British theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who turned 70 on Sunday, had to miss the public symposium organised in his honour by the University of Cambridge on Sunday afternoon because of ill-health.
The Cambridge University vice-chancellor, Prof. Leszek Borysiewicz, said Hawking, who is one of the longest-surviving sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that has left him almost completely paralysed and wheelchair-bound, had been discharged from hospital on Friday after he had been ill. However, he would not be able to attend the symposium on Sunday and would be watching the proceedings online.
“To reach 70 is a cause to celebrate for any scientist,” Prof. Borysiewicz said, adding, “If you’re listening, Stephen, then happy birthday from all of us here today.” The symposium’s theme was “The State of the Universe”. The Hawking speech, A Brief History on Mine, will be played in a recorded version to the symposium. Prof. Hawk-ing, who was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the Unive-rsity of Cambridge and now is a professor emeritus at the university, has written bestseller A Brief History of Time.
Prof. Hawking had developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a student at Cambridge University when he was 21 years old and was not expected to survive for more than a couple of years. However, he has led a vigorous academic life and is still leading research and guiding students at the Cambridge University.