History of Stephen Hawking

Written by: Kenneth-Michael

 

In August 2009, Stephen Hawking, 68, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. This award is the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes individuals who have made a significant change in the United States or great advancements in national progress.

 

Hawking was born on January 8th, 1942 in Oxford, England. Both of Hawking’s parents attended Oxford University, a school that he would later attend. His father, Frank Hawking, studied medicine at Oxford and hoped that his son would follow in his footsteps. Until the age of 11, Hawking attended the all girl’s school, St. Albans High School. Boys were allowed to attend the school up until the age of 11. Growing up, it is noted that math and science were Hawking’s two main interests.

 

When he was 17, he chose to follow in his parent’s footsteps and enrolled in Oxford University. But, Hawking chose not to study medicine like his father had hoped. Instead, Hawking desired to study mathematics. But, when he discovered that the school lacked a mathematic department, he studied physics. In just three years, he earned a first class honors degree in Natural Science.

 

Doctors said that Hawking had less than two years to live, and concluded that he wouldn’t live long enough
to earn his doctorate. But, to the doctors’ disbelief, Hawking completed his studies and married Jane Wilde, an undergraduate student…

He continued to further his education by attending Cambridge University for his doctorate in cosmology. But, while at Oxford, Hawking began to notice a slight change in his motor skills and ability to talk; however, he didn’t see a doctor until his time at Cambridge. He was later diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Doctors said that Hawking had less than two years to live, and concluded that he wouldn’t live long enough to earn his doctorate. But, to the doctors’ disbelief, Hawking completed his studies and married Jane Wilde, an undergraduate student.

 

Hawking soon began research on the study of the black holes and the formation of the universe with Roger Primrose. Hawking’s physical state also began to rapidly deteriorate as his research flourished. Despite his physical state, he continued to study black holes in the universe and, in 1970, discovered that the universe’s black holes gave off energy.

 

This discovery gained him notoriety in the scientific world and earned him several awards. He went on to earn the Albert Einstein Award in 1975. The recognition led to a trailblazing teaching career at several universities like Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, Cambridge University, and the Lucasian School of Mathematics.

 

In August 2009, Stephen Hawking, 68, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. This award is the highest civilian award in the United State…

 

He published his first book on cosmology in 1982. The following year, Hawking would suffer an illness that almost killed him and paralyzed the muscles in his body. He managed to survive, but lost his ability to speak after a tracheotomy operation. Unable to regain his voice, he learned to communicate through a computerized electronic device.

 

In 1988, the publication of A Brief History of Time garnered worldwide attention. The work depicted the study and history of cosmology (the study of the universe and its present state).

 

In 2007, a Kennedy Space Center trip led to a chance in outer space for Hawking with zero gravity.

 

In total, he has 12 honorary degrees. Currently, Hawking is the professor/director of Research in the Center for Theoretical Cosmology in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University.

 

***Sources:
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Hawking.html
http://articles.famouswhy.com/a_brief_history_of_stephen_hawking

 

 

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