stephen hawking world-renowned cambridge university theoretical physicist famous for his theories on black holes and his best-selling books about the universe will present a public lecture titled the origin of the universe sunday april 3 at 6 pm in rudder auditorium at texas a&m university tickets which range from $15 to $35 and feature discounts for students are available online through the memorial student center box office or via telephone at (979) 845-1234 or toll-free at (888) 890-5667 the event is presented by the george p and cynthia woods mitchell institute for fundamental physics and astronomy established in 2002 as the result of a generous gift from the mitchell family intended to advance physics and expand mans understanding of the universe and the fundamental laws of nature during the years since professor hawkings collaboration with texas a&m has been made possible through the philanthropy and generosity of the mitchell institute stephen hawkings lecture offers the opportunity to learn from one of the worlds best-known living scientists widely considered to be the greatest theorist since einstein said george p mitchell hawking retired in 2009 after 30 years as the lucasian chair of mathematics at cambridge a position once held by sir isaac newton for nearly a half-century he has been a world leader in research on black holes the birth of the universe and the nature of space time and gravity hawkings appearance at texas a&m will mark his fourth in the past eight years after visiting the campus in march 2003 to help to inaugurate the mitchell institute he returned in 2007 to headline the department of physics and astronomy‘s annual physics festival last april he returned to the mitchell institute for the formal dedication of the stephen w hawking auditorium he delivered public lectures to sell-out crowds in the 2 500 seat rudder auditorium during both of his most recent visits in the event rudder auditorium is once again a sell-out officials say his april 3 lecture will be simulcast via live video feed in two overflow rooms the hawking auditorium and george p mitchell 40 physics building lecture hall tickets will be priced at $5 for additional information contact the mitchell institute at (979) 845-7778 ########## about stephen hawking: stephen hawking is renowned as a scientist with the uncommon ability to communicate complex science in a way that touches people his best-selling books a brief history of time the universe in a nutshell and his most recent work the grand design co-authored with leonid mlodinow have sold millions of copies around the world widely considered to be the greatest scientific mind since sir isaac newton and albert einstein hawking is a world leader in research on black holes the birth of the universe and the nature of space time and gravity professor hawking has 12 honorary degrees was awarded the cbe (commander of the order of the british empire) in 1982 the presidential medal of freedom in 2009 and was made a companion of honour in 1989 he is the recipient of many additional awards medals and prizes is a fellow of the royal society and a member of the united states national academy of sciences he continues to combine family life (he has three children and three grandchildren) and his research into theoretical physics together with an extensive program of travel and public lectures for more information on stephen hawking visit http://wwwhawkingorguk/ about the george p and cynthia woods mitchell institute for fundamental physics and astronomy: the george p and cynthia woods mitchell institute for fundamental physics and astronomy was established in 2002 within the texas a&m university department of physics and astronomy as the result of a generous gift from george and cynthia mitchell the goals of the institute are to explore and advance the understanding of theoretical high-energy physics astroparticle physics astronomy and cosmology; to conduct research in string theory m-theory and particle phenomenology; and to explore the interface with observation in particle physics astronomy and cosmology institute activities include research workshops and conferences public outreach as well as a unique visitors program between the institute and the cambridge centre for theoretical cosmology the cambridge-mitchell institute collaboration funded by an annual gift from george mitchell and matched by texas a&m university hosts conferences and workshops in cambridge and at texas a&m as well as exchange visits of faculty postdoctoral researchers and graduate students for more information on the mitchell institute visit http://mitchellphysicstamuedu -atm- contact: shana k hutchins (979) 862-1237 or shutchins@sciencetamuedu