Mary Jackson
Early Life
Mary grew up in Virginia, USA. She has a degree in maths and physical science from the Hampton Institute, a historically black university. Mary had several jobs after university, including teacher, secretary, bookkeeper and receptionist. She also took some time off to have a family.
Year born: 1921
Research Areas: Aerospace Engineering, Aerodynamics
Arthur Walker Jr.
Early Life
Arthur Walker Jr. was born in Ohio, USA and moved to New York when he was five years old. He was passionate about science from an early age, but his teacher tried to discourage him from following his passion. His parents stepped in and encouraged him to apply to University to study physics. Arthur completed a bachelor’s degree in Physics, and a master’s and PhD in Astrophysics. He served in the U.S. air force and his first assignment was in the weapons laboratory. Working on rockets sparked his interest in space-based research.
Year born: 1936
Research Areas: Solar Physics, Rockets
Tim Peake
Early Life
Tim was born and grew up in Chichester in the UK. His mum was a midwife and his dad a journalist. He went to air shows as a child which sparked his interest in flying. He left school at 18 to study at a military academy and join the British Army. Tim began flight training and became a helicopter pilot, going on to teach others to fly. During his time in the army he studied for a degree in Flight Dynamics from the University of Portsmouth.
Year born: 1972
Research Areas: Flight Dynamics, Aviation
Charles Bolden Jr.
Early Life
Charles was born in South Carolina, USA. His parents were teachers. He wanted to join the Navy and after school applied to the United States Naval Academy. The government rejected his application. Charles has said he was rejected because he is Black. Charles did not give up and wrote to President Johnson (in power at the time) for support. He was then accepted into the Naval Academy. Charles got a degree in Electrical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and trained as a fighter pilot. He flew in more than 100 combat missions.
Year born: 1946
Research Areas: Space Exploration, New Technology
"Our missions demand decades, even generational planning. But beyond technical milestones, the legacy we must pass on is inspiration."
Jocelyn Bell-Burnell
Early Life
Jocelyn was born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. When she was young, the school she went to school would only let the boys study science. Jocelyn’s parents complained to the school and the rules were changed so that the girls could also study science. At the age of 11, Jocelyn failed an important exam. She had to pass the exam to have the chance to go on to study at university. So her parents sent her to a boarding school in York, England where she took the exam again and passed.
Year born: 1943
Research Areas: Radio-Astronomy, Pulsars
Edward Ching-Te Chao
Early Life
Edward was born in Suzhou, China. His father was a philosopher and leading theologist in 20th century China. In 1945, Edward moved to the USA to teach Chinese to American troops. He got a PhD in Geology from the University of Chicago in 1948. In 1949, he moved to Virginia, USA and started working for the US Geological Survey.
Year born: 1919
Research Areas: Meteorite impacts
"People don't believe, but you do your hard work. It takes time to gradually convince them. You always have to find new, better evidence."
Julia Slingo
Early Life
Julia was born in Warwickshire, UK. Her parents were both teachers. She studied Physics at university and has a BSc and PhD from the University of Bristol.
Year born: 1950
Research Areas: Weather Forecasting, Tropical Climates
"I just like understanding how things work that I can see in the real world"
Aomawa Shields
Early Life
Aomawa grew up in New Hampshire, USA. She wanted to be lots of things when she was young (including a cheerleader or an orthopaedist) but became interested in astronomy after watching the film ‘Space Camp’ when she was 12. Aomawa used to get up early in the morning to see Jupiter’s moons in the sky. She studied Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at university but then took a break from science, studying for a Master’s degree in Acting.
Research Areas: Astrobiology, Exoplanets
"There was always this feeling that I had to be a certain type of scientist… I don’t believe that anymore."
Piers Sellers
Early Life
Piers Sellers grew up in Sussex, UK. He watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing when he was 13 and decided he wanted to be an astronaut. He volunteered as a Royal Air Force cadet during school and learned to pilot planes and gliders. Piers studied Ecological Science (the interaction between nature and organisms) at the University of Edinburgh and went on to get a PhD in Meteorology (studying the atmosphere and weather) from the University of Leeds.
Year born: 1955
Research Areas: Climate Science
"to make the changes that we need to make and to reach a safer future, we need the resources of everybody"