Hawking to retire from Cambridge U.

Hawking to retire from Cambridge U.
-The Associated Press

University policy forces retirement at age 67

Cambridge, England - Famed cosmologist Stephen Hawking will retire from his prestgious post at Cambridge University next year, but intends to coninue his exploration of time and space.

Hawking, 66, is Lucsian Professor of Mathematics, a title once held by the great 18th century physicist Isaac Newon.

The university said Friday that he would step down at the end of the academic year in September, but would continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathemaics. \"We look forward to him continuing his academic work at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, playing a leading role in research in cosmology and gravitation,\" said Professor Peter Haynes, who heads the department.

Hawking became a scientific celebrity through his theories on black holes and the nature of time, work that he carried on despite becoming paralyzed by motor neurone disease.

University policy is that officeholders must retire at the end of the academic year in which they become 67. Hawking will reach that milestone Jan. 8.

The Lucasian professorship post was founded in 1663 by Henry Lucas, who left his 4000 books and land expected to yeald 100 pounds a year to the university.

King Charles II officially established the position in 1664.

Sir Isaac Newton was the second person to hold he post.

Paul Dirac, a specialist in quantun mechanics who predicted the existance of positron particals, had the title from 1932 to 1969.

Hawking was appointed to the chair in 1979. His 1988 bok, A Brief History of Time, was an international bestseller; A Briefer History of Time, intended to be more accessible, followed in 2005.

George's Secret Key to the Universe, co-authored with Hawking's daughter Lucy, was pulished last year for the children's market.

Hawking first earned prominence for his theoretical work on blak holes. Disproving the belief that black holes are so dense that nothing could escape their gravitational pull, he showed that black holes leak a tiny bit of light and other types of radition, now known as \"Hawking radiation.\"

A truly remarkable human is Stephen Hawking. Expected to die in his twenties his is still working at an amazing intellectual rate, which far surpases many people on the planet. I hope he lives for many more years and continues helping us to understand how the universe works.

I agree. I was surprised to learn that he is in his sixties

For me, he is the living embodiment of the saying

'Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover'

I don't wish to sound like a disability rights crusader here because I am not, but please always remember, the 'wheelchair' is only a mode of transport, there is still a person there, just like you, they too have the same feelings etc. I walk with a stick most the time, and I get 'the look' from 'normal' people - what the hell is normal anyway?

So congrats to Prof Hawkins on a well earned and deserved retirement, although I suspect he won't stop working anyway

MTFBWY - A (& him )

This behavior is way too wide spread in our society. I have seen \"the look\" given on the street exactly how you say Br.

I've known physically perfect people who are dumber than stumps...I guess don't judge a book by it's cover goes both ways

Although Hawkins is limited physically, he makes up for it in his brillance of his mind. It was he and several others that revolutionized the Theoretical Aspects of Astrophysics.

Just to be able to listen to one of his lectures on Black Holes and Cosmic Radiation on TV was informative and interesting to say the least. I can say it was Hawkins that put me on my path to study astrophysics.