Congratulations are in order!
Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock just made history as the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the Physics News awards, the Institute of Physics reports.
Aderin-Pocock is an accomplished science communicator and space scientist with a career spanning nearly two decades. She has worked with hundreds of thousands of children, educating them around physics engagement and space research.
Over the years, she has continued to push the conversation around women in science while also creating access to careers in the field. She has racked up a number of accolades including a 2009 New Year Honours, receiving the member of the order of the British empire (MBE) award, a Science and Technology Facilities Council Science in Society Fellowship, and recognition for authoring two popular science books, The Sky at Night: book of the Moon – A Guide to Our Closest Neighbour, and Dr Maggie’s Grand Tour of the Solar System.
Now, Aderin-Pocock has won the 2020 William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize for her “exceptional services to science education and physics communication,” becoming the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the award’s history. Her advocacy for diversity in physics and passion has put her ahead of the class, revolutionizing the public perception of women in science.
She has continued to push the conversation forward, working with BBC and other television and radio series. In addition to her most recent award, she has also earned the title of president-elect of the British Science Association.
Congratulations Dr. Maggie!
Photo Courtesy of BBC/Institute of Physics