Term 2: Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Our Scientist of the Term for Term 2 in Year 5 is Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock!

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a British space scientist and science communicator who is passionate about helping people understand the wonders of the Universe. From a young age, Maggie was fascinated by space and dreamed of exploring the stars. Today, she is known for her work developing scientific instruments and inspiring children and adults to discover more about science.

Maggie studied physics at university and went on to earn a PhD in mechanical engineering. Throughout her career, she has worked on scientific instruments used to investigate space and understand more about the Universe. One of her most exciting projects involved working on instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope, which helps scientists observe distant galaxies, stars and planets.

As well as her scientific work, Maggie is passionate about making science accessible to everyone. Many people know her as a presenter of the BBC programme The Sky at Night, where she helps viewers explore astronomy and discover the incredible objects found in space.

Maggie's journey is particularly inspiring because she has worked hard to overcome challenges and follow her passion for science. She believes that everyone should have the opportunity to explore their interests, ask questions and achieve their ambitions. Through her work, she encourages young people to look up at the night sky and imagine what they might discover!

Your Challenge!

We would like our Year 5 children to find out more about Maggie Aderin-Pocock and create a piece of work that demonstrates their knowledge and understanding of her life and scientific achievements.

Your work could include:

• Interesting facts about Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

• Information about her life, education and career.

• An explanation of what an astronomer or space scientist does.

• Information about the James Webb Space Telescope and how it helps scientists study the Universe.

• An explanation of how telescopes help us observe distant objects in space.

• A timeline of important events in Maggie's life.

• Information about some of the amazing discoveries scientists have made about stars, galaxies and planets.

• An explanation of how Maggie inspires young people to pursue science.

• A poster, fact file, presentation or another creative format.

• Anything else that demonstrates your scientific understanding!

Remember to make your work creative, informative and scientifically accurate. We would love to see you explore the wonders of space and share your own questions about the Universe.

Important Date

Please hand your completed work to your class teacher by Friday 4th December 2026 (Panto Friday)

All entries will then be passed to our Science Lead, Mrs Crowe-White, who will choose the piece of work that demonstrates the most impressive learning, creativity and enthusiasm for science.

🏆 The winning child will receive a certificate and a prize, which will be presented during our celebration assembly in the final week of the term.

We can't wait to see what our budding scientists discover about Maggie Aderin-Pocock and the fascinating mysteries of space!

Good luck, Year 5 — and keep reaching for the stars! 🚀🔭