WEST BANK: British astrophysicist Professor Stephen Hawking visits Birzeit University

Record ID: 561143

  • Title: WEST BANK: British astrophysicist Professor Stephen Hawking visits Birzeit University
  • Date: 15th December 2006
  • Summary: (MER1) BIRZEIT, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 13, 2006) (REUTERS) BRITISH SCIENTIST STEPHAN HAWKING ARRIVING AT BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF BIRZEIT WAITING FOR HAWKING TO ARRIVE PALESTINIAN FLAG HAWKING LEAVING CAR/ STUDENTS APPLAUDING AS HAWKING ARRIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS GATHERED AROUND HAWKING HAWKING ENTERING SCIENCE COLLEGE AT BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STUDENT OF BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY AHMED SAYING: "It means a lot, means that the University is unique, important people come to visit it. The University's interest in bringing important people (to visit the university) is to increase the students educational level."
  • Embargoed: 30th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Education
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2BZ0V4XYSKGJR8GS0BMGX630
  • Story Text: World-famous British astrophysicist Professor Stephen Hawking visited Birzeit University in the West Bank on Wednesday (December 13).
    The visit marked the start of an eight-day tour of Israel and the Palestinian territories Hawking is conducting which will see him meet Palestinian and Israeli scientists and students.
    As Hawking arrived at the university, hundreds of students gathered to receive the British scientist and take his picture.
    "It means a lot, means that the University is unique, important people come to visit it. The University's interest in bringing important people (to visit the university) is to increase the students educational level," said Ahmed, a student at the university.
    "A visit of an important person like the professor to this university gives us a special position between the country's universities. It increases the students knowledge of the subjects the professor (Hawking) is talking about," added another student, Sharihan Abu Ghosh.
    Hawking spent the after noon at Birzeit and gave a lecture that was attended by both students and professors.
    Hawking, the Cambridge University physicist who wrote the best-selling "A Brief History of Time," is to start work on a new book that will examine how and why the universe was created.
    "The Grand Design," which is expected to be released in the fall of 2008, will be co-authored by Leonard Mlodinow, a physicist and author who collaborated with Hawking on "A Briefer History of Time" which was published last year.
    Hawking, 64, a Cambridge University physicist who has a crippling muscle disease and is confined to a wheelchair, has written several books that examine the origins of the universe, and what the future holds.
    "A Brief History Of Time", published in 1988, spent 72 weeks at on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
    Hawking is also working on a series of children's books with his daughter Lucy, the first of which is due to be published next year.
    Hawking last visited the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories in 1989 and his latest visit is his fourth.
    The British Embassy organised Hawking's visit to 'promote Britain as the international partner of choice in science and technology', an embassy statement said.
    Hawking holds twelve honorary degrees, a CBE and a 1989 Companion of Honour award, he is also a fellow of the royal society and a member of U.S national Academy of Sciences.
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