Before his passing in 2018, Dr Stephen Hawking was known as the“living Einstein.”He was one of the most outstanding scientists and thinkers after Albert Einstein. Dr Hawking worked as a tenured professor for the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Other notable physicists, such as Isaac Newton, had also held this honourable position in previous years.
Dr Hawking was born in Oxford, England in 1942. When he was 21 years old, he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Over time, his muscles gradually went from shrinking to paralysis, which led to him requiring a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The life expectancy for people with MND is usually 2-3 years; however, Dr Hawking survived for 55 years with the incurable condition.
After Dr Hawking learned about his illness, he experienced only brief disappointment and depression. He then fully immersed himself in his fascination with the cosmos and continued his cosmological research. He treated his illness as just being a part of his existence and not as the deep abyss of sorrow that people would’ve expected.
From 1979 to 2009, Dr Hawking served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. His main fields of research were cosmology and black holes. He proved the singularity theorem of general relativity and the black hole area theorem. He also proposed the black hole evaporation theory and the borderless universe model. These resulted in an important step being taken in two basic theories of physics: Einstein’s theory of relativity and Planck’s theory of quantum mechanics.
After being diagnosed with MND, Dr Hawking realized that since he“was going to die,”he“might as well do something good.”Despite being paralyzed and only having three fingers that could move, Dr Hawking persevered. As his body gradually withered, his knowledge expanded with each passing day. Over his life, he continued to receive various awards and honorary doctorates. In addition to his accolades, Dr Hawking fell in love and got married. He then went on to live to 76 years old.
Optimism and humour enabled Dr Hawking to survive the most difficult periods of life. He believed that his disability wasn’t an obstacle to his life, but rather that it enabled him to contemplate theoretical issues peacefully.
With his perseverance and unyielding will, Dr Hawking was able to overpower his disease and inspire significant scientific change in the world. He showed that disabilities don’t have to be obstacles to success. His love for life and enthusiasm for scientific research, as well as his spirit of self-belief, are worthwhile virtues for younger generations to learn.
