Stephen Hawking to defect to Canada?

[Asher]

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/461065

Stephen Hawking 'mulling' Waterloo move

Greg Mercer
Torstar News Services

WATERLOO–Could the world's most famous physicist be headed for Waterloo?

A report out of Britain suggests Stephen Hawking is considering an invitation to come work at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

The theoretical physicist already plans a visit to the city next year, following his public criticism of the British government's cuts to research funding.

But he's also being encouraged to move to Ontario by his University of Cambridge colleague Neil Turok, the mathematical physicist who will take over as Perimeter's executive director on Oct. 1. Perimeter confirmed last night that it has made a standing offer to Hawking.

"The door is certainly wide open," said John Matlock, Perimeter's director of external relations and outreach. "It would be absolutely wonderful to have him."

Turok is leaving Cambridge after failing to persuade university authorities, research councils and sponsors to spend $40 million to expand its Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, which he heads, into a Hawking Institute.

By comparison, Waterloo's Perimeter Institute has about $600 million in funding.

Turok wants Hawking to stick around after he comes to Waterloo as a visitor in 2009.

"He plans to visit me in Ontario next year for a month or so, and we would certainly welcome him coming for longer," Turok told Britain's Telegraph newspaper.

Sam Blackburn, Hawking's graduate assistant, told the paper: "I think Prof. Hawking is mulling it over but a move isn't imminent. He would not make plans to permanently move to a place he hasn't visited yet, but he is open to it."

Blackburn warned that Hawking was "obviously a man of few words, so the first we would probably know of it is when he packs his bags."

The addition of Hawking to Perimeter's staff of top physicists would be a major coup for the research institute, founded in 1999 by Mike Lazaridis, founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry.

Hawking's name is widely known outside the world of physics and he has often spoken about the importance of letting average people access and understand his research.

Hawking, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, has appeared on television shows from Star Trek to The Simpsons. He's written many books, including the popular science bestseller A Brief History of Time.

"Like Einstein, he has crossed over into popular culture," Matlock said. "He's a celebrity."

Neat.

[Lorizael]

Hawking's name is widely known outside the world of physics and he has often spoken about the importance of letting average people access and understand his research.

Lie!

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Lorizael

Hawking's name is widely known outside the world of physics and he has often utilized a computer-driven speaking device to communicate about the importance of letting average people access and understand his research.

Lie!

Better?

[Lorizael]

[Cort Haus]

There has been a mistake. The Waterloo in question is actually the one in London, with a nice view from the bridge.

[Theben]

Chicago river

[Zkribbler]

Free healthcare

[BeBro]

But I thought you guys send deserters back now?

[Theben]

[RGBVideo]

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by BeBro
But I thought you guys send deserters back now?

Asher turned out to be wrong about that.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
There has been a mistake. The Waterloo in question is actually the one in London, with a nice view from the bridge.

Is he becoming a male prostitute?

[Asher]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Asher turned out to be wrong about that.

No, they're deported...

[Asher]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

Waterloo lures Hawking



ELIZABETH CHURCH

Globe and Mail Update

November 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM EST

Renowned scientist Stephen Hawking has agreed to make Canada his ”second research home,” accepting an appointment as a distinguished research chair at Waterloo's Perimeter Institute, the scientific research organization founded by BlackBerry inventor Michael Lazaridis.

Prof. Hawking, who has close ties with the institute's new director, will make his first visit to Waterloo this summer. He is expected to stay about six weeks and make the journey each year.

”I am honoured to accept the first Distinguished Research Chair at the Perimeter Institute,” Prof. Hawking said in a statement released Thursday. ”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.”

Prof. Hawking indicated that he expects his new appointment will lead to a growing partnership between the Canadian institute and the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge University.

”Our research endeavour is global, and by combining forces I believe we will reap rich rewards,” he said.

Neil Turok, the new director of the Perimeter Institute, is a close research associate of Prof. Hawking. Indeed, after his appointment to the Waterloo institute, there were rumours that he would bring Prof. Hawking with him. The institute said last summer that it was working on a single visit by Prof. Hawking, best known for his work on black holes and his theories of the origin of the university. Those talks have led to the more extensive arrangement.

Dr. Turok, who was wooed to Canada from Cambridge earlier this year, said the appointment marks a new phase for the institute, which aims to recruit leading scientists from around the world to make the facility their ”second research home.”

Prof. Hawking is the first of what are expected to be 40 such research appointments.

”We look forward to hosting Stephen in Waterloo, Ont., to benefiting from his wise mentorship and guidance, which has been so successful in Cambridge, and to the many stimulating scientific collaborations which will undoubtedly emerge,” Dr. Turok said.

Prof. Hawking, 66, who has Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and relies on technology to overcome his physical limitations, will likely spend most of his time in Canada in the summer because of his ”fragile” physical state, Dr. Turok said. ”He is not so keen on the snow.”

Prof. Hawking also makes regular trips to the California Institute of Technology, where he delivers a lecture. Dr. Turok said he expects a public lecture will be arranged for some time during his visit to Waterloo.

The Perimeter Institute is a non-profit, independent organization that receives money from the federal and provincial governments, as well as from private donations.

[Victor Galis]

It seems phase 1 of The Plan is complete.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

He is running away from Geneva

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by OneFootInTheGrave
He is running away from Geneva

Lie!

[Traianvs]

600 million is what it takes to keep that relic alive. Good luck with him, hah!

[DrSpike]

Good luck to Stephen Hawking around putting up with all those intellectually inferior Canadians.

[Impaler[WrG]]

I remember some portents to this effect being circulated here (or was it slash dot?) about a year ago, no surprise that its happened considering the hostility to intellectualism thats been on the march here in the US. Brilliant scientists and researchers have always gone to ware they are welcomed. That said I've read Hawking is a complete jerk and ***** which I'd agree with based on the reading of his books.

[Dauphin]

How does any anti-intellectualism in the US (to the extent it does or doesn't exist) affect his decision to move?