BEIS pays tribute to Stephen Hawking
Professor Stephen Hawking, whose work helped us understand more about the universe and whose life helped us understand more about human beings, died earlier this week.
Professor Stephen Hawking at CERN, 2013 (Photo: Laurent Egli/CERN)
BEIS, as the department responsible for research within the UK, would like to acknowledge Professor Hawking’s impact upon the world of science and its public perception. His discovery that black holes have a temperature and produce radiation, now known as Hawking radiation, has enhanced our sense of the universe in a profound way.
As well as being one of the leading researchers in the field of theoretical physics, Professor Hawking also sought to explain many of these complex scientific ideas to a wider audience through popular books, most notably his bestseller A Brief History of Time, and through popular culture.
Sam Gyimah, Minister for Universities, Science, Research, and Innovation, captured the sentiments of many when, reflecting on Professor Hawking’s death, he spoke of his respect for:
A brilliant scientist. An extraordinary life. A triumph of the human spirit.
Gian Guidice, Head of Theoretical Physics at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) said:
Hawking’s results are a constant source of inspiration for theoretical research done at CERN.
Hawking has been an inspiration to generations of young people across the world. Many have developed a passion for science because of him and his work.