ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Stephen Hawking doubts someone of his talent and condition would be supported today as he was

Speaking at the event that celebrated his 50th year as a fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Gonville and Caius college, Stephen Hawking expressed his doubts whether a young student of similar talents, as well as disabilities, would receive the kinda of support he had. The renowned physicist, now 73 years old, has been living for the past decades with a devastating motor neurone disease that doctors believed would kill him while he was still in his early 20s. His determination to live on despite being confined to a wheel chair all his life is inspiring, but it's unlikely he could have survived to live this day were it not for his fellows and support at Caius College; nevermind his outstanding achievements in physics.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
June 2, 2015 - Updated on June 3, 2015
in News, Physics
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Indian teenager invents cheap device that turns breath into speech
“Escape our fragile planet” in the next 1,000 years or perish, Stephen Hawking says
Stephen Hawking: ‘God particle’ might destroy the Universe. But wait…
Why Stephen Hawking Was Afraid of Aliens

Speaking at the event that celebrated his 50th year as a fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Gonville and Caius college, Stephen Hawking expressed his doubts whether a young student of similar talents, as well as disabilities, would receive the kind of support he had. The renowned physicist, now 73 years old, has been living for the past decades with a devastating motor neurone disease that doctors believed would kill him while he was still in his early 20s. His determination to live on despite being confined to a wheel chair all his life is inspiring, but it’s unlikely he could have survived to this day were it not for his fellows and support at Caius College; nevermind his outstanding achievements in physics.

NASA-Can-Stop-Looking-for-Black-Holes-Says-Stephen-Hawking-2
Image: The Independent

“That fellowship was a turning point in my life, as the college made sure I could continue my research, despite my increasing disability.”

Part of the college’s West Road facilities were modified to house Hawkings and his family. It’s here that he wrote his famous book, “A Brief History of Time.” In one particularly dramatic event, Hawking fell so gravely ill in Switzerland in the 1980s that doctors asked his wife, Jane, whether life support should be terminated. The college charted a plane to fly him back in the UK, while Hawking’s student and colleagues stood by his bedside during the whole ordeal.

“I was then in Addenbrookes Hospital for quite a time, unable to speak or hold anything,” he said, as reported by The Guardian.

“During that time my students participated in a rota to keep my mind occupied by reading to me, I was even able to laugh at the funny bits.”

“Caius gave me a home, literally and figuratively, and is a constant thread running through my life.”

But Hawking has serious doubts similar support would be shown to a fellow of his condition today.

“I wonder whether a young ambitious academic, with my kind of severe condition now, would find the same generosity and support in much of higher education.

“Even with the best goodwill, would the money still be there? I fear not.”

Though he didn’t elaborate, we can only speculate Hawking was referring to recent cuts in science budgets and grants in the UK.  College master, Alan Fersht, assured both the attendees and Hawking himself that these doubts aren’t well founded. But that’s speaking for his college only, not for the whole higher education system in the UK.

uk-science-budget-2010-2015-2013est

“Stephen questioned whether a young academic in his condition would get the same level of support today.

“For Caius at least, I can say emphatically ‘yes’. The fellowship is a family, just as our students, our staff and our alumni are all parts of the Caian family.”

He continued: “In 1965, none of us dreamt that we would be here, 50 years on, to celebrate this day. I say none, but I suspect I actually mean ‘all, but one’.”

Tags: stephen hawking

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Credit: Pixabay.
News

Sonic black hole confirms Hawking radiation theory

byTibi Puiu
6 years ago
Stephen Hawking at Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
News

Stephen Hawking’s final paper suggests black holes store information about missing matter in ‘soft hairs’

byTibi Puiu
7 years ago
News

Stephen Hawking’s final paper was just published — and it’s mindblowing

byTibi Puiu
7 years ago
Young Stephen Hawking. Source: The New Yorker.
Alien life

Why Stephen Hawking Was Afraid of Aliens

byJohn Tuttle
7 years ago

Recent news

Neanderthals Crafted Bone Spears 30,000 Years Before Modern Humans Came In

May 8, 2025

This Bold New Theory Could Finally Unite Gravity and Quantum Physics

May 8, 2025

We Don’t Know How AI Works. Anthropic Wants to Build an “MRI” to Find Out

May 8, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.