14 DAY TRIAL // Starting last year, there have been rumors linking renowned physics scientist Stephen Hawking, 66, to a possible move abroad soon, especially considering his imminent retirement from his prominent position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (once held by Sir Isaac Newton) at Cambridge University next year. The speculations, which were immediately denied, reached a culminating point last summer when the scientist was associated to moving to Canada in order to work for an institute.
In spite of the denial, it seems that the rumors were true after all, as the world-famed physicist has been officially appointed to the position of distinguished research chair at a quantum theory and cosmology institute in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, called the Perimeter Institute (PI) for Theoretical Physics. The institution was founded by Mike Lazaridis, the co-CEO at high-tech company Research In Motion. It is aimed to ensure a multi-disciplinary collaboration in research fields such as particle physics, quantum gravity, quantum foundations, cosmology, quantum information, superstring theory, to mention only a few.
Dr. Neil Turok, the director of the institute and one of Hawking's associates, shared that "The appointment marks a new phase in our recruitment that will see leading scientists from around the world establish a second research home at Perimeter Institute. I am delighted that Stephen has agreed to accept the first of a projected 40 such visiting chairs," as quoted by Canada.
"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," revealed Hawking during a statement. "I look forward to building a growing partnership between PI and our Center for Theoretical Cosmology, at Cambridge. Our research endeavor is global, and by combining forces I believe we will reap rich rewards."
Apparently, Lou Gehrig's disease does not prevent the famed author of "A Brief History of Time" from traveling a lot. Most recently, he has unveiled a strange, handless clock at Cambridge's Corpus Christi College and attended a Vatican conference called "Scientific Insights into the Evolution of the Universe and of Life," where he met Pope Benedict XVI.