Well, I’m pretty speechless.<\/p>\n
When I first started delivering virtual planetarium shows<\/a> to Brownie groups back in the lockdown of January 2021, I never expected how popular<\/a> they would be. Seventy shows and more than 1400 girls later, I’m still getting requests. Not at the level I did during the pandemic, since groups have returned to meeting in-person, but I’m still delivering shows to groups (and schools!) I could never visit physically because of the distance, and having a lot of fun doing it.<\/p>\n I’m astonished to say that in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list published today I have been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Girlguiding during the Covid-19 pandemic, in recognition of my efforts to help girls earn their Space interest badges during the pandemic, and for being a role model showing girls that science is fun and that they can be scientists if they want to be.<\/p>\n I don’t know who it was that nominated me for this, but a HUGE thank you<\/em> to whoever it was! It is always a real pleasure to talk with enthusiastic groups about astronomy and share my passion with them, and that is a brilliant reward in itself. The questions asked by all the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers I have spoken to over the last year and a half have been brilliant, and it’s been such fun answering them all!<\/p>\n