Dr. Aderin-Pocock does not let dyslexia stand in the way of her dream to reach the stars.
Growing up, Maggie pretended to sleep in school because she hated going to class. She felt ostracized because of her dyslexia, like she wasn’t smart enough compared to her peers. Until, that is, she discovered her knack for science. Slowly, Maggie’s confidence began to grow as her father helped foster her newfound interest in learning.
In college she studied physics and got her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College. Since completing her degrees, Dr. Maggie has held multiple positions including developing satellites to study climate change, researching the light of stars to assess chemical reactions, landmine detection and has been a science consultant on various TV shows. Aderin-Pocock also has her own company called Guildford Science Innovation Ltd through which she conducts “Tours of the Universe.” She has also won notable awards including: MBE for services to science and education, 2013 Yale’s Center for Dyslexia’s Out of the Box Thinking Award, and was the first Black woman to win the gold medal in the Physics News Award.
Now, Dr. Maggie also holds a fellowship at University College London through which she speaks at schools, sharing her story and encouraging children - especially those who tend to be shunted away from pursuing further education - to find their interest and pursue their dream, to “desire to aspire.”
Watch Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock share her story in her TEDx talk here.