TelecomZombie
07-15-2008, 10:23 PM
The most famous physicist in the world could be moving to Canada to work at a prestigious institute for pure scientific research in Waterloo, Ont.
Dr. Stephen Hawking, the award-winning author of A Brief History of Time, is reportedly considering leaving Britain's Cambridge University, after almost 50 years of ground-breaking work there on theoretical physics, in favour of the Perimeter Institute, founded by the Canadian owners of high-tech firm Research in Motion Ltd.
"There's been a standing invitation for him to come here for some time," said John Matlock, a spokesman for the institute. "But things are kind of heating up on that front lately."
That is because of the recent appointment of Dr. Neil Turok, a long-time associate of the renowned physicist, as executive director of the Perimeter Institute.
"Any stay and timing will be up to Prof. Hawking: an invitation has always been there," said Mr. Matlock. "With the appointment of Dr. Neil Turok ... I'm sure the lines of communication are open. But as I say, any decision to visit will be up to Prof. Hawking."
The Daily Telegraph reported that the 66-year-old scientist is looking seriously at the offer to move to Canada after attacking the British government for cuts to scientific funding he has called "disastrous."
Colleagues say Dr. Hawking believes British government policy is making the nation the home of "dull science" and Dr. Hawking said publicly last month that the $160-million funding cuts would "cause enormous damage both to British science and to our international reputation."
Dr. Turok, an authority on mathematical physics, decided to leave Cambridge after failing to persuade university authorities, research councils and other sponsors to spend $40-million expanding the university's Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, which he heads, into a Hawking Institute.
He said "the door is open" for Dr. Hawking to join him at the Perimeter Institute in Ontario, which was established nearly eight years ago with $300-million in funding, half of it a gift from Mike Lazaridis, creator of the BlackBerry.
"He plans to visit me in Ontario next year for a month or so, and we would certainly welcome him coming for longer," Dr. Turok told The Daily Telegraph.
He said that Cambridge University "does not seem to appreciate how lucky it is" to have his famous colleague.
Sam Blackburn, Dr. Hawking's graduate assistant, told the British newspaper: "Prof Hawking is mulling it over but a move isn't imminent. He would not make plans to move permanently to a place he hasn't visited yet, but he is open to it."
Dr. Hawking's office said on Tuesday that the Lucian Professor of Mathematics had no plans to leave Britain permanently.
But Mr. Matlock said he need not move to Canada permanently in order to work at the Perimeter Institute: many of the independent, non-profit, scientific research facility's scientists work there on an occasional basis. "It's a real flexible place that way," he said.
"Researchers come here for a few weeks or a few months: it really depends on the problem or research they're working on."
Prof. Hawking, who is almost totally paralysed by motor neurone disease, has signalled his intention to spend more time abroad. Last month, he criticized the government's merging of two science funding bodies, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, into the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
In a letter to British Cabinet ministers he said a "book-keeping error" had created an $160-million shortfall. Scientists fear 600 jobs are at risk.
Funding will not be a problem at the Waterloo-based institute. In addition to the $150-million donation from Mr. Lazaridis and other philanthopists, the Perimeter Institute has another $150-million in funds from the federal and Ontario governments.
More than 60 scientists from across Canada and around the world are presently working at the institute, probing "some of the deepest and most complex questions in science," Mr. Matlock said.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=656869
Dr. Stephen Hawking, the award-winning author of A Brief History of Time, is reportedly considering leaving Britain's Cambridge University, after almost 50 years of ground-breaking work there on theoretical physics, in favour of the Perimeter Institute, founded by the Canadian owners of high-tech firm Research in Motion Ltd.
"There's been a standing invitation for him to come here for some time," said John Matlock, a spokesman for the institute. "But things are kind of heating up on that front lately."
That is because of the recent appointment of Dr. Neil Turok, a long-time associate of the renowned physicist, as executive director of the Perimeter Institute.
"Any stay and timing will be up to Prof. Hawking: an invitation has always been there," said Mr. Matlock. "With the appointment of Dr. Neil Turok ... I'm sure the lines of communication are open. But as I say, any decision to visit will be up to Prof. Hawking."
The Daily Telegraph reported that the 66-year-old scientist is looking seriously at the offer to move to Canada after attacking the British government for cuts to scientific funding he has called "disastrous."
Colleagues say Dr. Hawking believes British government policy is making the nation the home of "dull science" and Dr. Hawking said publicly last month that the $160-million funding cuts would "cause enormous damage both to British science and to our international reputation."
Dr. Turok, an authority on mathematical physics, decided to leave Cambridge after failing to persuade university authorities, research councils and other sponsors to spend $40-million expanding the university's Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, which he heads, into a Hawking Institute.
He said "the door is open" for Dr. Hawking to join him at the Perimeter Institute in Ontario, which was established nearly eight years ago with $300-million in funding, half of it a gift from Mike Lazaridis, creator of the BlackBerry.
"He plans to visit me in Ontario next year for a month or so, and we would certainly welcome him coming for longer," Dr. Turok told The Daily Telegraph.
He said that Cambridge University "does not seem to appreciate how lucky it is" to have his famous colleague.
Sam Blackburn, Dr. Hawking's graduate assistant, told the British newspaper: "Prof Hawking is mulling it over but a move isn't imminent. He would not make plans to move permanently to a place he hasn't visited yet, but he is open to it."
Dr. Hawking's office said on Tuesday that the Lucian Professor of Mathematics had no plans to leave Britain permanently.
But Mr. Matlock said he need not move to Canada permanently in order to work at the Perimeter Institute: many of the independent, non-profit, scientific research facility's scientists work there on an occasional basis. "It's a real flexible place that way," he said.
"Researchers come here for a few weeks or a few months: it really depends on the problem or research they're working on."
Prof. Hawking, who is almost totally paralysed by motor neurone disease, has signalled his intention to spend more time abroad. Last month, he criticized the government's merging of two science funding bodies, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, into the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
In a letter to British Cabinet ministers he said a "book-keeping error" had created an $160-million shortfall. Scientists fear 600 jobs are at risk.
Funding will not be a problem at the Waterloo-based institute. In addition to the $150-million donation from Mr. Lazaridis and other philanthopists, the Perimeter Institute has another $150-million in funds from the federal and Ontario governments.
More than 60 scientists from across Canada and around the world are presently working at the institute, probing "some of the deepest and most complex questions in science," Mr. Matlock said.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=656869