Professor Stephen Hawking (1959), Honorary Fellow and Old Member of University College, Oxford, is to deliver the BBC Reith lecture on the topic of black holes.

The renowned physicist, 73, follows in the footsteps of artist Grayson Perry and Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in delivering the Radio 4 lecture.

Hawking will deliver the prestigious Reith lecture later this year to “describe the remarkable properties of black holes” and will answer a selection of questions submitted by listeners. The lecture coincides with the BBC plans for a series of events to mark 100 years of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.

“I’m delighted to be the BBC’s Reith lecturer and to be able to convey the thrill of science to millions of listeners around the world through my lecture,” he said. “I want to encourage people to imagine and explore the possibilities of science. Both the known, and the as yet unknown.”

He added: “My talk is on black holes…. a region where gravity is so strong, that nothing, not even light, can escape. I will describe the remarkable properties of black holes, including the fact that very small black holes aren’t black at all, but glow like hot bodies. We should never stop trying to tell these extraordinary stories from science, and I hope my Reith Lecture will enthuse a new generation to develop ideas that will have an impact on our understanding of the world and never to be overwhelmed by the task of discovery.”

Published: 3 July 2015

Explore Univ on social media