PROFESSOR Stephen Hawking has been awarded the Royal Society’s Copley Medal, the world’s oldest award for scientific achievement, for his outstanding contribution to theoretical physics and theoretical cosmology.

　　Professor Hawking’s work has been essential in understanding and classifying black holes. He has also made an exceptional contribution to the popularization of his subject, authoring four popular-science books including A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell. He is currently Lucasian Professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a post once held by Isaac Newton.

　　Commenting on his award, Professor Hawking said, ‘this is a very distinguished medal. It was awarded to Darwin, Einstein and Crick. I am honored to be in their company.’

　　As a tribute to Professor Hawking’s work in cosmology, British-born astronaut Mr. Piers Sellers carried the medal with him on the STS 121 Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station which took place in July.

　　The Copley Medal was first awarded by the Society in 1731, and predates the Nobel Prize by 170 years. Professor Hawking will receive his award at Anniversary Day on 30 November at the Royal Society.