Jackie Bell’s ultimate dream is to be the next British astronaut. One of the twelve finalists on BBC 2’s Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?, she keeps taking steps to achieve her dream. Today she is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Imperial College London and is responsible for planning and delivering activities related to Outreach, Diversity and Public Engagement. Jackie is now available to book as a speaker at a wide range of events where she shares more about improving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM, engaging underrepresented groups in STEM, astronaut training and human spaceflights, and several other topics.
Lauded as the Most Influential Women in UK Tech by Computer Weekly in 2022, Jackie has countless accolades to her name. She recently became a Grant Holder of the Royal Academy of Engineering for the Diversity Impact Programme and received the President’s Award for Excellence in Societal Engagement at Imperial College London in 2022 which is awarded to staff who are committed to societal engagement. Winner of the Sir Michael Marshall Award for Diversity in Aviation and Air Charter by the Air Charter Association, Jackie is also a Member of the Board of Trustees at the Walton Youth and Community Project where she develops positive relationships with young people and the community thus eliciting positive change. She has also been an Outreach and Detached Worker Liverpool Youth Service, Student Support Worker at Randstad, Academic/Enriched Tutor at The Hawthorne's School and a Detached Sessional Worker at Positive Futures Liverpool.
In her TEDx Talk “An Insider’s Guide to Becoming an Astronaut”, Jackie delves into her experience on a TV show and more about her work in the STEM field. An Honorary Fellow at the University of Liverpool, Jackie also completed her BSc in Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Sciences and PhD in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics from the University of Liverpool. Receiving the John Lennon Scholarship during a part of her time at university, she worked as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Liverpool for three years. She has worked as an Explainer for the Science Museum Group, a Community Engagement Officer for the British Science Association, a Science and Physics Project Manager at UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres and was the Chair of the British Science Association at Bristol and Bath branches.
Winner of the WISE20 (Women in Science and Engineering) Award, Women in Tech Rising Star award by Computer Weekly in 2021, and WISE Rising Star award in 2019, Jackie is a highly revered figure in the STEM fields. With an immense passion for science and ensuring that diversity and inclusion practices are enforced within the industry, Jackie is using her platform as a speaker to inspire and educate. Now available to speak at a range of events on DEI in STEM, what it takes to be an astronaut and engaging underrepresented groups in STEM, Jackie Bell will make an excellent choice for your next event. Hire her today!
