Stephen Hawking joins Canada’s Perimeter Institute
By IANSWednesday, June 9, 2010
TORONTO - Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s best known physicists, has become the first of 20 ‘distinguished research chairs’ at Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo near here.
The Perimeter Institute in Ontario province has been set up through the vision and philanthropy of Mike Lazaridis, creator of the BlackBerry, and others in a public-private partnership, to conduct scientific research, educational outreach and foster a culture of innovation in Canada.
The physicist, who is based at the University of Cambridge and retired as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics - a position once held by Isaac Newton, started work at the Canadian institute Friday.
He will spend many weeks working alongside international researchers and divide his time between Canada and Britain.
The legendary physicist will be officially welcomed into the country by Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at a ceremony June 20.
Announcing this, Neil Turok, director of the institute, said, “We are very happy to have Stephen here doing science with other researchers at Perimeter Institute. On June 20, he will take time out to be welcomed by our many public and private partners, including the governments of Ontario and Canada, and to give a special broadcast lecture.
“Stephen is an exceptional communicator, and we are delighted to be able to share his talk on television. We are also looking forward to his impressions of the ‘Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute’ now under construction.”
After the ceremony, Hawking will make a special presentation on his work.
Accepting the Canadian institute’s offer last year, Hawking had said, “The Institute’s twin focus, on quantum theory and gravity, is very close to my heart and central to explaining the origin of the universe. I look forward to building a growing partnership between PI and our Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, at Cambridge.
“Our research endeavour is global, and by combining forces I believe we will reap rich rewardS.”
