There are still a couple of weeks left to get your applications in to be the next Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.
The post is currently held by Stephen Hawking, who is set to retire next year. But he won’t be leaving the world of theoretical physics behind him. No, the rumours (that The Great Beyond admits it took part in perpetuating) are true; Hawking has been tempted by ex-Cambridge colleague Neil Turok to head off to the land of moose and maples and join the happy Perimeter Institute folk.
Hawking will be a Distinguished Research Chair at the institute, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. But there also seems to be some cake here that is being both had and eaten, for Hawking will only visit the Perimeter Institute (press release) a few times – he’s going to hang on to the Lucasian professorship in an emeritus fashion.
What do the Canuck’s think of this? A brief survey of headlines reveals that The Canadian Press heralds the visiting prof as a coup for Canadian science whereas the Vancouver Sun goes all out for that special brand of Canadian humour with their “Hawking meets his Waterloo” pun. And the Globe and Mail have the brilliant “Waterloo institute’s big bang”.
Stay with The Great Beyond for regular updates on Hawking news:
Hawking ‘mulls move to Canada’