I will come back, with those words Professor Stephen Hawking addressed hundreds of Birzeit University students, who could not attend his lecture and waited for hours at the entrance of the Science College to greet him, as he ended his four hours visit to Birzeit University.

World famous British scientist Stephen Hawking, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University and best-selling author of A Brief History of Time, arrived to Birzeit University at 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday December 13, 2006 to be welcomed by Dr. Nabeel Kassis, the University President accompanied by hundreds of faculty members and guests, and by thousands of students, who waited his arrival at the entrance of the Science College; the biggest and warmest welcoming ever taking place at Birzeit University.

 

        

Professor Hawking gave a lecture on the "Origins of the Universe" in a lecture hall in the Faculty of Science. In addition to the hundreds gathered at the hall, his lecture was transmitted through video conferencing facilities to the university main hall, Martyr Kamal Nasir hall, to provide thousands of students the opportunity to attend.

 

At the end of his presentation, Professor Hawking answered few questions before moving for a short meeting with the University President and a group of top University officials and academics. During the meeting Professor Hawking promised to help the University to encounter the siege through promoting cooperation between Birzeit and Cambridge University.

 

                     

Professor Hawking has twelve honorary degrees, was awarded the CBE in 1982, and was made a Companion of Honour in 1989. He is the recipient of many awards, medals and prizes and is a Fellow of The Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences

Shortly after his 21st birthday, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, a motor neuron disease. He continues to combine family life and his research into theoretical physics together with an extensive program of travel and public lectures