Interviewed about her new role on the BBC’s Today Programme on 30 July, Professor Michelle Dougherty described the opportunities the role would bring, “it allows me to engage in a more concrete way with the general public, about how exciting Astronomy and Space is. I've always liked to engage with people and tell them what I do, because I'm really excited about what I do, and so being able to do that as part of my job is really rather important to me. I also want to engage young children and let them know that they can do almost anything they want to do. As a young child in South Africa, I never thought I'd end up doing what I do. But you know, you say yes to things that might be a bit scary, but you can learn to do them as you take them on. And I think taking chances sometimes pays off. But I want to share my excitement with what astronomers do.Asked about how life on Earth is affected by knowledge of astronomy se replied, “I think it it makes you realize that we're rather small compared to the size of the universe. It always makes me think quite carefully about the kind of lives that we lead and the impact that we have on other people. I see astronomy as a way of exploring so we're exploring what else is beyond our solar system and in our solar system as well. And being able to do that allows us to generate a whole lot of other things, like, you know, innovation. Some of the instruments that we build are then used to innovate in other areas of research. And so the UK economy can gain from that, improving the amount of children that take up stem subject is something I'm really passionate about as well”.Asked about being the first woman to hold the role of Astonomer Royal she responded, “ I've always wanted to make sure that if I'm ever selected for a role, it's because of what I do, and not because I'm because I'm female. But I think for me, particularly for young girls, seeing someone who looks like them in a role like this will potentially allow them to dream that they might be able to do something like this in the future. So, if it makes just a few people think, ‘Oh, maybe I can do something like that’, then I would have achieved one of the things I'd like to achieve”.

---

For more coverage of astronomy, astronauts, space and STEAM in education read

• Reaching for the stars: three lessons for thinking big about STEAM
• Exclusive interview with astronaut and space expert Tony Antonelli – The synergy of leadership, innovation and planning
• Mission Discovery Space and STEM with ISSET and NASA

---

---

Find out more about the Think Global People and Think Women community and events.

---

Subscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all the latest international assignments and global mobility news.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.

©2025 Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.