The Most Notable Stephen Hawking Achievements

Stephen Hawking is a well known name in the scientific community. He has made some astounding observations and has turned the scientific world upside down on numerous occasions. Some of the notable Stephen Hawking achievements are ones that he has earned throughout his lifetime.

Hawking was born in 1942 in the United States, but his parents were from London and he quickly returned there. After graduating from the distinguished Oxford University in 1962, he quickly became renowned in theoretical physics, applied mathematics, and cosmology. While he was attending Oxford, he lost his balance and fell down a flight of stairs. It turned out that he was suffering from ALS a crippling disease that normally claims life after only 10 years of diagnosis, but somehow Hawking seems to be defying all of the odds.

Even though Hawking is paralyzed and unable to speak, he is still a driving force in the way science is conducted. His first notable achievement was gained in 1975 when he was awarded the Eddington Medal and this achievement is saved for those who make outstanding breakthroughs in theoretical physics. In 1979 he was also awarded the Albert Einstein Medal. When Hawking was only 32 he was named a fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1988 he won the Wolf Prize in Physics and this is one of the most highly prestigious awards you can receive after the Nobel Prize. His work and research led to this amazing nomination and win. He also wrote A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes in 1988 and this was a best seller right away. He also has written several books since and also a collaboration of children’s books that he wrote with his daughter.

In 2006 he won the Copley Medal by the Royal Society for his work this award is given to those that make outstanding achievements in the department of science. In 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and this is the highest honor a civilian can obtain in the United States. You have to complete something very significant to achieve this award.

These are the notable Stephen Hawking achievements, but there are many more that Hawking has won over his life span. It is predicted that Hawking will receive many more awards for quite some time and long after he is gone. His work in physics is astounding and many people look to him for inspiration.