In Memory of Professor Stephen Hawking, a Colossal Mind without Boundaries

Professor Hawking’s colossal mind engaged us profoundly on a host of subjects – from the understanding of the cosmos, to his wisdom on current issues such as artificial intelligence and the future of humankind, while his perseverance against adversity provided great inspiration. His memorable quotes and legacy will continue to live on for years, along with the memory of his great sense of humor – as evidenced by his frequent cameo appearances on shows like the Simpsons. 

The world-renowned physicist had a burning passion to explain the origin of the universe. He was the first to link cosmology as a union of relativity and quantum mechanics. In early 1970s, he revealed black holes emit radiation (also known as Hawking radiation) and subsequently shocked the physics world with his proposition that this radiation removed information from the Universe, initiating a debate among scientists that went on for over four decades. He published in 1988 one of the most popular science books ever written entitled A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. With his unfailing quest for knowledge, he reversed the long-established theory that black holes swallow everything in their path in 2004. 

We are deeply saddened by the passing away of Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest scientists of his generation. He will be remembered forever. 

Professor Matthew Evans
Dean of Science
The University of Hong Kong