Tributes from Portsmouth professor inspired by '˜iconic' Stephen Hawking
David Wands, professor of cosmology at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, was a student at the University of Cambridge when Professor Hawking was writing his book A Brief History of Time.
Now Prof Wands has paid tribute to Prof Hawking, who died yesterday aged 76 at his Cambridge home.
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Hide AdHe said he remembered attending lectures from the man who inspired his choice to go into the field of cosmology.
Prof Wands, 51, said: ‘He is a huge inspiration to everyone in the science community and to me. His death is sad of course, but the immediate reaction is what a life he had. He was certainly someone who made the most of it.’
Prof Wands had the opportunity to work with Prof Hawking and attended talks.
He said: ‘I was fortunate enough to be invited along to his birthday party last year – both the public event and then the private party back at his house after.
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Hide Ad‘He was like that, so generous to the science community, and supportive of scientists around the world.’
Prof Wands added: ‘He was so well-known everywhere and as soon as you heard that computer voice you knew it was him.
‘The word iconic truly sums him up.’