Celebrating Professor Stephen William Hawking

on
Professor Stephen Hawking
(Credit: Hawking.org.uk)
On this day - 77 year ago, Professor Stephen William Hawking was brought into this world. Now I understand that Stephen sadly passed away in March of last year. But, I think that it is really important that we remember what Professor Stephen Hawking did for science as well as society in general. And... Professor Stephen Hawking, if you did not know, did do quite a lot of work for mathematics and physics.

Professor Stephen Hawking would later go on to compete various complicated works on Hawking Radiation (A type of radiation which theoretically gets emitted from black holes) as well as setting out a theory around cosmology - This is a type of astronomy which focuses on the evolution and origins of the universe. But, like everyone, he had to start somewhere. I thought it would be only right to mention where and what Stephen studied. At 11 years old, to be Professor, Stephen Hawking studied at St. Alban's school. Then studying at the university college - Oxford, afterwards. Despite his father's wishes for him to study medicine, Professor Stephen Hawking went to study physics. Achieving a first class honours degree in nature science without much work... Although according to Professor Stephen Hawking's website (Click Here) Stephen actually wanted to study maths.
So in October 1962, he arrived at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge to study Cosmology.

After this point, Stephen Hawking's life must have been tremendous to live through. He got his PhD in 1965 - in the same year that Stephen Hawking became the research fellow. Then in four years time, Stephen hawking began a Fellow for Distinction in Science. I couldn't even conceive how busy his work life would have been. Although, Stephen Hawking did get awarded with the Adams Award in 1966. This award is very special. It's not just a trophy. The Adams Awards is one of the most prestigious awards given by the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Mathematics. This award comes with a sum of £14,000 which is split into three. One goes to the lucky recipient, the other two parts goes to the institution that the student belonged to and to any funds for scientific papers.

…

It wasn't just his work with science that was inspiring. His role with engaging the public was also something that I remember fondly of him. Especially on TV shows - So many of them that I had to make a list! Professor Stephen Hawking featured in TV programmes such as;
  • The Big Bang Theory 
  • Futurama
  • Little Britain
  • Star Trek: The Next Generations
  • The Simpsons
  • Various Comic Relief 
All which have made great moments within TV. To use one of Stephen Hawking's quote - Life would be tragic if it wasn't funny.
Professor Stephen Hawking on The Big Bang Theory Show
My personal favourite cameo, is one of Stephen Hawking's many features on (My favourite Science based comedy) The Big Bang Theory. It was the episode named The Hawking's Excitation. I put a photo of Stephen Hawking's cameo above. But, if you don't want me to explain why he is there, watch it a clip of it now... (You have been warned). On this episode, he ends up reviewing a paper which is written by one of the main characters - Sheldon Cooper (Featured in the photo above). Stephen is impressed by the paper and asks to meet Sheldon. He expresses joy about the paper before undercutting this statement by saying Sheldon has made an arithmetic error on the second page. (I promise you that it was better on the show)
But, it was by featuring in these types of programmes that Stephen Hawking became so famous. Not only did he promote himself. Stephen Hawking was one of the first to actually branch into the public eye. He has shown that scientists like us can be funny... That scientists do have another side to ourselves other than the studious one which most of society sees us with. 

 Just because I do a lot of thinking doesn't mean I don't like parties or getting into trouble...

A couple Social Media posts written about Professor Stephen Hawking



It was a sad time when Stephen Hawking passed in March. Personally, I didn't just see Professor Hawking as someone who just did extraordinary well with mathematics and physics. He also worked though his disability. As someone with a learning disability, I love one this phase that Professor Stephen Hawking has said...

My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit, as you are physically

… Yeah, I have dyslexia. I understand that it isn't physical or as interfering like Stephen Hawking's disability was. Especially towards the hard of his life. But ironically - being someone who writes blogs, I struggle everyday with reading and writing. Although - I love constructing my blogs. I don't regret these difficulties with writing these pieces as the end product makes me proud.

I found it equally as heart-wrenching when I read that his last paper, Black Hole Entropy and Soft Hair had been published without him seeing. The paper was submitted in October of last year and last revised in December. I found a link to a PDF of the paper in order to have a little read before I wrote this post. There on page two of the paper was a simple five-line paragraph celebrating the scientist. Professor Stephen Hawking was a true gem to world as much as he was to the scientific community.

Comments

Post a Comment