Space communicator and scientist Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE is changing the way we think about space. ‘The Sky at Night’ host is an ambassador for the UK’s booming space tech industry. She launched day two of the CIPD 2024 conference, recounting her journey from school to satellites, in an inspiring talk about the importance of thinking big and connecting future talent to future jobs. Ruth Holmes reports.


D


r Maggie Aderin-Pocock is powered by a “crazy dream”. Her goal is to get more children and young people involved and interested in science, technology, education,


the arts and maths – STEAM. “It’s all those things that make the world go round,” she told delegates in Manchester and watching on the conference livestream. The reason, she explained, is because the UK is


struggling to build and maintain the talent pipeline needed to sustain the UK’s booming space-tech industry. The UK space industry generates £16.5 billion


annually and employs 47,000 people across the country. “We do space in the UK and we do it really well. But it’s definitely a case of ‘Houston, we have a problem’. We need more STEM practitioners. Only 15% of 10–14-year-olds aspire to pursue a career as a scientist, leaving us with a potential skills shortage. STEM is driving our economy and the government realises we need more in the talent pipeline.” A case in point is the increasing number of high-


school students taking science subjects and qualifications. “There are physicists everywhere,” she says. The message is landing that science degrees offer transferable skills. But for the STEM sector, including the space industry, it’s about creating inclusion, attracting people and retaining them. Her solution is based on outreach to over 500,000


people, mostly children, and influence across academia, business and broadcasting. Dr Aderin-Pocock’s three- pronged approach “thinks big” and “thinks crazy”. It looks at role models, relevance and developing a sense of wonder.


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GLOBAL LEADERSHIP HOT TOPIC – SPACE SE CTOR


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