Space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock: ‘I was underestimated as a child. I want to tell kids to reach for the stars’

The Sky at Night presenter on science, school and Star Trek

Born in London in 1968 toNigerian parents, Maggie Aderin-Pocock isa scientist and presenter of The Sky at Night. She trained as aphysicist - graduating from Imperial College London with a PhD in 1994, and working for the Ministry of Defence on landmine detection and missile warning systems. She has since designed a host of space instruments, become the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the Physics News Award and in 2013 took over from Patrick Moore as a co-host of the BBC's long-running astronomy show. Aderin-Pocock is one of the panellists for the National Trust's Time + Space Award, anew initiative to give 16- to 25-year-olds the resources to explore ideas.

This was my Nigerian passport photo. I was quite excited to have my picture taken and my sister was, too. We were wearing Ladybird dresses from Woolworths. Mine was green with acollar and hers was red. I remember Iwas quite envious of hers.