellowship from the Science and Technology Facilities Council to work on a high-resolution spectrograph for the Gemini telescope in Chile, which probes the heart of stars by converting the starlight gathered by huge telescopes into the component rainbow colours, and then analyses them to work out what's happening billions of miles away.[6]

She was the lead scientist for the optical instrumentation group for Astrium. She is working on and managing the observation instruments for the Aeolus satellite, which will measure wind speeds to help the investigation of climate change. Aderin-Pocock is also helping to coordinate the development of the Mid-Infrared Instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope, the planned replacement for the Hubble, and on other infrared mechanisms for monitoring climate change and on other optical systems and bespoke instrumentation for future space missions.

She is also a pioneering figure in communicating science to the public, specifically school children, and also runs her own company, Science Innovation Ltd, which engages children and adults all over the world with the wonders of space science.[7] Aderin-Pocock is committed to inspiring new generations of astronauts, engineers and scientists and she has spoken to about 25,000 children, many of them at inner-city schools telling them how and why she is a scientist, busting myths about careers, class and gender.[8] Through this Aderin-Pocock conducts "Tours of the Universe", a scheme she set up to engage school children and adults around the world in the wonders of space.[9] She also helps encourage scientific endeavours of young people by being a celebrity judge at the National Science + Engineering Competition. The Finals of this competition are held at The Big Bang Fair in March each year to reward young people who have acheived excellence in a science, technology, engineering or maths project.

Aderin-Pocock was the scientific consultant for the 2009 mini-series Paradox, and also appeared on Doctor Who Confidential.[10] In February 2011 she presented Do We Really Need the Moon? on BBC 2.[11] She also presented In Orbit: How Satellites Rule Our World on BBC 2 on 26 March 2012.[12]

Since 2006, Aderin-Pocok has served as a research fellow at UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies, supported by a Science in Society Fellowship 2010-2013 funded by Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). She previously held two other fellowships related to science communication, including Science and Society Fellowships 2006-2008 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and 2008-2010 (STFC).[13]

In 2009, and in 2009 she was awarded a Member of the British Empire for her services to science and education.[14] She also was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University [15] in 2009 for contributions to the field of science education. In 2006 she was one of six 'Women of Outstanding Achievement' winners with GetSET Women.

Publications [edit]

Aderin, M. "Space Instrumentation: Physics and Astronomy in Harmony?" Paper presented at the Engineering and Physics - Synergy for Success, 5 Oct. 2006, UK, 2008.

Aderin, Maggie. "A Different Sort of School Run." Astronomy & Geophysics 48, no. 5 (Oct 2007): 10-11.

Barlow, MJ, AS Hales, PJ Storey, XW Liu, YG Tsamis, and ME Aderin. "Bhros High Spectral Resolution Observations of Pn Forbidden and Recombination Line Profiles." Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 2, no. Symposium S234 (2006): 367-68.

Aderin, M. E. "Bhros Installation and System Performance." Paper presented at the Ground-based Instrumentation for Astronomy, 21-25 June 2004, USA, 2004.

Aderin, M., I. Crawford, P. D'Arrigo, and A. Charalambous. "High Resolution Optical Spectrograph (Hros): A Summary of Progress." Paper presented at the Conference on Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors, March 27, 2000 - March 31, 2000, Munich, Ger, 2000.

Aderin, M. E., and I. A. Burch. "Countermine: Hand Held and Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection." Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Detection of Abandoned Land Mines, 12-14 Oct. 1998, London, UK, 1998.

Aderin, Margaret Ebuoluwa. "Interferometric Studies of Very Thin Lubricant Films in Concentrated Contacts." Thesis (Ph D and D I C ) - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College, London 1995, Imperial College London, 1995.

Gunsel, S., H. A. Spikes, and M. Aderin. "In-Situ Measurement of Zddp Films in Concentrated Contacts." S T L E Tribology Transactions 36, no. 2 (1993): 276-82.

Aderin, M. E., G. J. Johnston, H. A. Spikes, T. G. Balson, and M. G. Emery. "Film-Forming Properties of Polyalkylene Glycols." Journal of Synthetic Lubrication 10, no. 1 (1993): 23-45.

Cann, P.M., M. Aderin, G.J. Johnston, and H.A. Spikes. "An Investigation into the Orientation Oflubricant Molecules in Ehd Contacts." In Wear Particles: From the Cradle to the Grave, edited by D Dowson, G Dalmaz, THC Childs, CM Taylor and M Godet. 209-18: Elsevier Science Publishers, 1992.

Aderin, M., G. J. Johnston, H. A. Spikes, and G. Caporiccio. "The Elastohydrodynamic Properties of Some Advanced Hydrocarbon-Based Lubricants." Lubrication Engineering 48, no. 8 (Aug 1992): 633-38.

References [edit]

  1. ^ Maggie Aderin-Pocock Maggie Aderin, Research Fellow UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies
  2. ^ Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock recognised at Suffrage Science event 27 February 2013.
  3. ^ Cooltobe.me online role model profile.
  4. ^ BBC Desert Island Discs, Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
  5. ^ Maggie Aderin-Pocock "Let's inspire the next generation of scientists", Daily Telegraph, 13 March 2009.
  6. ^ Maggie Aderin-Pocock Maggie Aderin, Research Fellow UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies
  7. ^ Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Battle of ideas
  8. ^ Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE Staffordshire University
  9. ^ [1] Royal Institution profile
  10. ^ Maggie Aderin-Pocock IMDB
  11. ^ BBC - BBC Two Programmes - Do We Really Need the Moon?
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ Maggie Aderin-Pocock Maggie Aderin, Research Fellow UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies.
  14. ^ New Year's Honours List 7 January 2009.
  15. ^ Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE.

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maggie_Aderin-Pocock&oldid=558021758"