Early life
Stephen William Hawking was born on the 8th of January, 1942, in the affluent Oxford. Academic success always ran in Hawking’s family, with both of his parents attending the University of Oxford, where his father studied medicine and his mother chose the path of philosophy. The famous professor of theoretical physics also started his academic career at Oxford University, where he received a first-class BA degree in physics. After graduating, he decided to further his education – this time at the famous Cambridge University, Trinity Hall College, where he obtained a PhD in applied mathematics and theoretical physics, focusing more on general relativity and cosmology.
Unfortunately, in 1963, Professor Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with an early stage of the slow-progressing form of motor neuron disease, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease, which over time, completely paralysed him. After the loss of his speech, he adapted by communicating through a speech-generating device, which later on has been improved even more and allowed him to communicate by using his cheek muscle.
Despite the many challenges Professor Stephen Hawking had to overcome, his passion for physics and cosmology never wavered and his works made him well-known worldwide. In 1977 he became a professor of gravitational physics at Cambridge University, where 2 years later he was appointed to Cambridge’s Lucasian Professorship of Mathematics – a position once held by Isaac Newton.
At the time of his death, Hawking was working as a research director at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge, where he previously taught as a professor. His close relationship with the city and his immeasurable contributions to the academic culture of Cambridge University has given him the title of Gonville and Caius College University Fellow.
Main theories proposed by Stephen Hawking
Professor Hawking was an avid researcher, whose theories and mathematical calculations provided insight and a better understanding of how the universe works. It would be an understatement to call this Cambridge Fellow a genius as he paved the way forward with his knowledge and ideas regarding cosmology and theoretical physics. Although Professor Stephen Hawking has proposed many ideas and theories, some of them have stayed famous and remarkable to this day.
The Big Bang Theory
It was first proposed in his PhD thesis, submitted in Cambridge, back in 1966. He took inspiration from the concept of black hole’s space-time singularity proposed by Roger Penrose and applied it to explain the origin of our universe. According to his thesis, our universe originated at a specific finite time and space. Before that, it existed in a super-compact, super-dense state, known as the singularity. In Big Bang Theory, Stephen Hawking mathematically established self-contradiction in Steady State Theory. Today it’s globally recognised and accepted by different scientists and theoretical physicists.
The Black Hole Theory
In today’s popular culture, Stephen Hawking is almost synonymous with the Black Hole Theory. Black holes are specific regions in the space-time universe where gravity is so strong that it doesn’t even allow light to escape or pass through. Hawking mathematically proved that black holes originate when stars collapse under their own gravitational force. In 2019, the National Science Foundation published the first-ever visually captured proof of a black hole, making this renowned Cambridge Fellow’s theory approved.
The Hawking Radiation
According to the celebrated Fellow, this is what made up the universe. According to Stephen Hawking’s theory, an event called Hawking radiation released mass energy and created particles out of nothing. These particles are called ‘virtual photons’ because they are not real until they are observed. Virtual particles can be found throughout our universe, but they are considered non-existent until they interact with other things. A relatively recent laboratory experiment at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology confirmed the practical validity of the universal photons.
The Hawking Area Theorem
The area theorem predicted that the area of a black hole can only increase over time, but it can never decrease. In this theorem, Hawking also proposed that the total area of a black hole is the surface of the event horizons around it. The recent discovery of gravitational waves emerging from the interaction of two separate black holes validates the Hawking area theorem after almost 46 years. He proposed the theory for the first time in 1970.
Homage to the famous physicist at The Fellows House
The Fellows House hotel in Cambridge offers its guests a truly inspiring space for business meetings, intimate events, celebrations and even private dinners in a suite dedicated to the globally recognised theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and professor Stephen Hawking. Our meeting room is conveniently located near Cambridge Science Park and isn’t too far away from the Cambridge University Colleges.
It is a comfortable yet stylish and bright space with a 75-inch LCD display with Barco Clickshare, making it quick and easy for you to share any visuals on the big screen. The meeting suite can also be easily transformed, for different needs and event settings:
- Boardroom style (12 people)
- Cabaret Style (15 people)
- U-shape (16 people)
- Private dinner/lunch (24 people)
- Theatre Style (32 people)
- Informal gathering (50 people)
This space provides comfort and luxury combined – making it easy to lead your event and make your guests comfortable and inspired by the unique art portraying Stephen Hawking in his youth. It would be a difficult task to feel unproductive and uninspired when surrounded by the history of one of the most iconic Cambridge fellows. Our refined hotel meeting room overlooks and opens to The Fellows Garden, making it a bright and airy meeting space, as well as allowing you to take time out from your event and take a breath of fresh air.
Many on-site facilities are within easy reach, such as The Folio Bar & Kitchen, to replenish and indulge in delicious food and drinks after a productive meeting. As well as our in-house cafe Sage of Cambridge, where you can re-energise with masterfully brewed coffee and healthy snacks. Having these amenities available on-site, ensures you don’t have to worry about anything else but enjoying your time at The Fellows House while getting inspired by the academic heritage-filled premises.
Most notable works of Stephen Hawking
Hawking’s remarkable ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to a wide audience was showcased in his popular books. “A Brief History of Time” is his most well-known work, providing a comprehensive overview of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes. Other notable books include “The Universe in a Nutshell,” which delves into topics such as quantum mechanics and string theory. “The Grand Design,” co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow, explores the fundamental questions about the origins of the universe. Professor Hawking’s achievements and contributions continue to inspire scientists and enthusiasts alike, leaving a profound legacy in the field of cosmology. He died in 2018 at the age of 76, after living with motor neuron disease for more than 50 years, yet Professor Stephen Hawking’s achievements and contributions continue to inspire scientists and enthusiasts alike, leaving a profound legacy in the field of cosmology.
Stephen Hawkings Meeting Room & Private Dining
Have a meeting or private dinner in our inspiring meeting room, surrounded by meaningful art, displaying the greatness of one of the most renowned Cambridge University fellows – Stephen Hawking.
To learn more about private dining at the Stephen Hawking Suite email reservations@thefellowshouse.