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Portrait of Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking

Courageous Advocate for Palestine

Friend of PalestineNot Palestinian, and stood with Palestine
Born
8 January 1942
Born in
Oxford, England
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Why Stephen is here

Intellectual Giant and Human Rights Supporter

Their story

Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) was an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge from 1979 to 2009. His work on black holes and the origins of the universe, and his book A Brief History of Time, made him the best-known scientist of his age, despite motor neurone disease that slowly paralysed him from his twenties.

In 2013 he withdrew from a high-profile conference in Jerusalem hosted by Israel's president, after hearing from Palestinian academics, in support of the academic boycott. Years earlier he had called Israel's 2009 assault on Gaza "out of all proportion". His decision gave the boycott movement one of its most widely reported moments.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Stephen’s path.

  1. Academic Brilliance

    Graduated from Oxford and Cambridge, becoming Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge.

  2. Scientific Breakthroughs

    Developed theories on black holes and cosmology, profoundly impacting theoretical physics.

  3. Global Recognition

    Authored the best-selling book "A Brief History of Time," staying on the bestseller list for years.

  4. Public Advocacy

    Used his high-profile position to address global injustices and human rights.

  5. Health Challenges

    Battled motor neurone disease from the age of 21, using technology to communicate and continue his work.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Scientific Contributions

    Revolutionized understanding of black holes and the universe’s origin.

  2. Educational Impact

    Inspired millions with accessible science publications and public lectures.

  3. Advocacy for Science and Rationalism

    Promoted scientific understanding and rational thought in public policy.

  4. Support for Palestinian Rights

    Publicly endorsed the academic boycott of Israel due to its policies towards Palestinians, significantly raising awareness about the occupation.

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  5. Humanitarian Efforts

    Encouraged support for Palestinian students and educational initiatives, reflecting his commitment to academic freedom and support for oppressed communities.

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Stephen in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Support for Palestinian Rights↗

Further reading

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