Meet the judges

Science

Dame Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock – space scientist and educator

Dame Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist whose passion is demonstrating that science is for everyone.

Maggie is an award-winning, BAFTA-nominated TV presenter and regular panel show member. She’s written seven books, served as President of the British Science Association (2021–2022) and is Chancellor of the University of Leicester.

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Arts and culture

David Olusoga OBE – historian, broadcaster and film-maker

David Olusoga OBE is a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker who investigates the UK’s untold histories to uncover a clearer picture of the past and what’s shaped our culture. He’s a columnist and an award-winning author who’s written seven books. In 2020, he held an exclusive interview with former President of the United States, Barack Obama.

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Society

Tayshan Hayden-Smith – TV presenter, social and environmental activist

Tayshan Hayden-Smith is a social and environmental activist and TV presenter. From the age of three, his biggest passion was football. But after he and his community were affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, he found himself turning to nature and swapping his football boots for gardening gloves. At 23, Tayshan founded Grow2Know, a not-for-profit that explores creative and cultural access to nature through collaboration and community.

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Nature and climate

Megan McCubbin – zoologist, wildlife TV presenter and science communicator

Megan is a passionate zoologist and adventurer who focuses on science communication as a means to raise awareness for the climate and the biodiversity we share our planet with. Having studied wildlife around the world – everything from bears to sharks – she’s now one of the nation's leading wildlife TV presenters and the author of a range of celebrated nature books.