Maggie Aderin, renowned as one of Britain’s leading scientists, grew up inspired by Star Trek, dreaming of venturing into space. Currently, she plays a pivotal role in astrobiology, and her impressive career includes working on significant projects like the James Webb and Gemini telescopes. In a recent New Scientist podcast titled The World, The Universe and Us, she discussed her autobiography Starchild: My Life Under the Night Sky and her remarkable journey.

Rowan Hooper: Maggie, as the host of The Sky at Night and President of the British Science Association, you have profoundly influenced science education. Your book, Starchild, effectively communicates, “I did this, so you can too.” Is inspiring youth a central theme behind this?

Maggie Aderin: Absolutely! I often encourage children to reach for the stars. Inspired by childhood shows like Power Rangers and Star Trek, my ambition has driven me to achieve things I once thought impossible. The idea of dreaming big made me want to share my story through this book.

Incredible! You attended 13 schools in 12 years. How did that experience shape you?

Interestingly, I didn’t realize this unusual circumstance wasn’t common. My parents’ divorce led to constant changes in my environment.

At just four years old, your father asked you which Oxbridge university you planned to attend. What was his motivation?

My father, an immigrant from Nigeria, understood the importance of education. Despite facing challenges in Britain in the late 60s, he emphasized the value of education to his four daughters from an early age.

Your journey includes building your own telescope and being the only Black woman in your physics class. Now, you even have a Barbie doll made in your likeness. How does your book encapsulate this journey?

Indeed! Everything I’ve done connects beautifully, like a telescope coming into focus. Inspired by The Sky at Night, I built my first telescope at age 14 with guidance from an educational magazine.

Your love for the moon comes through in the book. Can you share your connection?

In my family, I’m the self-proclaimed ‘lunatic.’ My father equated the moon with friendship, guiding his path on dark nights. Although stars are often obscured in inner-city London, the moon shines brightly, symbolizing connection and guidance in my life.

During your Royal Institution Christmas Lecture, you addressed the question of life beyond Earth. What insights did you share?

After desiring to give a lecture for 57 years, I explored our planet, our solar system, and beyond, discussing exoplanets and biosignatures. The evolution of our understanding surrounding these concepts is profound.

Were you involved in the advancements at the James Webb Space Telescope?

Yes! I worked with the Near-Infrared Spectrometer, which, alongside the Hubble Space Telescope, has transformed our understanding of the universe, raising many questions and expanding our knowledge base.

What message resonates most with children during your school visits?

I emphasize that you don’t have to be perfect to serve as a role model. My own challenges of dyslexia and ADHD demonstrate that imperfections do not hinder achievement. Everyone has a unique light to shine, and that diversity enriches our world.

Your book includes instances of being mistaken for a cleaner. Has progress been made regarding diversity in your field since your student days?

It’s difficult to assess, but while there has been some progress, challenges remain. Overall, I believe society is moving in a positive direction, yet there’s still work to be done.

As the only woman or Black person in the room, I feel a unique responsibility, but it’s essential that organizations recognize the need for diversity. Breakthroughs in science require a tapestry of perspectives for true innovation.

Throughout your career, have you noticed a growing skepticism toward science? Is astronomy affected by this?

There’s a noticeable distrust towards experts, driven by skepticism. During climate change lectures, I’ve faced claims of scientists manipulating data for funding. However, astronomy often transcends this skepticism; it is a pure quest for knowledge, feeding into humanity’s age-old curiosity about the cosmos.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity for the New Scientist podcast.