Above: Dame Allan's Schools Principal Will Scott welcomes Dame Maggie Aderin Pocock as part of The Lectures series
It is not often that a speaker can capture both the enormity of the cosmos and the intricacies of personal identity in one breath. But when Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock took to the stage at Dame Allan’s Schools for The Lectures series, she did just that.
A world-renowned space scientist, award-winning science communicator and passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, Dame Maggie brought an unforgettable message of resilience, purpose and possibility. Her life’s work—exploring the universe—was mirrored by the gravity of her personal story: a journey defined by adversity, brilliance and a refusal to let the world define her limits.
Born in London to Nigerian parents who separated when she was four years old, Dame Maggie shared memories of a childhood marked by movement and marginalisation. “I went to 13 different schools,” she told a captivated audience of pupils, parents and staff in the Newsom Hall. “When people hear that, they often ask, ‘How naughty were you?’” she joked. Her schooling was fragmented, yet she remained focused on her ‘crazy dream’ of becoming a space scientist —gaining A-Levels in maths, biology, chemistry and physics and securing a place to study physics at Imperial College London, followed by a PhD in mechanical engineering.
She also spoke of her struggle with dyslexia, which wasn’t diagnosed until she was in her forties. As a child unable to spell, it seemed inconceivable to imagine writing bestselling books on stargazing and the moon. Today, she’s an ambassador for Made by Dyslexia and a champion for neurodivergent thinkers, arguing that qualities like empathy, curiosity, creativity and complex problem-solving—the hallmarks of dyslexic thinking—are exactly what the modern scientific world needs. “I used to say I suffered from dyslexia,” she said. “Now I call it my superpower.”
Her early ambition was shaped not by textbooks or lectures, but by cartoons and science fiction. Dame Maggie described how shows like The Clangers and Star Trek ignited her imagination as a young girl. In particular, the character of Lieutenant Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols, gave her something rare: the sight of a Black woman in a position of intelligence and authority. “Growing up, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere,” she told pupils. “At school, sometimes people would tell me to ‘go back home’, even though home for me was just around the corner. And when I was with Nigerian relatives, they would say, ‘Oh Maggie, you’re a lost Nigerian.’ But in space, there are no barriers.”
Her academic and professional career is as stellar as the galaxies she studies. Her work has taken her from the Ministry of Defence - designing missile warning systems and developing landmine detection technologies - to the European Space Agency, NASA and beyond. She was one of the 10,000 scientists who helped develop the James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful observatory ever launched, capable of looking back to the very origins of the universe. Much of her recent advocacy centres around Earth observation—championing the role of satellites that monitor climate change, atmospheric conditions and plant photosynthesis to help governments and humanitarian organisations respond to environmental crises.
As one of the UK’s most prominent science communicators, Dame Maggie has become a familiar face on television—most notably as a presenter of The Sky at Night, the BBC’s flagship astronomy programme and the longest-running science show in the world. She is also the author of 15 books, ranging from documentary-style explorations of the moon and the James Webb Space Telescope to children’s titles such as Am I made of Stardust? and Dr Maggie’s Grand Tour of the Solar System.
During her talk, Dame Maggie spoke about her belief in Ikigai—a Japanese concept that helps people find purpose and fulfilment in life. It’s based on four key elements: what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. When all four come together, that’s ikigai—your reason for being. “I’ve found mine,” she admitted. “Helping others see the wonder of the universe - that’s my ikigai.” She encouraged pupils to begin that same search. Not necessarily to become scientists—but to explore, reflect and remain open to where passion and purpose might intersect.
Central to her message was what she calls her three-pronged approach to inspiring others into STEM: role models, relevance and wonder. Role models, she explained, allow young people to see what is possible; relevance shows them that science isn’t just for “white guys in togas” but belongs to everyone; and wonder—the pure awe of discovery—keeps them going when the path gets hard. “We are doing things in science now that blow my mind,” she said. “From synthetic biology to exoplanet exploration—this is the most exciting time to be alive.”
She spoke of her own role models—of Marie Curie not only as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, but as a mother whose daughter also went on to win a Nobel Prize. She highlighted Gladys West, the Black American mathematician whose work enabled GPS technology. And she honoured the unknown women of ancient Mesopotamia, like Enheduanna, who studied the moon thousands of years ago. Their stories, she said, are just as vital as those of Newton or Einstein—proof that space science belongs to every culture.
She acknowledged that the idea of being a role model herself had once made her uncomfortable. “When someone first told me I was one, I panicked,” she said. “I thought, ‘I know what I’m really like. I’m messy. I’m always running late. I can’t possibly be a role model!’” Today, she celebrates the idea that we are all role models, simply by choosing to show up as ourselves and share our passions with others. That message was amplified in 2023, when Barbie released a doll in her likeness to mark International Women’s Day. “When I was little, Barbie didn’t look like me,” she said. “There was a moment of trepidation when they were revealing the doll to me. What if I didn’t like it? What if it looked nothing like me? But it does look like me… on a really good day!”
Despite her accolades—including being made a Dame in the 2024 New Year Honours List and being appointed Chancellor of the University of Leicester—she admitted to still experiencing imposter syndrome. “When I think of Dames, I think of Judi Dench. Me? I just talk about stars!” she said. Yet behind her humility is a scientist who has advised world governments, led global research collaborations and inspired more than half a million young people in schools across the UK.
She closed her talk with a concept she holds dear: stubborn optimism. It’s a mindset, she explained, that refuses to surrender to cynicism, no matter how immense the challenges. Whether it’s space exploration, climate change or societal inequality, the message was clear: we cannot give up. “Optimism fuels the vision,” she said. “But it’s stubbornness that gets you through the setbacks.”
Dame Maggie’s talk brought The Lectures to a powerful close. Now in its third year, the series—funded by Allanian Mark Dolder, CEO of Northumberland-based Bazaar Group—has welcomed a host of high-profile speakers to inspire and challenge both pupils and the wider school community.