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Councillor Roberts - Stephen Hawking
The council notes:
• The passing of world-leading scientist
and author Professor Stephen Hawking, who died aged 76 at his Cambridge home on
14 March 2018.
• That, as an academic, Hawking made an outstanding
contribution to theoretical physics and theoretical cosmology, leading to
widespread recognition, including being made a Fellow of the Royal Society,
receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and becoming the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of
Cambridge.
• That, beyond academia, Hawking promoted
scientific discovery and complex ideas to millions through his best-selling
book 'A Brief History of Time' and a wide range of other popular books,
documentaries, films and children's literature.
• That, politically, Hawking was a staunch
defender of universal and well-funded healthcare, nuclear disarmament and
efforts to prevent climate change.
• That, through a public poll in the UK in
2002, Hawking was ranked 25th in a list of the 100 Greatest Britons, with many
voters citing his ability to inspire others, break down barriers and encourage
free thinking.
• That Hawking lived and worked in
Cambridge for nearly all his adult life, helping both intentionally and
coincidentally to promote the University of Cambridge and our city.
• That there is a small statue of Hawking
by the late artist Ian Walters at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, which
was unveiled in 2007, and that Trinity Hall named a conference/seminar room
after Professor Hawking in 2015 – neither of which is a publicly accessible
tribute to his work and life.
The council believes:
• That Professor Stephen Hawking was a
proud resident of Cambridge.
• That Cambridge gained from our city's
association with Professor Stephen Hawking.
• That – judging by the messages from the
public, people-lined streets and media reaction following his death – the
University of Cambridge, the scientific community and our city have lost a
much-loved and respected ambassador.
• That for someone who did so much to
promote science among the public,
challenge stereotypes and
inspire others, it would be remiss not to have a public and lasting tribute to
Professor Hawking
The council resolves:
• To work to put in place a lasting public
tribute to Professor Stephen Hawking, taking into account the wishes of the
Hawking family, Gonville and Caius College, his
department and the University of Cambridge
• To engage with Cambridge residents
through the local media and other outlets, to ensure that the eventual project
carries with it the widest possible support
• To ask the Executive Councillor for
Streets and Open Spaces to lead on the project, alongside the appropriate
council committees
Minutes:
Councillor Roberts proposed and Councillor Sarris seconded the following motion:
The council notes:
· The passing of
world-leading scientist and author Professor Stephen Hawking, who died aged 76
at his Cambridge home on 14 March 2018.
· That, as an academic,
Hawking made an outstanding contribution to theoretical physics and theoretical
cosmology, leading to widespread recognition, including being made a Fellow of
the Royal Society, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and becoming
the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the
University of Cambridge.
· That, beyond
academia, Hawking promoted scientific discovery and complex ideas to millions
through his best-selling book 'A Brief History of Time' and a wide range of
other popular books, documentaries, films and children's literature.
· That, politically,
Hawking was a staunch defender of universal and well-funded healthcare, nuclear
disarmament and efforts to prevent climate change.
· That, through a
public poll in the UK in 2002, Hawking was ranked 25th in a list of the 100
Greatest Britons, with many voters citing his ability to inspire others, break
down barriers and encourage free thinking.
· That Hawking lived
and worked in Cambridge for nearly all his adult life, helping both
intentionally and coincidentally to promote the University of Cambridge and our
city.
· That there is a
small statue of Hawking by the late artist Ian Walters at the Centre for
Theoretical Cosmology, which was unveiled in 2007, and that Trinity Hall named
a conference/seminar room after Professor Hawking in 2015 – neither of which is
a publicly accessible tribute to his work and life.
The council believes:
· That Professor
Stephen Hawking was a proud resident of Cambridge.
· That Cambridge
gained from our city's association with Professor Stephen Hawking.
· That – judging by
the messages from the public, people-lined streets and media reaction following
his death – the University of Cambridge, the scientific community and our city
have lost a much-loved and respected ambassador.
· That for someone
who did so much to promote science among the public, challenge stereotypes and
inspire others, it would be remiss not to have a public and lasting tribute to
Professor Hawking.
The council resolves:
· To work to put in
place a lasting public tribute to Professor Stephen Hawking, taking into
account the wishes of the Hawking family, Gonville
and Caius College, his department and the University of Cambridge
· To engage with
Cambridge residents through the local media and other outlets, to ensure that the
eventual project carries with it the widest possible support
· To ask the
Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces to lead on the project,
alongside the appropriate council committees
Resolved (unanimously) to support the motion.