Stephen Hawking to leave Cambridge?

As The First Post reported recently, Stephen Hawking (pictured here defying gravity), the world renowned physicist, has been entertaining the idea of leaving Britain, or more particularly Cambridge University, where he is Lucian Professor of Mathematics. It now appears this plan is firming up. Today’s Daily Telegraph claims that the scientist is seriously contemplating upping sticks and heading off to Canada, where he will work at the Perimeter Institute, which is funded by the creator of the BlackBerry, Mike Lazaridis.

The reason for these "will he won’t he” manoeuvres is the Government’s decision to cut £80m of science funding, which Hawking, the author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time, believes is disastrous and will result in a brain drain. The man who is attempting to tempt him away is former colleague Professor Neil Turok, a leading authority on mathematical physics. He says "the door is open" for Hawking to join him permanently at the Perimeter Institute in Ontario, a body that has received over £300 million in funding.

Says Turok: "Stephen has been very loyal to Cambridge - he could have gone anywhere he wanted. He plans to visit me in Ontario next year for a month or so, and we would certainly welcome him coming for longer."