Stephen Hawking

Who was Stephen Hawking?
Stephen William Hawking was a celebrated cosmologist and physicist who published
groundbreaking research.
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He was born in 1942 and died in 2018 aged 76. For most of his adult life, he had early-onset
MND (Motor-Neurone Disease). This caused lots of mobility issues and made it hard for him to
speak.
His 1988 book A Brief History of Time was a bestseller. It discussed the origins of the universe
and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.
Top 11 Facts about Stephen Hawking for Kids

1. He struggled at school and his teachers thought he was lazy.
2. His family travelled around in a converted taxi.
3. At university, he used a wheelchair. He even ran over people's toes!
4. Hawking was an atheist and believed in science rather than God.
5. He was born exactly 300 years after Galileo died, and he passed away on Einstein's
birthday.
6. His friends gave him the nickname of 'Einstein.'
7. He made appearances in TV shows and films, including Star Trek and The Simpsons.
8. He had 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
9. In 1982 the Queen awarded him the title of CBE: Commander of the British Empire.
10. His dad wanted him to become a doctor, because there weren't many jobs in maths.
11. He wrote five children's books with his daughter, Lucy.
Stephen Hawking facts

Full name: Stephen William Hawking
Born: 8 January 1942
Hometown: Oxford, England
Occupation: Scientist
Died: 14 March 2018
Best known for: His work on explaining the origins of the universe and black holes
1) Stephen grew up in a house where education was very important. His parents were both
academics who had studied at Oxford University. Dinner times were often spent in silence
while the family read books!
2) When he was a teenager, Stephen and his friends built a computer out of old clock parts,
telephone switchboards and other recycled items. His friends nicknamed him, ‘Einstein‘!
3) When Stephen was 17, he went to Oxford University to study physics and chemistry. He

later said that he found his first year very boring! After graduating from Oxford, he went
to Cambridge University to further his studies in cosmology (the science of the origin of the
universe).
4) Sadly, when he was 21, Stephen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and
told that he only had two years to live. MND gradually affects the brain cells that communicate
with the body’s muscles. Over time, sufferers struggle to walk, talk and even swallow without
help.
5) Stephen used walking sticks and crutches after his diagnosis, but as his illness got worse he
had to use an electric wheelchair to get around. He became notorious for driving it a
little too fast around the streets of Cambridge and running over other students’ toes!
6) Stephen made many important contributions to the world of science. He

developed theories about how the world began and furthered our understanding of black
holes, stars and the universe.
7) Stephen was always keen for his work to be accessible to everyone, not just scientists. He
wrote books that explained his theories in simple terms for everyone to understand, including a
children’s book. His most famous book, A Brief History of Time, sold more than 10 million
copies!
8) In 1985, Stephen developed a life-threatening infection. He had an emergency operation that

saved his life but left him unable to talk. He was given a special computer that talked for him,
which he controlled by moving a muscle in his cheek – clever!
9) Stephen has received many awards for his work including the 1979 Albert Einstein Medal,
the Order of the British Empire (Commander) in 1982 and the 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics.
10) Stephen is remembered as an inspiration to many people. He had an amazing mind,
incredible determination and didn’t let his illness stand in his way. He defied doctors’
predictions, living for a further 55 years after his diagnosis.
How did Stephen Hawking change the world for kids?

His most notable work was on expanding scientists' understanding of Albert Einstein's
theory of general relativity. With careful calculations, Hawking found that the universe must
have started with a big bang. He also stated that one day in the distant future it would end with
black holes.
What are 3 things Stephen Hawking is known for?
What Discoveries Were Made by Stephen Hawking?

 The Origins of the Universe.
 Time.
 The Big Bang Theory.
 Gravitational and Spacetime Singularities.
 Black Hole Radiation.
 A Universe Without Spacetime Boundaries.
 Atheism.
 The High Likelihood of the Existence of Extraterrestrial Life.
What can we learn from Hawking?

7 Lessons we can Learn from Professor Stephen Hawking
 Stay curious: “I am just a child who has never grown up. ...
 Be courageous: ...
 Embrace uncertainty: ...
 Communication is a powerful tool: ...
 Laughter is the best medicine: ...
 Give zero f*ks: ...
 Never let the bastards get you down:
Why is Stephen Hawking so special?
Stephen Hawking's formulation is considered the closest we have to a theory of everything,

because his writing on matter escaping black holes–the so-called 'Hawking Radiation'–seems to
be the first time a scientist has created a comprehensive hypothesis that relies on both quantum
mechanics and classical physics.
How has Stephen Hawking helped the world?
Cosmologist Stephen Hawking changed our view of the universe with his remarkable
theories and outreach. He also inspired generations around the world, making some of the
most complicated physics of our time accessible to the masses.
1. He had to strive at school, and his teachers felt inactive.

2. His family would go around in a taxi that was converted.
3. When Stephen Hawking was studying at university, he used a wheelchair. He would often run the
wheelchair over others’ toes.
4. Stephen Hawking was an atheist and believed in science more than God.
5. He was born exactly 300 years after the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei died, passing away on
Einstein’s birthday.
6. His friends gave him a nickname, ‘Einstein.’

7. Hawking appeared in several TV shows and films, including Simpsons and Star Trek.
8. Stephen Hawking had three children and three grandchildren.
9. In 1982, the Queen bestowed Hawking with the title of CBE: Commander of the British Empire.
10. Stephen Hawking’s father aspired to become a doctor, as there weren’t plenty of jobs in maths.
11. He wrote five books for children with his daughter, Lucy.
12. When we talk about Stephen Hawking’s occupation, he was a theoretical physicist, an author, cosmologist.
He was the director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge when he
took his last breath. He was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979
and 2009.
13. On March 14, 2018, Stephen Hawking died at his home in Cambridge in England. He was aged 76.
14. Stephen Hawking received many honors and awards, including many honorary degrees, for his
extraordinary accomplishments in the scientific field. Let’s mention a few of the many awards and honors below.
15. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1974 as one of its youngest fellows. When he was a youth of 32, he
came to be a Fellow of the Royal Society.
16. He was the receiver of the first Albert Einstein medal in 1979.
17. He was honored with CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Buckingham palace in 1982.
18. He was awarded the Copley medal in 2006, which is the highest honor of the Royal Society.
19. In 2009, he got the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.

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Who was Stephen Hawking?

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Top 11 Facts about Stephen Hawking for Kids

2. His family travelled around in a converted taxi.

3. At university, he used a wheelchair. He even ran over people's toes!

4. Hawking was an atheist and believed in science rather than God.

6. His friends gave him the nickname of 'Einstein.'

8. He had 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

11. He wrote five children's books with his daughter, Lucy.

Stephen Hawking facts

3) When Stephen was 17, he went to Oxford University to study physics and chemistry. He

6) Stephen made many important contributions to the world of science. He

8) In 1985, Stephen developed a life-threatening infection. He had an emergency operation that

How did Stephen Hawking change the world for kids?

What are 3 things Stephen Hawking is known for?

What Discoveries Were Made by Stephen Hawking?

What can we learn from Hawking?

Why is Stephen Hawking so special?

Stephen Hawking's formulation is considered the closest we have to a theory of everything,

How has Stephen Hawking helped the world?

1. He had to strive at school, and his teachers felt inactive.

6. His friends gave him a nickname, ‘Einstein.’

8. Stephen Hawking had three children and three grandchildren.

16. He was the receiver of the first Albert Einstein medal in 1979.

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