(Oxford, United Kingdom, 1942 – Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2018)
Theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, cosmologist and scientific communicator. The enormous curiosity that has always accompanied him made him interested in the world of science, leaning towards Mathematics and Physics; Natural Sciences seemed too inexact to him. His theories about the singularity of the Universe, the big bang or original explosion of the cosmos and black holes revolutionized 20th century physics, opening new horizons for research. For many, Hawking represents the answer, in the second half of the century, to what Albert Einstein did in the first.
He was a mediocre student in high school, to the point that his father doubted he could pass the entrance exam at Oxford University. However, in 1959 he arrived at the University, and although with a poor record, he graduated. A scholarship allowed him to pursue postgraduate studies at the neighboring University of Cambridge, where he specialized in Theoretical Physics and Cosmology. Hawking wanted to study alongside the famous astronomer Fred Hoyle, founder of the Cambridge Institute of Astrophysics, but was assigned to Dennis Sciama. In 1973 he left the Institute of Astronomy and joined the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, where, since 1979, he held the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics. After earning his doctorate, Hawking began working with theoretical physicist Roger Penrose on the mathematical verification of the beginning of time. On the same dates he was appointed associate professor of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge, a department of which he was a professor.
In 1974 he presented his theories about black holes at the Rutherford Laboratory. That same year Hawking joined the Royal Society and in 1978 received the Albert Einstein Prize, considered the highest honor in Theoretical Physics. Professor Hawking has received twelve honorary university degrees. He was made a Knight of the British Empire in 1982, becoming a Companion of Honor in 1989.
His scientific work has tried to bring together the theory of relativity and Quantum Mechanics, understanding that their "fusion" could explain the origin of the Universe. His studies have been directed mainly at black holes, regions of space where matter is so dense that the gravitational effects are so strong that nothing escapes from them. Hawking has shown that the supposed "holes" are actually thermal energy, a constant flow of particles with a power equivalent to that of six nuclear reactors. Regarding the global concept of the Universe, Hawking defined it as a finite and curved space-time, without edges or borders.
Among his many publications, it is worth highlighting the works “The large-scale structure of space-time”, with GFR Ellis, “General Relativity. A survey for Einstein's centenary", with W. Israel, "Three hundred years of gravity", also with W. Israos, "A brief history of time", his best seller, "Black holes and minor universes and other essays", his anthology “On the shoulders of giants. The great works of Physics and Astronomy” in 2003 or “Brief history of time” in 2005.
