Blog by Debra Joseph, SI Barbados

Suzie Imber is a Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Leicester. She specialises in understanding the impact of the sun and the solar wind on the magnetised planets, a research area known as Space Weather.

Suzie is a Co-Investigator on the X-ray spectrometer on board the joint ESA/JAXA BepiColombo spacecraft which launched in October 2018 and will arrive at Mercury in 2025. She will use this data to characterise the unique X-ray aurora recently discovered at Mercury.

Suzie was also the winner of the recent BBC 2 series entitled ‘Astronauts: ‘Do You Have What it Takes?’ during which twelve candidates were put through astronaut selection with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. She endured challenges such as taking her own blood, speaking Russian while in a centrifuge at 5g and conducting emergency procedures on the NASA undersea astronaut training facility, Aquarius. She was selected as the person Commander Hadfield would choose to have on a rocket ship alongside him.

Suzie was an England U21 lacrosse player, an elite rower, and is now a high-altitude mountaineer. She has written computer code to automatically identify mountains in South America and found hundreds of mountains that had never been identified before. She sets off annually to scale these incredibly remote, unclimbed mountains, exploring new regions of our planet and even discovering Incan ruins on the summits. She is currently a member of Edale Mountain Rescue, using her mountaineering skills to assist casualties in inaccessible regions of the Peak District.

She states:

• Curiosity and adaptability drive scientific discovery.
• Physical and intellectual challenges build resilience.
• Space exploration connects directly to improving life on Earth.
• Ethical and sustainable stewardship of space is essential for the future.

The speaker learned about her own skills and what astronaut programs look for.

As recognition for her contributions, an asteroid was named after her — a major personal achievement.

Her accomplishments are summed up as follows:

Inspiring the Next Generation

After returning from a major expedition, she felt inspired to share her story and promote science, especially among young women. She began speaking at schools across the country — reaching over 60,000 students in two years. Travelled widely to engage students in conversations about science, exploration, and confidence. Her goal: not to make everyone a scientist, but to encourage young people to think bigger and believe in their potential.

 Promoting Women in Science and Physics

• She addressed gender imbalance in physics.
• Advocated for greater female representation in science through talks, mentoring, and outreach.
• Used her personal experiences as a role model to inspire confidence and inclusion.

Mountain Rescue and Outdoor Education

• She became involved in mountain rescue, combining her love for the outdoors with community service.
• Teaches mountain safety, confidence, and preparation to young people.
• Earned medical and rescue qualifications to enhance her contribution.

Global Leadership and Climate Action

• She was selected for the Homeward Bound voyage, a leadership expedition to Antarctica for 100 women in science.
• The mission: connect scientists and policymakers to address climate change leadership.
• Found the all-women environment transformative — highly supportive, collaborative, and empowering.
• Realized the power of women working together toward shared goals.

Founding Educational and Mentorship Programs

• She founded a foundation program at her university to support undergraduates in science.
• Offers financial aid and mentoring to 10 students annually — selection is gender-blind, yet 8 of 10 awardees were women.
• Runs weekend and outreach programs at the University of Leicester to:
  • Make physics accessible and welcoming.
  • Encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to consider higher education.
  • Provide homework help and university application support to local students.

Core Messages

• Representation matters: visibility of women in science can inspire future generations.
• Empowerment through mentorship: guidance and encouragement build confidence and access.
• Community and collaboration: collective effort—especially among women—drives progress in science and leadership.
• Everyone can contribute, that is, small, consistent efforts in education and outreach make a lasting difference.

Her keynote address was inspiring and the audience sat in awe of her and her work. Everyone was wondering how she does it all. She is an inspiration to many, especially girls who are hesitant to study science. Her experiences can help motivate girls to pursue physics and all that it entails carving out a space for them in today’s world. Thanks Suzie for leading the way as an example to follow and being so passionate about what you do for others.