Why Public Engagement Is Good For You (?)

Dept. Science and Technology Studies University College London Overview • Edited Highlights to date • Edited Lows to date • SWOT Analysis PE – Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats • Conclusions Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock

 Name: Maggie Aderin, BSc, PhD  Birth Place: London, Nigerian parents

 Education: Schools SE England, Imperial College  Position: Space Optical Instrumentation Manager UK,  Company: Astrium Limited, UK  Interesting STFC Fellowship @ UCL, 07 to Now Points: Science Innovation Ltd

TV Work Edited Highlights to Date… • Print Media – Telegraph article – Radio Times – Independent on Sunday – Mail, Mirror, Times, Guardian, Economist, New Statesman – Awards: – MBE Science Education (New Years Honour 2009) – Independent Happy List 2011 – Honorary degree (Staffordshire University) – Red’s Hot Women (Winner of Pioneer category) Edited Highlights to Date • TV and Radio – Desert Island Discs – Newsround to Newsnight – BBC Drama – Science consultant – Regular Breakfast TV – Chris Evans, 5 Live, Broadcasting House – Big, Bigger, Biggest • Talks – 75,000 reached 60% in 16 to 19 demographic – Climate Change in a bottle, Windsor Castle – Tours of the Universe Do We Really Need the Moon? Edited Low Points

• Bloomsbury Theatre • Every Woman’s Guild to the Universe • Blue Peter Satellite “Blue Peter 1” Kids in Space! SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS STRENGTHS

• Amazing fun • Inspiring the next generation • Getting Science to a wider audience • Getting your voice heard • Can be very diverse • Great confidence booster WEAKNESSES

• Numbers seen on school visits • House keeping • High attrition rate but still put the work in • Work is time consuming (inefficient) – 3 mins on TV 1.5 days to prepare – 1 hour documentary 6 weeks filming • Control – Misquotations, accuracy – In hands of director OPPORTUNITIES

• Be an opportunist • Getting seen – Science Festivals • Using existing networks • Science – the new tv cookery • BBC Science Buddy scheme – [email protected] THREATS

• Hard to do without dedicated support • Takes time to get established • Time – Balance – Impact on career – Can take over science career – Getting dedicated time for PE • Can be fickle Conclusions

• Very rewarding work • Meet fantastic people – From school kids to PM • Visit some brilliant places • Can be addictive • Can take over ones life

• Thanks to STFC for support over the years