British space scientist honoured with Barbie doll modelled after her

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock was named a Barbie Role Model for promoting science careers to girls. PHOTO: REUTERS

British space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock has been honoured with a unique Barbie doll in celebration of her achievements, just ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old, a former British Science Association president, was named a Barbie Role Model for promoting science careers to girls.

“I hope my doll will remind girls that when you reach for the stars, anything is possible,” media reports quoted her as saying.

Dr Aderin-Pocock was the first black woman to win gold at the Physics News Awards, in 2020. She is also a co-presenter of BBC’s The Sky At Night, a TV programme about space and astronomy.

The doll, made by toy company Mattel, features a starry dress and comes with a telescope accessory, a reference to Dr Aderin-Pocock’s work of looking deep into space with Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope, an infrared observatory that was launched into space in December 2021.

Through the space telescope, which is a joint venture between various space agencies and scientists, scientists can get an idea of how the universe looked about 200 million years after the Big Bang.

Dr Aderin-Pocock was one of the scientists who worked on the telescope.

Earlier this month, she was appointed as the new chancellor of the University of Leicester, which is known for space research.

“Since falling in love with the idea of space travel as a young girl, I have spent my career trying to show girls how fascinating space science can be,” she said.

“I want to inspire the next generation of scientists, and especially girls, and let them know that Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is for them.

These subjects are just too important to be left to the guys because through science, you can literally change the world.”

Dr Aderin-Pocock also hopes the expanded range of Barbie dolls can help “smash stereotypes”.

“When I was little, Barbie didn’t look like me, so to have one created in my likeness is mind-boggling,” she said.

“It’s such an honour to receive this doll that is celebrating my achievements… My daughter and I danced around the living room when we heard!”

Dr Aderin-Pocock’s doll, which is not going on sale, is one of seven custom-made dolls that Mattel created to celebrate women blazing trails in Stem subjects.

Others in Stem with Barbie dolls modelled after them include former YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki and German marine researcher Antje Boetius.

Mattel UK’s marketing director Kelly Philp said: “In the UK, research tells us women make up only 26 per cent of the Stem workforce, so showcasing an exciting career in space science like Dr Maggie’s is just one way we are inspiring girls to think differently about their career opportunities.”

Other inspiring women whom Barbie dolls are modelled after include the first Italian female European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, tennis star Naomi Osaka and prominent primatologist Jane Goodall.

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