Suzie Imber achieved international recognition when she won the BBC2 TV series ‘Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?’ in which 12 candidates underwent astronaut training with Commander Chris Hadfield. Challenges including taking their own blood, speaking Russian while in a centrifuge at 5G, and carrying out emergency procedures on... Read More
Suzie Imber achieved international recognition when she won the BBC2 TV series ‘Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?’ in which 12 candidates underwent astronaut training with Commander Chris Hadfield. Challenges including taking their own blood, speaking Russian while in a centrifuge at 5G, and carrying out emergency procedures on the NASA undersea astronaut training facility, Aquarius. Suzie received a letter of recommendation from Chris Hadfield supporting her application to the European Space Agency astronaut training programme.
Becoming a full Professor in 2023, her “day job” is as Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Leicester, where she specialises in studying the impact of the solar wind on the planets in our solar system, particularly the Earth and Mercury. Currently, she works in Operations Planning for the BepiColombo spacecraft, which is due to arrive at Mercury in 2025.
In 2019, Suzie Imber was selected for Homeward Bound, a global leadership programme to train 100 women to become the next generation of leaders in the fight against climate change. The programme includes leadership style and mentality, effective communication, building teams, personal and organisational strategy, mental health and wellbeing.
Having just returned from Antarctica, (Nov 2023) Suzie says it was a life-changing and life-enhancing experience. She has brought back with her a wealth of new material, new insights and information, collected from and shared with women leaders and environmentalists from all over the world. With extensive experience of speaking at live stage events, including music and science festivals, Suzie was invited to perform at “Space Shambles” at the Royal Albert Hall, London, appearing with Professor Brian Cox, Robin Ince, astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield, and Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart.
Suzie Imber has spoken at many science festivals, including BlueDot, Gravity Fields, Cheltenham, Farnborough Air Show, New Scientist Live, Latitude, AstroFest, SpaceRocks and the Virgin Galactic Space Festival (US).