Maggie Aderin’s childhood was marked by the imaginative worlds of Star Trek, fueling a lifelong aspiration to venture into space. While orbital travel remains an unfulfilled ambition, she has firmly established herself as one of the United Kingdom’s most recognizable scientists. An accomplished astronomer and broadcaster, her work has spanned projects like the James Webb and Gemini telescopes. In a conversation with New Scientist’s “The World, the Universe and Us” podcast, Aderin discussed her autobiography, “Starchild: My life under the night sky,” and her journey to her current influential position.
Rowan Hooper, the interviewer, acknowledged Aderin’s multifaceted role as host of “The Sky At Night,” former president of the British Science Association, and a prominent science educator. He highlighted her significant impact on tens of thousands of children through her outreach efforts. Hooper suggested that “Starchild” functions as a powerful piece of outreach, conveying the message, “Look, I achieved this, and you can too.” He inquired if this was a primary motivation behind the book.
The “Reach for the Stars” Philosophy
Aderin confirmed that this sentiment was indeed a driving force. She advocates for the universal pursuit of one’s aspirations, stating, “I always say reach for the stars, no matter what your stars are.” Her childhood fascination with shows like “The Clangers” and “Star Trek” reflects this, both literally and figuratively. The desire to explore, to “get out there,” has been the central impetus throughout her life. Aderin explained that by holding onto such an ambitious dream—even without ultimate success in space travel—it has empowered her to accomplish things she once considered impossible. This is the message she endeavors to share with everyone she meets, and a book felt like an ideal medium for articulating it.
The interviewer noted several striking details from the autobiography, including Aderin’s experience attending 13 schools over 12 years. Aderin found this amusing, as she hadn’t realized this mobility was unusual. She attributed it to her parents’ separation during her early childhood, which led to ongoing custody arrangements and frequent moves between households.
The Foundation of Education
Her father posed a significant question when she was just four years old: which Oxbridge college she intended to attend. Aderin’s father recognized the profound importance of education; fortunately, she came to share this view. Having immigrated from Nigeria, he perceived Britain as a rather unwelcoming environment upon his arrival in the late 1960s. With four daughters, he was determined for them to not only survive but to flourish. Consequently, education was a deeply ingrained value from their earliest years.
Aderin, however, initially felt a sense of failure within the educational system. Diagnosed with dyslexia, she was placed at the back of the classroom, equipped with safety scissors and glue. This experience led her to believe that education was paramount, yet she struggled academically. This struggle contrasted sharply with her father’s belief in its transformative power.
Connecting Past and Present Ambitions
The autobiography also recounts Aderin’s teenage efforts to construct her own telescopes, a stark contrast to her later work on the Gemini telescope. She pursued university studies, a path that placed her as the sole Black woman in her physics class. Now, a Barbie doll has been created in her likeness. The book draws a clear through-line from her youthful pursuits to her current achievements, illustrating how these elements coalesce, much like the focused beams of a telescope.
Aderin elaborated on how these pieces fit together. Her decision to build a telescope stemmed from listening to “The Sky At Night,” where Patrick Moore would describe celestial objects visible through such instruments. She acquired her first telescope, which proved disappointing. Later, she discovered an adult-education magazine article detailing how to build one. At 14, she required special permission from both her teachers and father to enroll in the class.
A Lifelong Fascination with the Moon
“I’m known in my family as a self-certified lunatic,” Aderin stated, emphasizing the self-assigned nature of the title. She shared her father’s stories about the moon, whom he considered a friend. Growing up in Nigeria, his daily 12-mile bicycle commute to school often took place in darkness due to unlit roads. The moon served as his reliable guide. Similarly, living in inner-city London, clear starlight was a rarity, but the moon’s illumination was ever-present. Thus, the moon was both her father’s companion and became hers as well. She expressed another ambitious desire: to walk alongside the historic footprints of Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface.
The Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
Aderin recently presented the Royal Institution Christmas lectures, with one of the core topics being the potential for life beyond Earth. She recalled watching these lectures as a child, harboring a persistent desire to attend them in person. After 57 years, she finally achieved this goal. Her lectures began by examining life on Earth, defining what it means to be alive here, before expanding to our solar system and then venturing outward to exoplanets and the search for biosignatures.
During her university years, discussions about the existence of exoplanets were theoretical. Today, she noted, such planets can not only be detected but their atmospheres can also be analyzed using spectroscopy. She mentioned her involvement with the James Webb Space Telescope, specifically its near-infrared spectrometer.
The Transformative Power of the James Webb Space Telescope
Aderin explained that the James Webb Space Telescope, focused on infrared energy emanating as heat, is fundamentally altering our understanding of the universe, much like the Hubble Space Telescope did previously. Hubble provided new insights but also raised numerous questions. Webb represents the subsequent phase in deciphering cosmic mysteries, specifically through its analysis of infrared light.
Inspiring Future Generations
When Aderin speaks to children in schools, she emphasizes that being a role model does not necessitate perfection. She openly discusses her dyslexia and ADHD, admitting to spelling challenges and a tendency to be late. Aderin views these as aspects of her neurodiversity, yet they have not prevented her from pursuing her ambitions and achieving things she once deemed unattainable. The message is clear: one can embrace imperfections and still achieve significant goals. She believes everyone possesses an internal drive, a “burning bright” quality. Sharing this unique inner light, she asserts, makes the world a better place. The crucial task in life, she advises, is to identify what truly ignites one’s passion.
Navigating Underestimation and the Value of Diversity
Aderin recounts experiences in her book where she was mistaken for a cleaner or a tea lady, instances of general underestimation. Hooper asked if such perceptions have diminished since her postgraduate studies. Aderin expressed hope, but acknowledged the difficulty in definitively assessing the extent of change. As one progresses professionally, entering more specialized fields, such interactions become less frequent, though they still occur occasionally. She believes society has indeed evolved and is moving in a more positive direction, but the journey is not yet complete, presenting an ongoing challenge.
She sometimes feels singled out as the only woman or the only Black person in a room, which can create pressure. However, she now reframes this perspective. Aderin sees being the sole representative of a particular group not as a burden, but as a necessity for the field. Science, she argues, thrives on diversity, as varied perspectives foster innovation. Homogeneous groups tend to think alike, hindering the groundbreaking advancements in technology and understanding.
The Challenge of Scientific Mistrust
Hooper inquired whether Aderin had observed a rise in public mistrust of science throughout her career, or if astronomy remained largely unaffected. Aderin noted a general distrust of experts, often framed as a question of their motives: “What are you selling?” Much of her work involves Earth observation through satellites, aimed at understanding climate change. When she presented on this topic, some listeners would dismiss her findings, suggesting scientists fabricated data to secure funding.
She believes astronomy occupies a different space, transcending such skepticism. For Aderin, astronomy represents a fundamental pursuit of knowledge, akin to poetry and art, that enriches the human spirit. Throughout history, cultures worldwide have gazed at the night sky, pondering its mysteries. Astronomy, she suggests, is a continuation of this innate human curiosity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she encouraged people to look up at the sky, noting that it offered a perspective that transcended immediate global crises. While these issues persist, she believes gaining a broader cosmic view can be immensely helpful.
This interview segment is derived from a conversation on New Scientist’s podcast.