Born: 8 January 1942
Died: 14 March 2018
Nationality: British
Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. His scientific works include collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity, as well as the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set forth a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He was a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
When he was 21 years old, Hawking was diagnosed with a rare early-onset, slow-progressing form of Amyotrophic Laterals Sclerosis(ALS), also known as Motor Neuron disease that has gradually paralysed him over the past decades. At that time, doctors gave him a life expectancy of two years.
In his work with Penrose, Hawking extended the singularity theorem concepts first explored in his doctoral thesis. This included not only the existence of singularities but also the theory that the universe might have started as a singularity. Beginning in 1973, Hawking moved into the study of quantum gravity and quantum mechanics.
Hawking continued his writings with his target demographic being the general public. He published The Universe in a Nutshell (2001), A Briefer History of Time (2005) to update his earlier works and make them accessible to a wider audience and God Created the Integers (2005). In 2007 Hawking and his daughter Lucy published George's Secret Key to the Universe, a children's book designed to explain theoretical physics in a rudimental fashion.
Stephen Hawking is a Great Utopian for his dedication and tireless effort to shed light on humanity’s and the universe’s origin. He is also a great source of inspiration in showing that disabilities are not an obstacle to doing great things.